Why We Give

Regular financial giving to support the work of the church is one of the ways our members are actively involved.  Visitors should feel no obligation to participate in the offering as they are exploring Bethlehem.

While this page describes the financial methods of giving, Bethlehem cherishes those who give of their time and talents in support of the church and God's kingdom here on earth. Please visit our 'Serve' section or contact us to connect to the many ways of giving of yourself.

For contributors who prefer to make regular or one-time donations using a credit card or direct transfer from a bank account, donations to Bethlehem Covenant Church can be made through a secure online form.  Use the button below to go to the secure donations page.

Online Giving

Thank you for supporting our church! Click the link below to give online safely and securely!

Ways To Give

Here are some easy ways to support our church.

Give Online

Give Here

How to give Online?

Watch Video

Give In Person

Use the convenient secure dropbox outside the church office.

What is Online Giving?

What is Online Giving?

Online Giving is an easy and convenient way to support the ministries of Bethlehem Covenant Church. The benefits of Online Giving include the convenience of being able to give from anywhere at a time that is convenient for you, not having to write checks, and the ability to set up recurring donations so you don’t miss an opportunity to give when you are away from the church.

How Does Bethlehem’s Online Giving Work?

Donors click on the link above that takes them to a secure donation page hosted by the Planning Center Giving (bethlehemcov.churchcenter.com)   Contributions can be set up using either a credit card or a transfer directly from a bank account to the church.  (The cost to Bethlehem is lower for bank transfers, as discussed below.)

A donor can set up a one-time donation or a recurring donation.  See video above for a quick explanation on how to give online.

Can I make a change to my donation?

If a donor wishes to change the payment type, bank account, or amount they can use their Church Center App under Profile then My Giving to edit.

Open the Church Center App or Log in to the webpage at Bethlehemcov.churchcenter.com. Click on your photo (Or your initials, if you haven’t uploaded a photo yet) in the upper right corner to select Profile. Chose the option My Giving.

 

What payment methods are offered at Bethlehem?

Our online donation page can accept direct payments from a bank account using Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), or you can use VISA, MasterCard, and Discover credit cards.  This reduces the work required for the church to process traditional paper checks and cash. The fees paid by Bethlehem are higher for a credit card, as discussed below.

How does Bethlehem Church process online donations?

Bethlehem Church uses Stripe to process direct withdrawal donations. Stripe is integrated with Planning Center Giving to handle all of the security necessary for processing the transaction and then transfers the money into the church bank account. The church receives electronic notification about donations. Donations are entered into our financial system just as with donations by check or cash.

How can I keep track of my online giving?

As in the past, the church will send you a giving statement which lists all donations you have given (online and in person)  You can also use your Church Center App under Profile then My Giving to edit.

Open your Church Center App or Log in to your account at Bethlehemcov.churchcenter.com. Click on your photo in the upper right corner to select your Profile. Chose the option My Giving.

 

Can I make an anonymous donation?

There is no way to make an anonymous donation through online giving because Stripe via Planning Center Giving does not have the ability to process anonymous donations. If you wish to mail an anonymous donation, please feel free to send it directly to the church office.

Is there any charge or fee to me for this service?

No, there is no charge to the donor. You select the dollar amount for your giving. That is the dollar amount that will be charged and your entire donation is tax deductible. The church pays a fee to Stripe for every transaction, for the convenience and security of the service.  A weekly donation has a higher number of transactions each year and therefore a higher cost than a monthly or annual transaction.   If you make a gift and pay with…

  • A bank account transfer (Electronic Funds Transfer, also called ACH) then the cost to Bethlehem is $0.45 + 0.00%
  • VISA/MC/Discover credit/debit cards, then the cost is $0.35 + 1.5%

Note that the costs will vary depending on the gift amount. Online checks minimize the transaction cost.  As an example, an online gift of $100 has the following costs that Bethlehem Church pays:

  • $0.45 for an online check
  • $1.85 for VISA/MC/Discover
Can I designate my gift to a particular cause?

You can allocate your gift toward one of 7 funds; General Fund, Diaconate Fund, World Missions, Paul Carlson Partnership, Youth Programing,  North Park University PIE, and Bethlehem Covenant Concert Series.

How would I give to both the General Fund and the Youth Fund?

Using your Church Center App choose Give.

Chose the $ amount you want to give and then use the drop-down menu to select the fund you would like to use for your designated giving. If you would like to give to more than one fund just select “+ Add donation” to allocate amounts to different designated accounts.

 

When will I receive a receipt?

Bethlehem Church is a charitable non-profit organization.  For each online gift you make, you will receive receipt for your tax records.  The receipt will be delivered via email moments after your gift has been given.

How can I view my giving history?

You can use your Church Center App to look at your giving at anytime. Open your Church Center App or Log in to your account at Bethlehemcov.churchcenter.com. Click on your photo in the upper right corner to select your Profile. Chose the option My Giving. All gifts online and in-person are updated weekly.

Why am I redirected from Bethlehem Church to another website?

Online giving to Bethlehem Church is administrated by Stripe via Planning Center, our churches data management system  This is a secure website and a clearinghouse to process online donations.

Is it safe to give online?      

Yes. The electronic signup is done using 128-bit encryption for the highest level of security.  Credit Card and eCheck information is encrypted to the latest PCI security standards.