Why We're Tracking a Participation Goal for our Legacy Offering
Approximately 450 adults are meaningfully connected to the Soul Sanctuary community through our servant leader teams, regular financial giving, and group attendance. This year our goal is to see 338 people, 75% of our adult community, give toward the Legacy Offering.
The Legacy Offering is a time where we consider the investment that we are making in our own local community and in the work of our missions partners. It’s a time where we come together to focus on funding a series of vision-based initiatives that we have planned for the next calendar year. Most fundraising efforts set out to raise a specific amount of money in a specific amount of time. While this is often an effective approach, we recognize that as a Christian church with a priority focus on Christian discipleship, the total amount of money given is secondary to the heart transformation that takes place in those who do choose to give. Making our principal goal the total number of givers, rather than the total funds raised, aligns with our belief that generosity is a virtue cultivated through discipleship and that discipleship is a life-long journey. We recognize that becoming generous people is a process, not an immediate transformation. That process includes moments of faithful obedience where we choose to step out and act, thereby cultivating the virtues we seek to embody.
By focusing on the number of people who give to the Legacy Offering, we aim to cultivate a sense of unity and shared purpose within our community—a reminder that each individual plays an integral part in our collective journey as we learn to become generous followers of Jesus.
The Audaciousness of our Goal
Our goal of 338 givers is audacious and its actualization will be a nothing short of a miracle.
Last year approximately 139 individuals gave a total of $150,000 towards our Legacy Offering. This year we’re praying and planning to see a 143% increase in our total number of givers for a total of 338 givers. Here is why we believe in the audacious goal that we’ve set.
When we review our 2022 Legacy Offering data we see that the average offering gift was $1,852 and that the median gift was $600 (for those interested, the most recurring gift was $1,000). This data, coupled with an analysis of giver demographics, reveals that few people under the age of 30 contributed to the offering. Much of our ministry at Soul Sanctuary is centred around the spiritual formation of young people, and we recognize that their Christian formation necessitates teaching on the counter-cultural practice of giving. As a church community we must be intentional in providing opportunities where our young people can begin to practice giving in an environment where they can freely ask questions about what they are giving to, where they can continue to learn the Biblical significance of becoming a generous person, and where they can see the tangible impact of their decision to give.
Our participation goal can only be fulfilled if those under 30 choose to participate in the same way that the rest of our church community does. By God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit stirring hearts to join in the work of His church, we believe that our goal can be accomplished.
The Heart Behind the Legacy Offering
Our Legacy Offering is not just about raising funds, it's about building a lasting legacy of Christian discipleship. This summer’s teaching from Mark 12:41-44 demonstrates the reality that the power of Christian giving is not measured by a dollar value, but by obedient participation. It is the act of giving and the heart behind it, not the amount given, that holds formative power in the life of the Christian. We encourage each person who calls Soul Sanctuary home to reflect on the Legacy Offering and to ask the Holy Spirit to guide them as they determine how much they choose to give, knowing that as we give, the Lord loses us from the bonds of self-interest and consumerism and cultivates in us a heart of open-handed generosity.
Practical FAQs
Q1: Where can I learn more about the initiatives that the Legacy Offering is supporting?
A1: A summary of the Legacy Offering initiatives can be found here. Throughout the month of December we will release more detailed breakdowns of each initiative which will be shared by email and across social media.
Q2: What did the 2022 Legacy Offering achieve?
A2: A complete review of the changes initiated by the 2022 Legacy Offering can be found here.
Q3: If I give on behalf of myself and my spouse/partner, does it count as 2 participants?
A3: Yes, if you have a joint donor account or you and your spouse are both in our church database, your gift will count as 2 participants. There is no need to separate your donation into two separate donations.
Q4: If my child, under the age of 18, gives are they counted toward the total number of participants?
A4: Yes.
Q5: When does the Legacy Offering close?
A5: The Legacy Offering formally runs from November 26 through December 31. We will continue to accept Legacy Offering gifts in the first few months of 2024.
Q6: Can I designate my gift to a specific initiative within the parameters of the Legacy Offering?
A6: As a general operational policy, donations to Soul Sanctuary cannot be designated outside of previously established fund categories. Throughout the month of December we will release more detailed breakdowns of each initiative which will be shared by email and across social media.
Q7: Where and how do I give?
A7: You can give by cash, cheque, or debit/credit at the Joy Basket on Sunday morning, or at Soul Sanctuary between 8:30am-4:30pm during the week. You can give online here, or by e-transfer to info@soulsanctuary.ca. Finally you can give securities thorugh Canada Helps here.
Q8: Who can I ask my questions to?
A8: You can contact the Soul Sanctuary office at info@soulsanctuary.ca or 204-226-2324. Your question will be directed to the appropriate staff member for response.
Join us as we give
We invite each person who calls Soul Sanctuary their home church community to join us as we give. Your participation in the Legacy Offering is not just a financial contribution but a statement of your commitment to the future direction of Soul Sanctuary and your belief in the power of collective giving. May the love of Christ guide us and the power of the Holy Spirit lead us into a season of generosity that makes a significant and lasting difference in our church, city, and world.