Elevation Church: A Church that Promotes Generosity

And do Not Forget to do Good and to Share with Others, For with Such Sacrifices God Is Pleased – Hebrews 13:16

The purpose of all places of worship is to bridge the gap between people and God. Basic moralities such as loving, empathizing, generosity, brotherhood, and giving – are preached by the pastors or other individuals. Unfortunately, these teachings are limited to verbal communications only. This is where Elevation Church stands out as it provides a place for people to help others and promote generosity.

Run by Pastor Steven Furtick, his wife Holly Furtick, and CFO Chunks Corbett, one of Elevation Church’s objectives is to motivate people to give selflessly in God’s way. The church was formed in 2006 in North Carolina by the combined efforts of the couple and seven other families. Pastor Steven has helped grow Elevation Church into a global ministry through social media, online streaming, television, and worship music. He holds a master of divinity degree from Southern Theological Seminary. He is also the author of Crash the Chatterbox, Greater, Sun Stand Still, (Un)Qualified, and Seven-Mile Miracle. Holly Furtick holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from North Greenville University. She is also the author of two women’s Bible studies, Building Friendships That Fit and Becoming Mrs. Betterhalf. And is the co-author of Philippians: The Art of Contentment.

More Than Just a Church

The concept of donations and charities is not a foreign one. There are plenty of groups and organizations that help individuals and families with financial aids to cope with living needs. The efforts put in by Elevation Church are similar.

There are thousands of families who struggle to get the basic necessities of life. The increased inflation and unemployment rates have lowered the morale and confidence of many, making them financially handicapped. Not being able to support oneself and their family creates a crisis. This leads to the feeling of hopelessness and self-doubt, which is where Elevation Church plays its part. As it preaches faith and love for God, the church, with its ‘Giving’ program, does not allow these individuals to go astray. Steven Furtick states,

“The fact is there are people hurting all over the world. Whether they’ve been in church their whole lives or never heard of Jesus at all, people are constantly searching for the full life that only Jesus can give us.” Adding to this, he further said, “The more we can break through barriers that people may put up against religion and allow them to experience Jesus in a clear, refreshing way, the more we will see people embrace Him.”

12% of the donations and funds received by Elevation Church are given to support outreach partners in the name of God. Their assistance to these partners, families and individuals acts as a ray of hope in dark times. Through their Outreach efforts, Elevation Church helps restore the faith in God and encourages them to believe that there is still some good left in the world.

When God Blesses You Financially, Do Not Raise Your Standard of Living. Raise Your Standard of Giving – Mark Batterson

Elevation church emphasizes that it isn’t the magnitude of the gift that is important; it is the intention that matters. They have introduced several ways to donate. Anyone can donate by giving directly online, giving cryptocurrency, or by stocks. Elevation church is flexible in its ways of donation as it also accepts other forms of gifts. For those that prefer to give in person, donations can be given at any of their twenty locations during the weekend worship experience.

Elevation Church is highly vigilant about following the correct and proper methods of charities. The Evangelical Council accredits the church for Financial Accountability. The church complies with the rules and displays high standards of biblical accountability, board governance, financial transparency, integrity in fundraising, and proper use of charity resources. In addition to this, the church also maintains an annual report. The most recent reports state that the church’s average attendance totaled up to 27,048, and the total amount given away to their Outreach partners was $9.6MM.

Due to its noticeable charitable work and ever-growing popularity around the world, Elevation Church has been covered by the Outreach Magazine. It ranked in the fifteenth position of the top 100 fastest-growing churches in the US in 2013.  Its co-founder, Pastor Steven Furtick, was also interviewed by Christian Post for their special article series called “An Inside Look at The New Generation of Pastors.” The interview was conducted in 2013. 

As Elevation Church continues to expand, it aims to educate people more about the positivity that comes through faith. It consistently increases its global reach by organizing watch parties, global partnerships, online sermons, and Elevation Worship. By pacing up with the fast-growing technology, Elevation Church is making strides in the modern world and will soon be known worldwide for its humanitarian efforts.

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