• Jesus calls us, as His followers, those who love Him because He first loved us, to be generous.

• Jesus calls us to love our neighbours and our enemies.

• Jesus calls us to serve people in a whole variety of different ways.

We can love people generously and serve locally in so many ways, through our time, our gifts and abilities, our hospitality, our listening ear, practical acts of service to name a few. These are so important and demonstrate the loving generosity of Jesus. In addition to these practical ways, we are clearly called by Jesus to give money.

Matthew 6: 1-4 says: 'Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honoured by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.'

Notice that Jesus says 'when you give' (talking about giving money), rather than 'if you give' or 'can you give'.

There is an expectation of Jesus that we give our time and talents, and finances to His work.

If you read Acts 2: 42-47 you will see the early church in action. These verses demonstrate loving generously and serving locally in such a powerful way. Notice how people give financially to ensure everyone has what they need.

Later, we see in Acts 4: 35-36 'There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.'

People put their money into a central pot, managed by the apostles, which they then distributed amongst the church when needs arose.

Any donation goes directly towards the mission and ministry of Church Collective.

At present that is split between:
• Hospitality and rental costs to facilitate Collectives gathering together
• Resources and equipment to facilitate the Collectives gathering together
• Mission costs to engage people in local communities with the love of Jesus
• Salary and costs for the team
• Other overheads that naturally occur in any organisation - licenses, insurance, etc.

Additionally, Church Collective will tithe any donations, giving to other charities within Warrington and wider afield, and we will always save a proportion of any donations to facilitate future Collectives being planted and set up across Warrington.