Donating At One Georgia-Carolina Church Has Gone High Tech
By Michael Buczyner, michaelb@wagt.comSeptember 28, 2006 6:45 PM
Paper money is out and plastic is in. Donating money to one Georgia-Carolina church has gone hi-tech and now it's gaining national attention.
"It's a very welcoming, non-threatening place to worship God in," Stevens Creek Community Church member Penny Oates said.
Stevens Creek Community Church has gone high tech and so has the way it collects tithes and offerings.
When most people think about giving back to the church, usually cash or checks pop into mind, but now with new technology and your credit card, giving back has been made a whole lot easier.
"You can just punch in right on the screen what you want to give and it's just a matter of seconds and you're done," Sharon Davis said.
"It's yet another way we can give back to god by using our debt card," Oates said.
"We really feel like technology can be a tool that'll help communicate the message to the people in this culture that they matter to god," Pastor Marty Baker said.
And that message, delivered by the "giving kiosk's" brainchild, Pastor Marty Baker, has had a major impact on the church's contributions.
"Last year we took in over 100-thousand dollars on the kiosk and this year it's increased and we're expecting 200 thousand dollars," Baker said.
"I'm not having to remember at home to write a check. I can just do it when I'm here Sunday mornings," Davis said.
And now people at other churches across the country will have the same opportunity.
"Today we have churches in Ohio, Florida, Louisiana using this system," Baker said.
These kiosks are a first of a kind and because of its success, Pastor Baker formed a cooperation to sell the device to other churches across the nation.
He says he just sold the machines to churches in Miami and Dallas. The kiosks are featured in Los Angeles Times and the Today Show is planning to do a story on them as well.
