Giving • First Presbyterian Church

The mission of First Presbyterian Church of Jackson is to

GLORIFY GOD BY MAKING DISCIPLES IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS, IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND THE WORLD.

Encouragingly, the “core-ministry” of FPC — the regular preaching and teaching of God’s word; the holding of regular worship; the equipping of our congregation to be good disciple-makers for Christ; and the pastoral and congregational care and support of the FPC’s members and immediate community — is achieved by the regular offerings made towards FPC’s annual ministry expenses.

Through a gift to First Presbyterian Church or through our Missions Department, you are performing an important act of worship with your treasure at FPC, and in so doing, you are accomplishing the work of the Church in the following ways (to name a few):

FPC Ministry

The Word ministry of FPC
The work of our pastors, session, and diaconate as they preach God’s word, teach and shepherd the FPC congregation, and perform acts of service and mercy throughout the church and congregation
Youth and Family Ministry
Children’s Ministry, including children’s Sunday School and Vacation Bible School
The work of many local missions and mercy ministries the church supports through Mission to Jackson

FPC Missions

Support for 61 missionaries across the globe, including those in Ukraine, China, Honduras, Peru, and South Africa
Support for 24 Church Planters both in North America and around the world
Support for approximately 19 campus ministries,
including
- University of Mississippi
- Mississippi State University
- Jackson State University
- Belhaven University
- Delta State
- Mississippi College
- University of Southern Mississippi
Mobilizing our people to do mission work
through short-term mission trips.

Furthering the Ministry
of First Presbyterian Church

Beyond the core-ministry of FPC (supported by your regular giving to FPC and FPC Missions) the mission of our church is also accomplished by the work of ministry-initiatives operating inside our church walls and outside of them. While each of these ministries has different goals, they all serve to advance the mission of First Presbyterian Church, largely under the three overarching priorities of GLORIFYING GOD, MAKING DISCIPLES, AND EQUIPPING OTHERS TO DO SO AS WELL.

While much of the work you see highlighted below is partially funded by your regular giving to FPC, in order to fully operate, these ministries rely on additional gifts designated specifically for their work. Please let this be your guide as you consider your current and future giving priorities over and above your faithful gifts to FPC itself.

FPC CHOIR FUND

One of the most visible ways that FPC glorifies God is through the ministry and leadership of our choir. The choir commits countless hours of preparation in order to lead our congregation in worship. The hymns performed by the choir weave scripture and gospel truth into our memory and into our hearts. A gift to the FPC Choir Fund enables the choir to partner with local musicians in performing music for God’s glory, as well as to provide special worship services and gospel presentations for the community and the church, such as the beloved, annual Music of Christmas service.

THE BURWELL FUND

The Bible teaches us: “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:17-18)

Established by a generous gift of a church member at the time of his passing, the Burwell Fund enables the church to glorify God in meeting the practical needs of congregation members in a time of crisis or emergency.

THE MERCY FUND

Originally established with seed funding from the church’s Mission to Jackson Committee, the Mercy Fund opens the church’s hands to the needs of the community surrounding us. As the church engages in hands-on local mercy ministry through the good work of our members and pastors and through ministries like Families Count, gifts to the Mercy Fund allow the church to provide assistance to those who are not members of FPC with whom we have established relationships. Gifts of mercy from this fund have allowed the church to open doors with individuals that ultimately led to the sharing of God’s word, to His glory.

FPDS ACORN FUND

The Acorn Fund is the annual fund of the First Presbyterian Day School and the primary means for you to invest in the mission of FPDS: to plant seeds of Christlikeness in the hearts of children. Gifts to the Acorn Fund benefit each student of FPDS as the school uses the funds to provide academic excellence and sow the gospel into every aspect of our children’s education. Your gift will also support keeping tuition competitive by supplementing the school’s annual budget. Past uses of the Acorn Fund have included recruiting and retaining excellent teachers, professional development for the school’s staff as they teach and minister to our children, improvements to school facilities, and enhancement of resources in the classroom. Most importantly, a gift to the Acorn Fund is your opportunity to partner with FPDS as we help grow our children from acorns of faith into “oaks of righteousness.”

TWIN LAKES FUND

Each summer, approximately 1,500 children form friendships, enjoy fun-filled activities, experience the outdoors, and hear and see the gospel lived out through their counselors in this vital ministry of our church. Gifts to the Twin Lakes Fund support ministry needs and capital needs of the camp, as the staff does gospel work across 600 acres of campground and facilities, which also serve as a vibrant conference space for our sister-ministries throughout the year.

FPC INTERN SALARY FUND

The FPC intern program is one way the mission of our church has a legacy beyond its walls. Not only are our interns’ personal ministries, teaching gifts, character, and hearts for service formative to the culture at First Pres, the church in turn participates in the formation of ministers who then go on to preach and teach God’s word all over the world. A gift to the FPC Intern Salary Fund enables the church to recruit the best students from Reformed Theological Seminary to serve in these positions. The Lord has used these young men to draw thousands to Himself and to significantly shape the spiritual lives of many more – both during the interns’ time at First Pres and for many years thereafter.

FPC FELLOWS PROGRAM

An extension of the FPC Internship Program, the Fellows Program is a training opportunity for seminary graduates desiring to further develop their ministry aptitude, gifts, and sense of calling by working full time at FPC, directly under either the Senior Minister or the Minster of Missions. Gi s to this fund allow for the full-time hiring of promising young pastors who desire personalized training from the ministry staff of FPC as they further develop their ministry gifts serving in leadership in ways that are rare for interns before seeking ordination.

TWIN LAKES FELLOWSHIP

A ministry of First Presbyterian Church, Twin Lakes Fellowship is an annual fraternal gathering of pastors from around the world, held at Twin Lakes Camp and Conference Center. The goal of Twin Lakes Fellowship is to equip pastors to have confidence in the ordinary means of grace: the Word, the Sacraments, and prayer. Many of the attendees of Twin Lakes Fellowship come from low-resourced churches in which they are the only ministers—this time of training and fellowship allows them to receive resources for ministry but also rest. Your gift to Twin Lakes Fellowship is not merely an investment in ministers—it’s an investment in ministry, one that will bless untold numbers. We have seen our prayerful goal bear much fruit, as our fellowship disburses across the globe renewed, refreshed, and equipped to faithfully preach God’s word and make disciples across the nation and around the globe.

BILL WYMOND MUSIC MINISTRY INTERN FUND

Established in honor of former Minister of Music Dr. Bill Wymond, the purpose of the Bill Wymond Music Ministry Intern fund is to provide training for future Christian leaders in the ministry of music. Unlike FPC’s other ministry internships, the Music Ministry intern need not necessarily be a seminarian—for instance a music major from Belhaven or Jackson State University may be an appropriate recipient of this internship. The goal of this program is to use the ongoing work of FPC’s music ministry as a training ground for college students or seminarians with a desire to pursue careers in music ministry.

FPC DEBT RETIREMENT

Between 2020 and 2022, FPC took on debt in order to fund the construction of the Baird Center gym and auditorium, a space reorganization of our church and school facilities, including the construction of the church’s welcome center, and the school’s entrance and offices. This debt has been and continues to be serviced through giving specifically designated for this debt repayment. A gift towards FPC’s Debt Retirement Fund will go toward servicing this debt and allowing FPC to plan boldy for future ministry.

Non-Traditional Ways to
Support Kingdom Work

In addition to the generosity of its members through their regular offerings and gifts, the ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Jackson benefits greatly from non-traditional means of support. We want to celebrate the generosity of all givers, no matter the amount or the means! Please contact the business office if you are interested in making a non-traditional gift to FPC. We also encourage you to speak to your financial advisor about the tax advantages you may receive from one of the following gifts.

Stocks and Mutual
Funds

If you own appreciated assets like stock or mutual funds, you may give those assets directly to FPC through the church’s brokers. The church benefits from the gift, and the giver can often take a deduction for the value of the gift while paying no taxes on the appreciation.

Qualified Charitable Deduction

If you are required to take a minimum distribution from your IRA, you can make a gift (called a Qualified Charitable Deduction or QCD) to FPC directly from that retirement account. A QCD is a direct transfer of funds from your IRA custodian, payable to a qualified charity, such as FPC.

Donor Advised
Funds

If you have given appreciated assets to a Donor Advised Fund and received the tax benefits related to that transaction, you can request that the Fund make a grant directly to FPC.

Donate a Vehicle

If you own a golf cart, four-wheeler, Mule, Gator, or similar vehicle that is no longer being used or for which you may be considering a replacement or an upgrade, please consider donating it to FPC or Twin Lakes Camp.

Donate Cryptocurrency

Through FPC’s Pushpay online-giving platform and their partnership with Engiven, you can now support FPC and its ministries by donating Bitcoin, altcoin, or cryptocurrency.

Simply follow this link to our online giving page, and select “Cryptocurrency” under the “How would you like to give?” menu. You will be forwarded from there to our partners at Engiven, a trusted third-party for processing gifts of cryptocurrency from givers to ministries. Engiven will automatically convert your gift of cryptocurrency to U.S. dollars and transfer those dollars to First Presbyterian Church or the ministry you designate (including FPC Missions, First Presbyterian Day School, or Twin Lakes Camp and Conference Center). Engiven will also generate the appropriate receipt and forward it to you after your gift is received.

Liquidation of Your Gift

In the absence of an agreement between FPC and a giver of Bitcoin, altcoin, or cryptocurrency, your donation will automatically be converted to U.S. dollars through the Engiven platform. If you wish to discuss donating Bitcoin, altcoin, or cryptocurrency with the intention that FPC or its ministries retain that gift without converting it to U.S. dollars, please contact Chase Wynn, FPC’s Director of Giving and Stewardship, at chasew@fpcjackson.org or 662-397-0579.

Disclaimer

Any representations, communications, or solicitations from First Presbyterian Church do not constitute financial or tax advice. Any donor should consult with his, her, or its personal tax/financial consultant regarding questions as to donating Bitcoin, altcoins, or cryptocurrency. Should a donor’s gift of Bitcoin, altcoin, or cryptocurrency exceed $500 in value, the donor (and not First Presbyterian Church) is responsible for filing the appropriate tax form with the IRS. Further, if the value of a donor’s gift exceed $5,000 in value, a qualified third-party appraisal of the gift should be obtained by the donor at their own expense, and not by First Presbyterian Church.

FPC will not provide to the donor a valuation of the Bitcoins or altcoins donated, and FPC’s acknowledgement of the gift will not include any amount for the value of the gift. All gifts of Bitcoin, altcoin, or cryptocurrency to FPC are non-refundable.

In addition to the above, there are several other ways to make designated gifts to specific projects, ministries, and funds at First Presbyterian Church. If you would like to discuss these or other ways to make a gift to FPCJ and its ministries, please contact Chase Wynn, Director of Giving and Stewardship, at chasew@fpcjackson.org or 769-230-3435.

Ways to Give

There are several ways you can give to First Presbyterian Church:

You may give online by clicking the “GIVE ONLINE” button at the introduction of this page. We accept debit cards, VISA, and MasterCard. You will be directed to a site where you can create a user profile (for recurring donations) or enter as a guest for one-time gifts. Combining your gifts when giving online helps keep cost down for the overall budget of the church.

Giving online enables you to give to the eight main funds only: Pledge/Tithe, Missions, Reach Capital Campaign, Choir Fund, First Pres Day School (not for tuition; gifts only), Memorials, Twin Lakes Camp, Disaster Relief, and Brooke Burwell Fund. Gifts to other specific ministries must be made by paper check with the ministry designation made in the memo line.

Note: Contributions scheduled online for the last three days of the month may not show up on your bank account or contribution statement until the following month.

Gifts of cash or checks can be deposited in the offering plate during worship services. Checks should be made payable to First Presbyterian Church.

Contributions can be mailed or delivered directly to the church office at:
First Presbyterian Church
1390 North State Street
Jackson, MS 39202

Please contact Haley Cushing if you have questions about giving stock gifts or other charitable giving opportunities at haleyc@fpcjackson.org or 769-333-5315.

If you would like to receive offering envelopes, please email or call Barbara Eichelberger at businessoffice@fpcjackson.org or 601-620-2357. Please note that starting or discontinuing the mailing service for offering envelopes can take up to two months.

Contact Information

Questions about giving? Contact Barbara Eichelberger at barbarae@fpcjackson.org or 601-620-2357.

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