Let's Talk About Money
We know that talking about money can be uncomfortable. Maybe you’ve been part of a church that seemed to talk about money all the time. Maybe you’ve seen pastors or churches handle money poorly. Maybe you’ve wondered, “Does the church really care about me, or does it just want my money?” Those are legitimate concerns. We understand them. So rather than avoid the conversation, we want to be honest about why money matters, how we approach it, and what we believe God wants to do through our generosity.
Why Does the Church Need Money?
The simple answer is that ministry costs money. Just like a household has regular expenses, unexpected repairs, rising costs, and things it hopes to accomplish in the future, a growing church does too.
There are really three areas we have to continually navigate:
Rising Costs & Ongoing Needs
As Southridge grows and our facilities are used more, the cost of ministry grows with us. Utilities, maintenance, staffing, technology, kids and student ministry, worship, outreach, missions, and countless other things require resources.
Unexpected Repairs & Replacements
Things break. Roofs leak. HVAC systems need to be repaired. Equipment wears out. Buildings require maintenance. Some expenses simply cannot be predicted.
The Future God Is Calling Us Toward
We don't want to simply maintain what we have. We want to continue taking steps toward the vision God has given us—to be a church our community cannot live without.
That means creating space for people to take their next steps with Jesus, reaching people who are far from God, investing in the next generation, serving our community, expanding our ministry, and eventually having the financial freedom to pursue opportunities we can't pursue today.
So yes, there will always be financial needs.
But the need for money isn't the reason we talk about generosity.
This Is Bigger Than Money
Jesus talked about money a lot—not because He needed it, but because He knew how easily money can compete for our hearts.
That's why we believe this is a discipleship issue, not just a money issue.
Materialism doesn't announce itself. It slowly trains us. It shapes what we trust, what we fear, and what we believe will make us secure.
Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
(Matthew 6:21)
The issue isn't whether you have possessions. The issue is whether your possessions have you.
Giving is one of the ways God teaches us to hold our possessions loosely and trust Him instead. It is a tangible way to say, “God, You are my source. My security isn't ultimately found in what I have.”
The goal isn't simply bigger offerings. The goal is a heart that is no longer mastered by money, but mastered by Jesus.
What We Believe About Giving
We don't believe God needs your money.
God isn't short on resources, and Jesus doesn't need us to fund His
church. He invites us to participate in what He is already doing.
We believe generosity should be:
Regular — Giving shouldn't be random. We should make generosity part of the way we live.
Proportional — Scripture consistently connects generosity to what we have been given. The question isn't simply, “What's the least I can give?” but “What does faithfulness look like for me?”
Sacrificial — Biblical generosity requires trust. If giving never requires us to trust God, we may be missing part of what God wants to form in us.
Cheerful — God isn't interested in coerced or guilt-driven giving. “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)
And if you're in debt, unemployed, or barely surviving, Southridge exists for you, not for your money. Faithfulness may not mean giving more right now. It may mean taking the steps necessary to eventually become financially free and generous.
Our Commitment to You
We can't promise you a church that never talks about money.
But we can promise you that we will always strive to be:
Open & Approachable
We want you to be able to ask questions and have honest conversations about money and generosity.
Honest & Accountable
We believe the resources entrusted to this church should be handled with integrity, wisdom, and accountability.
Thoughtful & Resourceful
We want to be good stewards of what God has provided, making wise decisions and using every resource as effectively as possible.
Faithful & Hopeful
We believe God is our provider, and we will continue to trust Him as we pursue the mission He has given us.
Because ultimately, this isn't about getting something from you.
Southridge Church wants something for you, not something from you.
We want you to experience the freedom that comes when money no longer has a hold on your heart. And we want to be a church that uses what God has entrusted to us to make an eternal difference.
Our vision is simple:
We want to be a church our community cannot live without.
Your generosity helps make that possible—not because money is the mission, but because people are the mission.
We believe Jesus can do a lot more with what we place in His hands than we ever could on our own.
So let's live open-handed, trust God together, and see what He wants to do through us.