fbpx

Love Gives Offering

Scripture says, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16, NASB).

Because God loves, He gives! When He sent His only Son into the world that first Christmas, it was the ultimate expression of His love for each and every person. In giving us Jesus, God met our greatest need-a Savior to rescue us from separation and bring us home to a real relationship with Him. Once you experience God’s love in Christ, you’ll gladly give whatever it takes for others to experience that same love too.

That’s why I’m so proud of our Vaughn Forest Church family. Over this past year you have relentlessly demonstrated God’s love through your prayers, your serving, and your financial generosity. Like Father like family. Because you love, you gave whatever it took to help others experience the unconditional love of God found only in Jesus. Your actions are a true reflection of God’s love at work in and through our church family.

Best of all, God has an even greater season of impactful ministry ahead for us. As we wind down 2024 and lean into 2025, we are more motivated than ever to show and share the love of Jesus in our community and around the world. Pastor and theologian Tim Keller offers this reminder, “The gospel is not just the story of how God loves us, but how He empowers us to love others-generously and sacrificially, just as he does.”

Since God loves, He gives. Because we love, we give too. We don’t give just anything. Like God, we give Jesus to others. In order to share Jesus’s love with more people than ever, this year’s special “Love Gives” Christmas Offering will go to five specific ministry initiatives in 2025. Each of these five initiatives are described in the details of this packet. Please read through this packet and prayerfully consider how God would have you and your family give sacrificially so more people can experience His love.

On behalf of our pastors, staff, and leadership teams at Vaughn Forest, know that we love and appreciate you. We’re here to serve you in any way we can and are happy to answer any questions you may have. Please reach out let us know how we can help.

Because Love Gives,
Pastor Jim Botts & the VFC Pastoral Team

The “Love Gives” Special Christmas Offering is a call to sacrificial giving with a goal of $125,000 for five impactful ministry initiatives. Because “Love Gives” we believe God is calling us:

  • To upgrade our Elementary Kids Space into a vibrant, welcoming environment where children can personally encounter God’s love, engage with the story of Jesus, and grow in their faith in a space designed to inspire and impact their hearts and lives.
  • To deepen our commitment to international missions, specifically in Ensenada, Mexico, where we will provide homes for impoverished families and share the life-changing love of Jesus, offering them both physical shelter and eternal hope in Him.
  • To continue serving the communities of East Montgomery and Pike Road with God’s love-no strings attached-reaching out to the mission field He’s placed around us, sharing His hope and transforming lives with the good news of Jesus.
  • To provide housing, training, and support for young women aging out of foster care in Montgomery through a new partnership with The Grove program, showing them the transformative power of God’s love and giving them a future filled with hope.
  • To supply timely disaster relief in response to hurricanes in our region, partnering with trusted organizations to offer care, cleanup, and recovery services, reflecting God’s love by restoring hope and healing to those in desperate need.

We’re inviting everyone who calls Vaughn Forest Church home to sacrificially give to this special offering, reflecting God’s generous love. Together, let’s make a lasting impact by giving boldly and faithfully between now until January 31, 2025.

The 5 Ministry Initiatives of the "Love Gives"
Special Christmas Offering

Our Next Generation Ministry has experienced incredible growth, and it’s been amazing to see how God has been working in the lives of these children over the past year. Because “Love Gives,” we have an exciting opportunity to transform our Elementary Kids Space into an engaging, dynamic environment where kids can experience God’s love, discover the story of Jesus, and develop their personal faith. Every week, our leaders passionately guide these children toward Jesus. By upgrading their space, we will empower our leaders to create a more impactful, interactive setting that fosters spiritual growth and leaves a lasting impression on young hearts for a lifetime.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, many churches have faced setbacks in their international missions due to travel limitations and health concerns. But God has been faithful to us at Vaughn Forest Church, allowing us to continue sending teams to various countries. One of our most significant mission efforts has been in Ensenada, Mexico, where we’ve been able to provide homes for impoverished families while sharing the life-changing love of Jesus. Through these trips, we’ve seen firsthand how God’s love brings both physical shelter and eternal hope. This mission is an incredible opportunity for those going on their first trip or for families wanting to serve together. Because “Love Gives,” we believe God is calling us to deepen our commitment to this mission, expanding our reach to bring His hope to the nations.

The rapid growth of new families in the East Montgomery/Pike Road area is one of
the most exciting developments in our community. Pike Road continues to be one of Alabama’s fastest-growing regions, presenting an incredible opportunity for our church to share God’s love with even more people. We believe this growth positions us to reach many new families for Christ and His Kingdom. Because “Love Gives,” Vaughn Forest can serve our community with no strings attached, impacting more lives than ever before. Through service opportunities at Pike Road and Montgomery schools, we directly reach the next generation and their families with God’s love. Whether through school events, meeting tangible needs, or simply caring for students and staff, we aim to show Christ’s love, build lasting relationships, and share His hope with families throughout our community. While we have much to be grateful for, many families and students still need to experience God’s love. Because “Love Gives,” we can provide the resources necessary to continue serving Montgomery and Pike Road schools, expanding our outreach and impact. Additionally, through our partnership with Reality and Truth, we can extend this love to those in need throughout Downtown Montgomery. Together, we can make a lasting difference, sharing the love of Jesus in our schools and beyond.

At Vaughn Forest Church, we believe that God’s love compels us to care for the vulnerable and provide support to those in need. One of the most powerful ways we can express this love is through our new partnership with The Grove program in Montgomery. The Grove exists to help young women aging out of foster care, a group often facing tremendous challenges as they transition into adulthood. By partnering with this incredible ministry, we have the opportunity to offer more than just temporary assistance-we can provide a place of refuge, training, and consistent support that will enable these young women to thrive. Because “Love Gives,” Vaughn Forest Church can show these women how much God loves them by meeting both their practical needs and their emotional and spiritual needs.
The Grove equips these young women with the skills they need to succeed, offering them housing, education, and job training, as well as a loving community where they are valued and supported. As a church, we can step in and provide additional support, such as mentoring, prayer, and community building, creating a network of care that helps these women grow and step confidently into their futures.

At Vaughn Forest Church, we believe that “Love Gives,” and in times of crisis, God’s love compels us to act. When hurricanes strike our region we want to be ready to provide immediate, meaningful support to those affected by these devastating storms. By partnering with trusted disaster relief organizations, we can supply timely care, cleanup, and recovery services that directly impact the lives of those in desperate need. Whether it’s providing shelter, distributing food, offering emotional support, or helping families rebuild their homes, our church is committed to being a source of hope and healing. Through these efforts, we reflect God’s love by meeting practical needs and showing that no one is alone in their struggle. Vaughn Forest Church can be prepared to respond quickly and effectively, bringing tangible help in the face of disaster. This is not just about providing physical assistance; it’s about restoring dignity and offering the love of Christ to those who need it most. Because “Love Gives,” we are ready to stand alongside our neighbors in their darkest moments, bringing light, hope, and recovery to those in need.

Frequently Asked Questions

At Vaughn Forest Church, our regular offering is a faithful, proportionate tithe-70% of what God has entrusted to us. However, there are times when God calls us
to give sacrificially, stretching our faith and trust in Him. The Special Christmas Offering is one of those moments, inviting us to go above and beyond our regular giving. This is an opportunity to respond to God’s incredible love by giving with a generous heart, reflecting His love to others.

In response to God’s generous love for us, we have set a goo I of $725,000 for
this Special Christmas Offering, inviting everyone to participate. Prayerfully consider what it looks like for you to give sacrificially, stretching your faith as you reflect on God’s boundless generosity. The amount you give is between you and God-whether it’s $5,000, $70,000, $700, or $500. What matters most is not equal giving, but equal sacrifice. What can you give that will stretch your trust in God’s provision?

You can give to the “Love Gives” Special Christmas Offering between now and January 31, 2025.

Visit vaughnforest.com/give, click on “Love Gives Special Christmas Offering,” and enter the amount you wish to give. It’s quick, simple, and secure.

Yes, our offering envelopes are postage-paid, so you can mail them anytime. Simply write “Love Gives” in the 11other11 line on the envelope, and it will be sent directly to our office. If you prefer to mail your check separately, our mailing address is:

Vaughn Forest Church
8660 Vaughn Road
Montgomery, AL 36777

Absolutely! As a 50l(c)(3) organization, Vaughn Forest Church offers tax benefits for in-kind gifts. For more information, contact our financial administrator, Mary Hughes, at 334-279-5433 or email [email protected].

All gifts to Vaughn Forest Church, including regular offerings and the 11 Love Gives” Special Christmas Offering, are fully tax-deductible. Gifts made in 2024 will be deductible on your 2024 taxes. Please include your name and address when giving so we can send you a receipt for tax purposes. While using the tax deduction is not required, it is available for all gifts.

The $725,000 goal was prayerfully set by the leadership of Vaughn Forest Church. We believe in setting goals that stretch our faith while being attainable. Based on our current giving patterns, we trust this goal meets both criteria.

Please pray for God’s guidance as we give sacrificially. We will keep you updated on our progress through email and weekend worship services. Reaching this goal will be a celebration of what we can accomplish together as we stretch our faith, trusting in God’s leadership every step of the way.

If you have any questions about our Love Gives Special Christmas Offering, click here to email Executive Pastor of Operations Hardy Sellers.