THE LORD’S BANK

• The Lord’s Bank is The Lord’s Bank is similar to any similar to any financial institution. financial institution. It operates like any It operates like any savings bank.savings bank.

• It aims to collect It aims to collect money through money through tithes or donations.tithes or donations.

What is the LORD’S BANK

• Because instead of Because instead of saving for one’s own saving for one’s own need, it is saving for the need, it is saving for the needs of others. needs of others.

• It is saving money for It is saving money for those who are less those who are less fortunate. fortunate.

But it is BANKING with a difference!

• Money deposited in Money deposited in the Lord’s Bank the Lord’s Bank cannot be withdrawn cannot be withdrawn anymore.anymore.

• It is already owned It is already owned by the Lord, and to be by the Lord, and to be disposed in favor of disposed in favor of the needy brothers the needy brothers and sisters.and sisters.

But it is BANKING with a difference!

• It can be used to It can be used to purchase food, purchase food, medicines, clothes and medicines, clothes and other basic needs. other basic needs.

• It can be used as seed It can be used as seed money or capital for money or capital for any livelihood or any livelihood or enterprise to help the enterprise to help the poor uplift their poor uplift their standard of living.standard of living.

But it is BANKING with a difference!

Like any bank, the Lord’s Like any bank, the Lord’s Bank will issue a passbook Bank will issue a passbook in the name of the in the name of the member depositor. There member depositor. There shall be a ledger for shall be a ledger for individual depositor in individual depositor in order to record total order to record total donations. donations.

Upon giving the initial Upon giving the initial amount for deposit, the amount for deposit, the Bank shall issue a Bank shall issue a passbook. Any amount can passbook. Any amount can open an account.open an account.

But it is also called a BANK!

It is highly encouraged It is highly encouraged to deposit in the bank to deposit in the bank in a regular basis. in a regular basis.

Depositors can visit the Depositors can visit the Bank’s Office, normally Bank’s Office, normally to be established in the to be established in the Parish Office, for Parish Office, for depositing any amount, depositing any amount, then posted in the then posted in the passbook. passbook.

But it is also called a BANK!

Depositor/Donor will be Depositor/Donor will be informed where his/her informed where his/her contribution/money contribution/money goes.goes.

At end of the year, each At end of the year, each depositor shall be depositor shall be furnished with the total furnished with the total amount contributed/amount contributed/

deposited to the Lord’s deposited to the Lord’s Bank.Bank.

But it is also called a BANK!

Beneficiaries of the Lord’s Beneficiaries of the Lord’s BankBank

The target beneficiaries of the Lord’s Bank are the poorest among the poor, the Anawims of the Lord.

They are the street children, the transients, the beggars, the homeless, the sick and the elderly.

Beneficiaries of the Lord’s Beneficiaries of the Lord’s BankBank

It will also cater to the unemployed, for those who will venture small scale livelihood program and other income generating projects.

Beneficiaries of the Lord’s Beneficiaries of the Lord’s BankBank

Lastly, the depositor-members themselves, because they are given the chance to be generous and charitable.

Saving in the Lord’s Saving in the Lord’s BankBank

One can be motivated to join the Lord’s Bank through:

TITHING

Tithing is an Old Testament concept. The tithe was a requirement of the law in which all Israelites were to give 10% of everything they earned and grew to the Tabernacle / Temple (Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:26; Deuteronomy 14:24; 2 Chronicles 31:5).

What is Tithing?

Some understand the Old Testament tithe as a method of taxation to provide for the needs of the priests and Levites of the sacrificial system.

The New Testament nowhere commands, or even recommends that Christians submit to a legalistic tithe system. Paul states that believers should set aside a portion of their income in order to support the church (1 Corinthians 16:1-2).

The New Testament nowhere assigns a certain percentage of income to set aside, but only says it is to be “in keeping with his income” (1 Corinthians 16:2).

The Christian church has essentially taken the 10% figure from the Old Testament tithe and applied it as a “recommended minimum” for Christians in their giving.

Although the New Testament does not identify a specific amount or percentage to give, it does talk about the importance and benefits of giving. They should give as they are able, “in keeping with his income.” Sometimes that means giving more than a tithe, sometime that may mean giving less than a tithe. It all depends on the ability of the Christian and the needs of the church.

Each and every Christian should diligently pray and seek God’s wisdom as to whether to participate in tithing and/or for how much he or she should give (James 1:5). “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).

Saving in the Lord’s Saving in the Lord’s BankBank

One can be motivated to join the Lord’s Bank through:

THE 3S WAY: SACRIFICE

SAVESHARE

SACRIFICE means giving up something or mortifying from any unwanted desires in favor of someone needing immediate aid. Every act of sacrifice shall be quantified in terms of monetary equivalent. For example, I will not take any snack today or every Friday. If one snack would cost me twenty pesos, I save twenty pesos that day. There are many little acts of sacrifice we can think of, then calculate their worth. That’s your saving!

SAVE. Keep what you save that day. Choose a day in a week, when you can come to the office of the Lord’s Bank and deposit it. Make it your regular habit. Or at least once a month you deposit the accumulated amount you have for all the mortifications and sacrifices you made.

SHARE. Allow the Lord’s Bank to use your saving to help your poor brethren. That is your sharing.

The Lord say, “…when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right hand is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you”(Mt.6:3-4).

Almsgiving can be linked to fasting. Money saved from giving up superfluities may be redirected to helping those who do not have necessities for life. Why not take the money that would be spent on that fancy meal you decided to forego and give it to those who do not know where their next meal is coming from?

If you have given up movies for Lent or any other indulgence, again let the money saved be diverted to the really needy.