West Jackson Baptist Church

"Honor the Lord with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase."
Proverbs 3:9

At West Jackson Baptist Church our entire church is focused on one goal: changing lives…one person at a time. The simple fact, however, is that the church cannot do this without money. And God has decided that each church is to be funded by those who are a part of that local church. Simply put: our giving makes an eternal difference.
Recognizing this, the Finance Office of our church wanted to highlight ALL of the ways a person in our church family could make a difference financially. Here are some creative ways you can maximize what God has blessed you with to change the world one life at a time.

Giving back to God does not have to be a stressful process. Listed here are several easy ways to make giving fit your time and resources. Some may require assistance from our Finance Office. If you need further help, contact Jerry Ross 660-4535 ext. 125 or jross@wjbc.org.

This one is pretty self-explanatory. If you would like to write a check or give cash, you may bring it with you to a weekend service, place it in the offering envelope provided in the pew rack, and drop it in an offering plate as they are passed. All gifts are processed and deposited the next day.

Sometimes it is easier to simply mail in your gift like you would any other bill. Many choose this option by sending their offering in an envelope to:

Your envelope will be immediately forwarded to the Finance Office to be processed and counted toward the following week's offering (no other staff member will open your envelope).

Many aren't aware that the same process that allows employers to make automatic payroll deductions for things such as child support and charitable contributions like the United Way, can also be used to give directly to the church. By requesting a Payroll Deduction Form and submitting it to your company's Human Resources Department, you can make contributions to the church automatically.

Stocks, bonds, and mutual funds are great ways to give without incurring capital gains on appreciated assets. You can transfer your stock gift from your account directly to the church's account. We will sell the asset and apply the amount of the sale to your annual contribution statement. If you have a stock certificate on hand and want to discuss how to make the transfer, contact our Finance Office at 660-4535 ext. 125 or jross@wjbc.org.

Did you know that instead of using your car for a trade-in, you could donate that car to the church and receive a tax write-off? This is not only limited to cars, but also includes boats, land, jewelry, and any other items of value. You donate the item to the church and the church in turn secures an estimate of value and issues you a tax-deductible receipt.

Under current tax laws, unnecessary estate taxes are often paid by the estates of those who have died. By leaving a portion of your assets to the church in your will, you not only avoid losing a large part of your estate to death taxes, but you continue making a difference in the lives of people long after you have departed.

The "Pension Protection Act of 2006" became law in August 2006. Of potential interest to qualifying West Jackson Baptist Church donors is one of the charitable giving incentives included in the bill: For individuals who have reached the age of 70.5 and who have Individual Retirement Accounts, tax-free distributions to non-profit organizations are now possible for a limited time.

Previously, distributions from IRAs for charitable gifts were fully taxable at the federal level (except for Roth IRAs and IRAs funded with nondeductible contributions). Now, in addition to being tax-free, charitable distributions also count toward the IRA holder’s annual Required Minimum Distribution. And since there is no tax deduction involved—the distribution is simply excluded from gross income—even those who do not itemize deductions may participate. Can you take advantage of the "IRA charitable rollover"? To find out, continue reading...

1. I'm interested. What else do I need to know?
The key points of the legislation are as follows:

You must be at least 70.5 years old.
Gifts must be from your traditional or rollover IRA.
Tax-free charitable gifts from IRAs are allowed only in 2006 and 2007.
Charitable distributions from your IRA may not exceed $100,000 per year.
Distributions must be made directly from the IRA custodian to West Jackson Baptist Church.
Distributions must be outright charitable gifts (vs. contributions to fund gift annuities and other planned giving arrangements, which do not qualify).

2. Who is most likely to be motivated to make a charitable gift from an IRA?
Generally speaking, individuals 70.5 and older who are required to take IRA distributions, but who do not need or want the taxable income from that source, may find the IRA gift opportunity attractive.

Disclaimer: Please note that we are not giving tax advice and strongly recommend that each individual seek counsel from their tax preparer for further clarification.

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