An easy way to donate to Mount Cross

The Stewardship Ministry of Mount Cross Lutheran Church is pleased to announce the introduction of a new feature to compliment Simply Giving®, our electronic fund transfer (EFT) contribution program endorsed by Thrivent Financial Bank. While Simply Giving® continues to offer its easy and secure service, it has now been enhanced with Online Donation to allow you to manage your regular offerings or single contributions online in the privacy of your own home using their secure and easy to use system.

Of course, if you still would rather use a paper form and let us do the data entry for you, that option is still available. Paper or direct electronic – the result is the same – fast and secure contributions and you don’t even need your checkbook! Simply click here to contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What are the major advantages of electronic giving by direct debit?

A. Direct debit is all about convenience for you and consistency for the church. Electronic giving eliminates frequent check writing and helps members stay on track with pledges even when they are unable to attend services. The church in turn benefits from much-needed donation consistency and a reduction in the volume of check and cash contributions that must be handled and manually processed in the church office.

Q. How does Direct Debit Giving work?

A. Contributions are transferred automatically from your checking or savings account to the church’s bank account.

Q. How are my automatic contributions deducted and transferred?

A. First, you sign up! There are two methods – you can sign up online on our website OR you can sign and return an authorization form to the church. In both cases, you will indicate the amount you wish to contribute on a regular basis. Contributions are then transferred through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network—the same network already used by families to make mortgage and utility payments or to receive payroll earnings and Social Security income. Direct debit goes by other names including Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), automatic payment, or simply, ACH.

Q. When will my contribution be debited from my account?

A. A debit to your account will occur each month on the date you specify on your authorization.

Q. How much does direct debit giving cost me?

A. It costs you nothing.

Q. What can I use to prove I made a contribution?

A. You will still receive an annual contribution statement that can be used as proof of your contributions. Your bank statement will also show an itemized list of electronic transactions.

Q. Is giving by direct debit risky?

A. It is certainly less risky than writing checks or carrying cash to church. To process electronic donations, the church uses Vanco Services, LLC—an established and highly-regarded company that moves funds directly from church members to the church on the same day without any delay. Vanco processes contributions for more than 10,000 churches and nonprofit organizations.

Q. What if I try electronic giving by direct debit and don’t like it?

A. You can cancel your authorization at any time. If you signed up online, you can cancel your authorization directly. If you signed up through the office, call the church office and they will be happy to help.

Q. How will I keep track of contributions in my check register?

A. Since your contribution is made at a pre-established time, you simply record it in your check register on the appropriate date. Electronic contributions will appear on your bank statement.

Q. How can I sign up for electronic giving by direct debit?

A. There are two methods: You can sign up online on our website, or you can sign and return an authorization form to the church. If you chose the paper method, you can download the form from our website, or we can mail or fax it to you. Feel free to contact us.