As a Pastor of a church it is increasingly difficult to bring income into the storehouse. Between theologians who can convince sheep that the tithe is unGodly and the changes in the tax laws, it is a challenge. I’m going to punt on the first problem I mentioned for another time. Today it’s the raising of deductions for itemized returns. The new law increases the standard deduction to $12,000 for singles and $24,000 for couples. When I was younger and single and in military I had no problem giving 18 to 20k in tithes and offerings. Now that I’m married and semiretired, on what combination we make it would be very difficult to donate $24,000 and itemize. While we shouldn’t tithe as a tax write off the facts are many people do.
With the new levels introduced, we need to get more creative in getting the flock engaged in excited in giving to God. We have to stop the scare tactics that has been used too much! We are in the church age not Old Testament. We no longer under a curse, instead we are under a promise. One that states, test me and see. We are not limited to 10% anymore. If that is what you feel then do it,however if God prompts you to give 20% then do it. Once I realized that God wants to partner with his children and not threaten them, I truly wanted to do my part as a member in the kingdom of God.
This can be an opportunity to have giving grow as never before. Please let me know what you think? Blessings.
Bishop Jackson Plant
Plant Ministries
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Bishop Jackson Plant is a military veteran, retired from the US Navy in 2008. In 2018 Bishop Plant joined the board of Directors for Shilo Ministries. Pastor Plant is an Ordained Bishop with the Church of God (Cleveland, Tenn.)
Bishop Jackson Plant’s burning desire and hunger for a revival to see this lost world come to Jesus are the foundation of Plant Ministries.
Pastor Plant has multi faceted ministries, ranging from Director of the Church Of God Christian Servicemen's Center in Yokosuka, Japan; Evangelist for Ministry to the Military's (MTTM) in the Far East; Associated Pastor for various Church of God Ministries in Maryland; Formerly Senior Pastor for Kingdom Time Ministry in Hawaii.
Pastor Plant was called to minister in 1984, a call which he tried his best to run from. For five years he ran, then in 1989 after a death experience; God got a hold of him and he quit running and embraced the call.
During 1997-98, Pastor Plant attended the Brownsville Revival in Pensacola, Florida where God purified his heart and reaffirmed his call to ministry. Then the Navy transferred him to Yokosuka, Japan and then to the USS Kitty Hawk. It was there where he preached for the first time and began the call as God’s servant. Additionally, he was appointed as the Singles Pastor at the Yokota Christian Serviceman's Center.
In 2000 Bishop Plant was credentialed, ordained, and appointed through Church of God. He was sent forth as a Senior Pastor at Yokosuka Christian Servicemen's Center in Japan. Bishop Plant is operating Plant Ministries and lives in Harlingen Texas with his wife, Julie and chi Huey.
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