Mobile and online giving is going to be used in increasing measure as the technology matures.
myTithe seems to be one of the players that’s going to help spur that progression forward.
I installed the app (get it here, free for a limited time) and was quickly able to create a profile. In fact, I added my ministry in less than 30 seconds.
So far so good.
Simple, Elegant, Easy:
The mobile app is simple and elegant, and the buttons are obvious and large.
I didn’t have much problem getting started but you do have to enter all the information for your ministry if it doesn’t exist.
In addition, you’ll have to speak with one of their representatives to get the payment system in place for your church.
After signing up my ministry it took only about 30 minutes to get a personal email in my inbox to discuss completing the setup.
What do you guys think?
Theological Questions Still Remain:
John Dyer has brought up a number of great questions and dialogue to consider with online giving in general:
The point isn’t that there is a problem with online giving itself. The problem was with my approach to the technology. I didn’t think it through spiritually or communally.
Instead, I simply decided that convenience was the only criteria I would use to evaluate the technology.
Is there value in physically giving something with the rest of the community on a Sunday? John continues:
Again, the point is not that one technology – cash, checks, or automatic draft – is better than the other. It’s that the technology we use is never spiritually neutral. Rather, each technology presents us with a different set of spiritual choices.
This means that when we neglect to think about our technology, we are neglecting to think spiritually.
Great stuff to think about. Giving is a spiritual activity and we should definitely consider how technology impacts it, for both the good and the potentially bad.
Brian Ayers says
The theological question is an interesting one, and an important one to think through.
The way I’ve come to see it for me and my family is we give our tithe online automatically (it’s not ours anyway, it belongs to God) and then we BRING any offerings to give at church services or or as a need arises or God puts it on our hearts.
John Saddington says
cool stuff.
youngdesign says
I like that.
Adam Shields says
Potentially I think this answers some of John’s questions. It is a mobile app and you could take it with you and give while you are at church. That allows you to be present in your giving, but also use electronic payment methods that many of us now prefer.
John Saddington says
that’s kinda cool.
Scott Magdalein says
Awww, native app? That’s a bummer. No web app means no myTithe for the rest of the non-iPhone world. 🙁
John Saddington says
yeah. sad.