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The Giving Kiosk

Orginally published on Thursday, August 02, 2007 at 5:51 AM
by Todd Rhoades

We did a post on this a while back, but some churches are starting to use on-site 'giving kiosks'. I also have heard people say that the only check they write any more is to the local church. I've seen these units and they are very visually appealing; and they seem to be working according to this report. Would your church ever consider using a giving kiosk? Watch this report, and then give your input.

So… what do you think?


This post has been viewed 2698 times so far.


  There are 21 Comments:

  • Posted by Paul J.

    Wow. Pretty cool.
    I could see the possibility of using one. We’re pretty low-key on offerings anyway...we don’t take up an offering during a service. We just have boxes on the wall and people know where to put it. So this would probably go right along with our vibe…

  • Posted by Camey

    Could definitely see the possibility of using one myself… There are others in our church though who will always want an “offering plate” to put their money in.

    This is cool though.

  • Posted by Josh Young

    I think it’s a great idea if it would fit well in your church.  I especially like the fact that you can set them up to only accept debit cards, and not credit cards, if you want to.  Honestly, I don’t think it would be a bad idea if they were all set up that way.

  • Posted by

    Paul J. said:

    “We just have boxes on the wall and people know where to put it.”

    This is disgusting because it will make people who may want a bit of anonymity and who may usually and quickly pass by the boxes to drop in their dues, to now stand and wait for the process to finish and for everyone to view how “giving” a person is.

    This ATM (i.e., Automatic Tithe Machine) is nothing more than another worldly idea embraced by the so-called “church.”

  • Posted by

    Ricky,

    Passing a basket seems like a pretty “worldly” idea to me, too (and our “so called churches” are real churches you know). You bring up a valid point about the machines, but I don’ t know that anyone knows what you give when you walk up anyway.

  • Posted by Camey

    Our offering is taken up by plates going down each row at the very end of each service. It could be said that the same individuals who take it up each week knows who gives and who doesn’t.

    I would find it interesting to know if others see the following as pluses or minuses:

    1) The money is automatically put into the church’s account. No more waiting until all the check amounts are counted, recorded, deposited, and clear the bank.

    2) Less need for individuals to be involved in the money counting. Therefore, not handling the money directly.

    3) Those who no longer use checks and/or cash might be more inclined to give.

    Any takers on answering plus or minus?

  • Posted by Josh Young

    Ricky: It doesn’t seem to me that anyone would know what you give at the kiosk any more than they would know what you give when you drop it in a box or pass the plate.  It’s not like it’s on a movie screen on the wall or something.  Do people know everything that you do at a conventional ATM?  Not likely.  I don’t see how it’s any different than this.  And I’m not sure how using something like this is any more “worldly” than us using audio/video equipment, computers, websites, or even musical instruments.

    “You don’t plow corn with a mule anymore.”

  • Posted by

    Ricky, are you having a bad day?  “disgusting”?  “so called church”?  Relax, go for a walk, take a pill or something.   I don’t know what church you’re used to but I guarantee you that our church does not charge “dues”.  We encourage giving, but we don’t have dues.

    I don’t foresee churches replacing other methods for giving with these machines, just adding the machines so people can use them if they prefer to.  I’m sure the box will still be there for you man.  And anyone who wants anonymity should try giving online, no one ever has to know you’re giving at all.

  • Posted by Leonard

    Can you get cash out and if so, is it only in 20.00’s?

    Actually this is probably a bit before its time in the church so that means it is about 8 years too late.  I would give one a whirl and see if it made a difference.  I would not want one unless it was helpful in teaching and facilitating giving for people who do not give.

  • Posted by

    Camey, I would see all three as pluses.  These are also some of the reasons I like online giving.

    I remember growing up, when the plate was passed you wanted to put something in so people wouldn’t think you weren’t giving but you can’t make that assumption any more.  I think that’s a good thing.

    The negatives would be perception; “Forgot your checkbook, no cash on you, no problem. We now have another way to get your money, er, I mean for you to give.”

    And I think the machine should definitely be limited to debit cards, credit card debt is such a problem for so many these days I wouldn’t feel good letting people give to the church by adding to their debt balance.

    And, Leonard, I was under the impression these were for electronic fund transfer only and would not dispense cash.  I could be wrong.  I don’t think I’d want something with that much cash inside in the church, too tempting for thieves.

  • Posted by Leonard

    Daniel, I just don’t know how to make one of those smiley faces to punctuate my bad humor.

  • I would not be opposed to this if the church is committed to EQUIPPING its people with a proven, compelling vision for finances under God’s Lordship. The danger is that to place this machine in the lobby it could create an environment where local Pastors relinquish their God given responsibility to disciple their congregation about the act of worship through giving.

  • Posted by

    DanielR said:

    “I don’t know what church you’re used to but I guarantee you that our church does not charge ‘dues.’.  We encourage giving, but we don’t have dues.”

    Riiiight.

    If so, then ask the pastor if you can oversee a certain “ministry” within your organization and see what he says.

    He’ll check to make sure you’ve been giving, attending all of the appropriate classes and that you jump through the remaining hoops before entrusting you with any type of leadership role.

    He’ll call it being “faithful.”

    The Western “church” most certainly charges dues, although most of the sheeple don’t or won’t acknowledge that fact.

  • Ricky said, “If so, then ask the pastor if you can oversee a certain “ministry” within your organization and see what he says.”

    As a Pastor I can definitely say that I have no access to and have never made decisions on who leads ministry areas based on giving.

    This thread or post is really not about the viability of using technology to make it easier for members to give. It is not a discussion about motives and mistakes some Pastor’s make concerning people who support their local churches.

    Ricky, please don’t make general statements about all of us.

  • Posted by

    Ricky,

    Shame on you for making such a gross and false accusation. I have not served in one of these churches where the pastor looks up what you’ve been giving. In the church I served in now (and as far as I know all the churches I’ve attended in the past couple decades) the pastor has no access to giving records whatsoever.

    Now… If someone volunteers to lead a ministry and is clearly unequipped in character or competence, then we might have a discussion with that person to really find out what’s up. I’d hate for a really grumpy person to lead our Welcome Team, for instance, or someone who is cruel to children lead our Nursery, for instance. Or someone who can’t sing lead Worship. But giving records? Sorry… We have five pastors on staff. None of us has access to that. Only our bookkeeper does, and she ain’t talkin’.

    Ricky, I think you’ve been burned by at least one really greedy and really unbiblical (and possibly really abusive) church. While I’m sincerely sorry for that and hope that you have a positive experience sometime soon (as many of us have had and are having) when you lash out at all churches, you really don’t make a lot of sense. It is perceived as rude and insulting, two things that I think you’d agree are not the mark of a Christian.

    And I’m pretty sure that your bitterness is really hurting nobody but Ricky.

  • Posted by Noel

    Well, Todd, looks like you have hit the big time.  Time Magazine quoted you this article.

  • Posted by

    Ricky, based solely on your comments here, I would have to support any decision not to place you in charge of ministry at a church.

    I also would not see going to the Pastor of a church I belonged to and asking to be in charge of a certain ministry.  Volunteering, certainly, but asking to be allowed to “oversee” a ministry?  I’m not sure how that would be received.

    I pity you your bleak outlook on the church and I will pray for you.

  • Posted by

    There is another company on the market that is offering a kiosk with giving features, but they have things like calendars, bulletins, registrations, maps, their website, etc.. that churches can put on the kiosks.  I think something like this would be easier for a congregation to accept than a strictly giving kiosk.

    Their website is http://www.churchlink.biz .  I compared their rates to Securegive, and they are about the same on the start-up and monthly costs, but their processing rates look a little bit lower.

    As a church member I would not have a problem with a church installing a kiosk in my church.  I use my debit and credit cards for all of my purchases.  I have written less than 3 checks in the past three months, and I know I would use something like this.

  • Posted by Rodney Ayres

    There is another giving kiosk company out there called ChurchLink.  They not only have giving but they have things like calendars and bulletin updates.  Check them out at http://www.churchlink.biz.

  • Posted by

    I have heard about church link and called them to get some information on pricing. One thing I thought was odd is that they haven’t sold any kiosk to any churches yet.  I called SecureGive and they have put around 100 of these out in the market. I wonder how many of these churches are benefiting from this type of service?

  • Posted by Travis Gates

    Hey friends,

    We at Church Media Group also created a line of giving kiosks as well as an online giving application, and a mobile phone giving solution. Please check this out and let me know what you think!

    Thanks
    Travis Gates

    http://www.ministrygive.com

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