Giving Philosophy
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Everything we have belongs to God and He has entrusted us to be good stewards.
God owns everything
It is a privilege to be God’s instruments on earth and distribute His resources to a broken, hurting world. When we give, we are making a conscious decision to exchange our plans, agendas and priorities for God’s.
How we handle our money and possessions shows how fearlessly we abide in Him.
Jesus talked more about money than virtually any other subject in the Bible. He said, “Where your treasure is, your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). That means we declare something to be truly important when we invest our money in it.
Giving grows our faith.
Giving is an expression of trust in the God who has been faithful in the past and promises to provide in the future. Scripture reminds us, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).
When we live with open hands, we recognize that everything we have is a gift from Him. Generosity shifts our perspective—from holding tightly to what we have, to trusting God with what He’s already placed in our care. Each time we give, we’re simply returning to God what is already His, saying, “Use this for Your purposes.”
frequently asked questions
How does Kensington arrive at an annual budget?
Every year, Kensington’s membership votes to affirm our 12-month financial playbook. As a thriving church with eight locations and a worldwide ministry, it takes over $13 million a year to fuel our local and worldwide impact. Your giving to the Kensington Fund is what makes it all possible.
How can I keep track of how much I give?
You can log in to your giving profile at any time to view your giving history and track your contributions. At the end of each year, you’ll also receive a giving statement by mail for your records. If you ever have questions or need assistance, you can contact our Development Office team at [email protected] or 248.786.0637.
What are Kensington's beliefs about money?
We believe that God owns everything, and we are called to be good stewards of what God has entrusted us with. It’s our belief that God continues to bless Kensington because we’ve followed two principles from the beginning. First, we see ourselves as a pipeline God can use to bless His people through. Second, we see money as a tool to help accomplish God’s will in the earth. It was his to start with, and we are only his money managers.
Where does Kensington get its money?
It’s the financial generosity of the people in our community that fuels the incredible life change that we experience around here. Our support comes from many individual contributions and offerings, including the tithes of our attenders.
What is Kensington's view on tithing?
Under Old Testament law, Israelites were required to give 10% (a “tithe”) of their earning. The New Testament suggests a similar, but voluntary, pattern. Paul says believers should regularly set aside a portion of their income to support the church (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). And 2 Corinthians 9:6 reminds us of the blessings of giving, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”
How is Kensington's financial integrity monitored?
We’re committed to full financial integrity and employ a system of strict internal controls. Plus, we have an annual external audit from the independent CPA firm Gordon Advisors, P. C. You can request a copy of the report to view how the money given to Kensington is well managed.
How does the budgeting process work?
Each ministry calculates their objectives and costs for the year. Then, appointed staff reviews the figures and may recommend changes based on the overall vision for the church. The final proposal covering all ministries and operations is developed by a group on our Executive Team, approved by our Leadership Team and Elders, and then submitted for a congregational vote at our annual meeting in June each year.
Does Kensington have an open book policy?
Come on in and check it out. We are glad to show our financial data to anyone who requests to see it. If you have questions, you may contact our Director of Outreach and Operations, John Lucarelli.
How much cash is Kensington staff bringing in?
In a church, releasing income info could lead to misunderstandings among staff members and in the congregation. People might make value assessments without being privy to performance reviews and other criteria used to set a salary and evaluate performance. We believe you can trust our leaders and HR department to make wise decisions.
What principles are used in setting salaries?
We survey similar churches across the country to see what a similar staff position pays. Then we weigh in the cost of living in the area, the individual’s job performance, and the overall faithfulness and fruitfulness of the staff member. Across the board, our staff compensation is in line with (or below) comparably sized churches.
What happens with leftover money from the year?
While our goal is that money received is deployed and used for doing ministry each year, if there is leftover money at the end of a fiscal year, it is put back into the Kensington Fund for the following year.
Will I be pressured to give?
Never. We do receive an offering at our services, but there’s never, ever any pressure to give—especially for visitors. No guilt trips, no squeezing. Kensington is supported financially by people who’ve cheerfully chosen to make it their church home. Giving is a form of worship.
Thank You
Your generosity is helping more people experience the hope and transformation found in Jesus. Because of your faithfulness, lives are being changed—here in our communities and around the world. “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give… for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7).
We continue to see God move in powerful ways—lives transformed as people say “yes” to Jesus, our church family growing deeper through prayer and community, and more people being reached both locally and globally. Across our communities, people are stepping out to serve and bring hope in tangible ways, while our Global Partners faithfully share the love of Jesus around the world. We’re also seeing the next generation rise up with bold faith, impacting their schools and circles of influence. It’s a powerful reminder that when we come together with open hands, God multiplies what we offer for His purposes.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Your partnership in this mission matters more than you know, and we’re so grateful to walk alongside you in reaching the [one].
If you have any questions about our budget, financial stewardship, or annual audit, our Development Office team is here to help. You can reach us anytime at [email protected] or 248.786.0637.