All the friends of God… should contribute to the extent possible, however modest their offering may be. God doth not burden a soul beyond its capacity… O Friends of God! Be ye assured that in place of these contributions, your agriculture, your industry, and your commerce will be blessed by manifold increases, with goodly gifts and bestowals. He who cometh with one goodly deed will receive a tenfold reward. There is no doubt that the living Lord will abundantly confirm those who expend their wealth in His path.
‘ABDU’L-BAHÁ, BAHÁ’Í PRAYERS
The practice of giving to the Fund strengthens the connection between the believer and Cause and enhances his sense of identification with it. Divine confirmations rebound upon those who offer a portion of their material resources in a spirit of sacrifice, motivated by their love of the Faith and their desire to assist in its progress.
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Local ACH Contribution
The local ACH (Automated Clearing House) contribution system allows you to donate directly through your checking account on a monthly basis. The Treasurer will collect your banking information and contributions typically automatically clear around the 10th of every month. To modify your contributions you simply need to contact the Treasurer and let them know what changes to make. Using the ACH option also allows you to earmark portions of your contribution for special interest programs (see Earmark Programs below). Contribution receipts for tax purposes will be mailed to you from the Treasurer.
To begin your contributions using the local ACH system, send your initial request and contact information to treasurer@midsoutbahai.org and then the Treasurer will make contact with you to get your banking details.
National OCS Contribution
You may also use the Nation Bahá’í Fund’s OCS (Online Contribution System) service to accept contribution on the Memphis Bahá’í Fund’s behalf. It allows you to use a credit card and set your contribution to occur every two week, every Bahá’í month, or every normal calendar month. This option may be easier to use if you are already contributing to the National Bahá’í Fund, however this option does not allow you to earmark portions of your contribution for special interest programs (see Earmark Programs below). Contribution receipts for tax purposes will be mailed to you from National.
To begin your contribution using the National OCS system, login with your Bahá’í ID at https://ocs.bahai.us/ocs/ and make your choices there. A guide to using the OCS can be found here.
Checking Your ACH Contributions
Once you have started your ACH contributions, you will be able to check online when your contributions were received and how they were applied. This will be the same receipt that will be sent to you for tax purposes at the end of the year. To view this online receipt, go to “www.midsouthbahai.org/contributrions/BahaiID/year”, where “BahaiID” is your Bahá’í ID number and “year” is the current year. For example, http://www.midsouthbahai.org/1234567/2020 would be for the year 2020.
Checking Your OCS Contributions
Once you have started your OCS contributions, you will be able to check online when your contributions were received and how they were applied by logging into National’s OCS system at https://ocs.bahai.us/ocs/.
The Center Fund
The Center Fund serves as an investment for a future Memphis and the Midsouth Bahá’í Center where core activities, holy days, and other community programs can be held. When the establishment of such a center can meet the needs of the community, this is the fund that will make it possible.
The Education Fund
The Education Fund is used to deepen and educate new and current Believers alike with informative programs and materials about the Faith. This can include study circle materials, special presentations, and print materials. This fund also allows for the donation of prayer books from the New Believer Task Force to those who have newly declared.
The Humanitarian Fund
The Humanitarian Fund not only benefits local Bahá’ís that may need assistance when requested, but it is also used to contribute to local charitable and humanitarian programs in the area as well. It has helped sustain Friends in their time of crisis, as well as been a part of programs that provided meals to children of need. This fund works to support the general welfare of Bahá’í community and its surrounding neighbors.
There is also a special provision within the Humanitarian Fund specifically for assisting the Friends during this time of the Covid pandemic. Please read more about it here to learn how it is being used and what services you can benefit from it.
The Teaching-Proclamation Fund
The Teaching-Proclamation Fund is used to bring the Message of Bahá’u’lláh to the general public, and inform them of the Faith either through interfaith or community outreach programs. It has allowed for setting up information booths about the Bahá’í at conventions and has even made taking on a billboard advertisement possible. This fund also immediately supports the newly formed Proclamation Task Force which has been given this responsibility of bringing the Message to the masses.
The Memphis LSA has partnered with Kroger and their community rewards program as a way to supplement contributions to the Humanitarian Fund. After you have selected our community on your online Kroger account, we receive a percentage of your total every time you use your shopper’s card, all at no additional cost to you. If you have already signed up for this service before, you must check it annually to ensure that the community is still selected.
Steps to Add the Community to Your Existing Kroger Account
- Go to http://www.kroger.com
- Move your mouse over Sign In in the upper-right corner of the website and click on My Account.
- Login with your Kroger credentials.
- In the menu listings on the left-side of the screen, select Community Rewards.
- In the Find an Organization search box, type in KY894.
- In the organization information box, click Enroll.
Note 1: You can use the same steps above to verify that you have already selected the community as your organization. If under the Community Rewards page it shows the Organization Name as Spiritual Assembly of Bahais Humanitarian Services, then your selection is still valid.
Note 2: If you do not already have a Kroger account, go to the Kroger website, move your mouse over Sign In, and select the Create Account option.
Giving to the Fund, therefore, is a spiritual privilege, not open to those who have not accepted Bahá’u’lláh, of which no believer should deny himself. It is both a responsibility and a source of bounty. This is an aspect of the Cause which, we feel, is an essential part of the basic teaching and deepening of new believers. The importance of contributing resides in the degree of sacrifice of the giver, the spirit of devotion with which the contribution is made and the unity of the friends in this service; these attract the confirmations of God and enhance the dignity and self-respect of the individuals and the community.
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