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A Way of Life in Christ
Stewardship
Stewardship is not a financial program. It is a spiritual practice.
In the Orthodox life, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving form the three pillars of our ascetical struggle. Just as we discipline the body through fasting and train the mind through prayer, we train the heart through generosity.
Everything we have is entrusted to us by God. Stewardship is the practice of placing it back into His hands through the concrete life of the parish.
Give
Our preferred method of electronic giving is through the Tithe.ly platform. It’s the most popular because it is easy to use, has similar fees, but also allows you to cover the fees by adding the fee percentage to your donation so the church will receive the entire amount you wish to give.
Your generosity is changing lives and building Christ’s Church here in South Orlando.
Give with Zelle – Electronic Giving
Use this email token when transferring money through Zelle: donations@southorlandoorthodox.org.
Get more information here about Zelle: https://www.zellepay.com/
Check or Cash
Donations can be given at the church in the Tithes/Offerings lockbox or by mail:
St. John the Merciful Orthodox Church 2220 East Irlo Bronson Mem Hwy Unit #1 Kissimmee, FL 34744
St. John the Merciful Orthodox Church is a 501c3 nonprofit organization.
Personal Donation Portal - Diocese of the South
To donate via the Diocese of the South website, click on the button below and select St. John the Merciful from the dropdown menu near the bottom.
Money and the Salvation of the Soul
What Is a Tithe?
The word “tithe” means a tenth. In the Old Testament, God’s people set aside the first portion of what they received for the work of the Lord, not as a matter of strict accounting, but as an act of gratitude. In the New Testament, Christ calls us even deeper, not to calculate the minimum, but to recognize that everything we have belongs to God. For many Orthodox Christians, the tithe remains a helpful benchmark, not as a rule, but as a discipline. Some begin there, others grow toward it over time, but all are called to increase in generosity.
Christ speaks about money often, not because He needed resources, but because it reveals the heart. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” The rich young ruler walked away sorrowful because his wealth held him captive, while the widow was praised for her small offering because of her trust in God. Money is never only financial, it is spiritual. Generosity frees us from fear, loosens our attachment to possessions, and teaches us to trust in God. This is why stewardship is not just about giving, it is about salvation.
Everything we have is entrusted to us by God.
General Stewardship and Designated Gifts
The ongoing life of the parish is sustained through regular stewardship directed to the general fund. This supports:
- The Divine Liturgy and sacramental life
- Clergy support and pastoral care
- Administration and operations
- Catechesis and ministries
Designated gifts — such as alms or building fund support — are welcomed and used accordingly. These are best understood as offerings above and beyond regular stewardship, not as a replacement for it.
A healthy parish culture depends on consistent, proportionate, and prayerful giving.
St. John the Merciful is building a permanent Orthodox parish in South Orlando — rooted in worship, mercy, and long-term stability. Regular stewardship is how that permanence becomes possible. Through faithful giving, we establish not only present ministry, but a future home for generations to come.
Forming the Habit of Giving
The parish is sustained primarily through a general fund (Tithes), which supports:
- The celebration of the Divine Liturgy and other services
- Clergy support and pastoral care
- Administration and parish operations
- Liturgical music and choir leadership
- Catechesis and parish ministries
We also maintain designated funds, including:
- Alms (assisting those in need within and beyond our parish)
- Building and facility needs
- Special parish projects
Designated gifts are welcomed and used accordingly. Regular stewardship is typically directed toward the general fund, which sustains the ongoing life of the parish.
If you would like to designate a gift, you may do so through the online form or by noting it clearly on your check or using a giving envelope.
Your support helps ensure that the Orthodox faith remains present and accessible in this region—not as an event, but as a stable parish community where Christ is worshiped and the Gospel is lived.
Thank you for your faithfulness.
