Frequently Asked Questions

Shine invites every Westsider to take a next step in discipleship and generosity so more people in Springfield and beyond can meet Jesus and receive help and hope through him.

The Big Picture

Taking Your Next Step

The Shine Guide is your companion for the journey, with weekly spiritual practices to help you ask God what he wants to do in you and through you. Pick one up on Sunday, October 18 as you enter the Worship Center or at the Info Desk during the week. You can also find a digital copy at wschurch.org/shine.

Shine Groups give you a place to walk this journey with others. Explore group options and email KaylaH@wschurch.org to register.

Shine includes everything you already give to West Side, plus any additional gift(s) you sense God nudging you to offer. Every dollar given to West Side from December 2026 through December 2027 goes toward Shine.

If you aren't yet giving regularly, or haven't yet practiced the biblical principle of tithing (giving the first 10% of what you earn), Shine is a great place to start.

The gift chart is simply a helpful guide showing a range of commitment levels, not a menu from which you must choose. Every household’s situation is unique, and we trust you will pray and land on the gift God is placing on your heart. Just write your amount in the space provided on the card. Whatever the number, your gift matters.

We ask every household to prayerfully consider filling out a commitment card on or before Commitment Sunday, November 15. Commitment Cards are available at the Info Desk, or online at wschurch.org/commitmentcard . Making a commitment helps guide your discipleship journey and follow-through, and it helps our church leaders plan wisely.

Shine commitments run 13 months, from December 2026 through December 2027. You can give weekly, monthly, annually, or all at once... whatever works best for you.

That's an honest question. No one should feel shame or pressure about where they are financially.

We still invite you into the Shine journey. Everyone has something they can give and a next step to take with Jesus. Pray with us, read the Shine Guide, and ask God what a faithful step looks like for you right now. For some, that may mean selling or setting aside something this season to make room to give. We encourage you to start somewhere, even if small, and ask God to grow your faith... not because God needs your money, but because he uses generosity to shape your heart and build your trust in him.

Serving is also a beautiful way to follow Jesus, and we hope you will. It's not a substitute for generosity, though... both are part of a life devoted to him.

Your next step may also include getting your finances healthy so you can be even more generous in the future. Contact Matt Cleveland, Director of Community Care, at MattC@wschurch.org to take our Financial Peace University course or meet with a volunteer financial coach.

Life happens. Simply let Brenda Lavin, Director of Finance, know at BrendaL@wschurch.org , and we'll adjust your commitment. No explanation needed.

Absolutely. Generosity is an important spiritual habit, and it's never too early to plant those seeds. Kids and students will have their own commitment card and can consider what they might sacrifice to bring help and hope to others. Visit wschurch.org/shine for the Shine Family Guide. We hope Shine will be a turning point and a season of catalytic growth for all ages.

We're so glad you're here! We'd love for you to pray with us and learn why we're excited about what's ahead. As you sense God leading you to give, respond to His leading and join us on the Shine journey.

Stewardship and Accountability

Wise and accountable stewardship is one of our highest priorities. Every gift is an act of worship, and we treat it that way. Our finance department is led by Brenda Lavin, our Director of Finance and a Certified Public Accountant. Each year, we submit to an independent audit by Capin Crouse, a firm that serves churches and nonprofits across the country. Our volunteer elder board provides oversight of West Side's finances and reviews the budget and audit results.

Commitment Sunday is November 15. Afterward, our finance department will total all committed and expected gifts, and our leadership team will build a project timeline based on our expected cash flow. Excellent stewardship will guide every decision. We'll share the grand total and our plans with you in December.

We'll assess our expected and committed gifts in December. Our 2027 operating budget (Shine Brighter) comes first, so weekly ministry stays strong. Our leadership team and elders will then prioritize, pace, or scale the Shine Further projects to match what God provides. We'll tell you exactly what we decide.

$21 million is already an enormous, God-sized goal... it will take every Westsider taking a faith-filled step to make it happen. If God provides beyond what we can imagine, we're ready. We have a list of additional projects that would extend our impact in our city, our nation, and our world. We'll gladly share this list and our plans if we exceed the goal.

Shine is a one-fund initiative, so every dollar given to West Side supports the entire vision rather than individual projects. This keeps us flexible to fund what's most needed, when it's needed.

We'll share updates throughout the Shine season, including how much has been given and which projects are underway. Look for updates during our services, in emails, on social media, and at wschurch.org/shine. You'll also receive quarterly giving statements showing your Shine gifts and what they've helped make possible.

Our leaders are also walking the Shine journey alongside our congregation, asking God to help us give our first and best in a sacrificial way. West Side’s leaders will make their Shine commitments at Advance Commitment Night on Sunday, November 1, at 5pm in the Worship Center. Everyone is invited to join us for worship, prayer, and a time of commitment that night. Register for Advance Commitment Night at: wschurch.org/ACN.

Ways to Give

Giving to Shine is simple. Choose whatever works best for you:

  • Online at wschurch.org/give
  • In the West Side app
  • In person, in a black offering box during any weekend service
  • By mail to West Side Christian Church, 2850 Cider Mill Lane, Springfield, IL 62702

Setting up a recurring gift online is an easy way to stay faithful to your Shine commitment all year. Every gift to West Side from December 2026 through December 2027 counts toward Shine. To give stock, a DAF grant, or other non-cash gifts, see below.

A stored resource is something of value you already own, beyond your paycheck: stocks, mutual funds, retirement accounts, real estate/land, a business interest, savings, a valuable personal belonging, or even grain or livestock. Most of us think about giving only from income. Stored resources let many people give more generously than they imagined, often with tax benefits. Giving from a stored resource is also a way to honor and trust God with what he has already given you.

A RMD (Required Minimum Distribution) is the amount the IRS requires you to withdraw each year from a traditional IRA or similar retirement account once you reach age 73. That withdrawal normally counts as taxable income.

If you're 70½ or older, you can send money directly from your IRA to West Side as a QCD (Qualified Charitable Distribution). A QCD counts toward your RMD but isn't added to your taxable income. In 2026 you can give up to $111,000 per person this way (the limit adjusts each year). The gift must go straight from your IRA custodian to West Side, not through you or a donor-advised fund. QCDs must come from an IRA. A 401(k) or 403(b) doesn't qualify unless the funds are first rolled into an IRA.

  • Appreciated stock or mutual funds. If you've held them more than a year, giving them directly usually avoids capital gains tax, and itemizers can deduct the full market value.
  • QCDs from your IRA (age 70½+). Reduces taxable income and satisfies your RMD.
  • Cash gifts if you don't itemize. Beginning in 2026, you can deduct up to $1,000 in cash gifts ($2,000 married filing jointly) even if you take the standard deduction.
  • Donor-Advised Fund (DAF) grants. If you already have a DAF, you can recommend grants to Shine.

Contact Brenda Lavin, Director of Finance, at BrendaL@wschurch.org or 217-793-2800. She'd be honored to help.

Yes. A legacy gift lets your generosity shine for generations. For help with wills, trusts, or estate gifts, contact Brenda at BrendaL@wschurch.org .

This section offers general information, not tax or legal advice. Please talk with your tax advisor about your situation.