Barter, Giving, and the Church

It’s not uncommon even in this 21st century for church members to donate assets to the church. These assets may include real estate, stock, jewelry and even personal property.

Churches will typically accept these non-cash donations and are then stuck with having to sell them for cash at a discount. Members tend to be motivated by tax considerations and often will put a high value on their asset. Churches are ill equipped to effectively manage and convert these assets into a useable form.

Traditionally, churches have accepted the payment of tithes in cash only and have treated donations of property as an offering. However, there is Biblical basis for in-kind contributions of both tithes and offerings.

Old Testament references speak of tithing (paying a tenth) as a percentage of the individual’s increase, which was paid in like kind. (Leviticus 27:30-32, Deuteronomy 14:22, 2 Chronicles 31:5-6, Nehemiah 13:12) The tithe was paid in the same form as the increase was received even though there are countless references as early as the book of Genesis to money. In today’s modern economy, most of us work for a cash wage and therefore it is fitting to pay the tithe on that cash income in cash. However, there are other forms of non-cash income that are considered increase to the recipient that may also be subject to tithing.

Offerings in the Bible were from existing assets, from the giver’s excess and were voluntary with no set amount. There are hundreds of references in the Bible to offerings of the very best of the flock and the best grain and wine from the harvest, all given voluntarily and all in like kind. Would it not be reasonable to conclude that offerings from excess cash should also be paid in cash and offerings from excess assets could be paid in a form other than cash?

Money was created to solve the problems that direct barter created. As civilization progressed, direct barter became more difficult as two willing parties had needs that exceeded the capabilities of the other and discrepancies in values resulted. Currencies worldwide have evolved to a medium of exchange that is now mostly traded virtually.

So, why barter now? Commercial barter today has evolved into an alternative electronic banking system with its own currency and is used to buy and sell excess capacity. Transactions in barter pick up where cash falls short. There are many wasted resources in the church and the wise use of barter could put them to use.

Equitrade International, Inc. is sensitive to the needs of churches and has developed a bartering system to generate incremental revenue for the church and its members. Members can market their skills to generate increased income, which form the basis for additional tithing. Members can also easily convert their idle assets into a barter currency and make offerings to the church’s own barter account, relieving the church of the headache of converting property donations into a useable form.

Bartering can often make the difference between survival and prosperity. Unused capacity cannot be recovered, as it is time and space sensitive. Equitrade offers the opportunity to bank the value of expiring capacity for future use.

Does your church have members that really want to give to special projects and support new mission opportunities but lack the cash resources to do so? Equitrade can show you how to turn their idle assets and unused time and skills into new revenue that can replace cash in your spending. Increased revenue for church members equals increased tithes and offerings for your church.

Your church benefits from incremental revenue, which can be used directly for the payment of a wide range of products and services to offset cash currently being spent. Examples include:

• Printing
• Building maintenance
• Entertainment and lodging
• Travel for pastoral staff
• New equipment
• Activities and events
• Catering for functions
• Venues for retreats
• Resources for outreach programs
• Contractors for building projects
• Professional services

A working local barter economy also provides your church family with a backup plan for the possibility of an economic collapse as we approach harder times ahead. Equitrade enables your members to do trade and commerce with each other without the reliance on external banking. Your church can retain a large portion of its member’s resources internally without spending them externally.

Equitrade’s exclusive consumer barter website provides the network to implement a bartering program for your church family today. For more information please visit www.myequitrade.com and then call us at 678-951-9030 to schedule a meeting to discuss next steps.

The real estate market has been hit hard in recent years. Tumbling property values and scarce financing for buyers has forced many sellers to reconsider their exit strategies and wait for a return to better economic times. But, some sellers don’t have the luxury of waiting. Circumstances have a way of forcing a sale even when it’s not the best timing. Finding a ready buyer to relieve a seller of an unwanted property without suffering a huge loss can be a challenge.

A new market of buyers is available for sellers who have unwanted real estate to sell. Through its extensive client base and bartering network, MyEQUITRADE.com, a division of Equitrade International, Inc. can provide you with buyers who will pay full market value for your property with payment in the form of barter credits. The commercial barter industry has evolved over the past fifty years into an electronic banking system. Barter transactions between businesses today are accounted for in credits and debits, much like cash in a bank account. Businesses barter to fill their excess capacity, which remains unsold after their best efforts to attract cash customers. The commercial barter industry today is a $12 Billion industry and barter credits received as payment for goods and services can be spent among hundreds of thousands of businesses nationwide.

Payment in barter credits for your unwanted real estate may represent a full payment in the case of your property being clear of any debt, or it may represent the equity with the buyer assuming or refinancing your existing debt. It is also possible to structure a sale with a down payment in barter with bank or seller financing for the remaining portion. The amount of barter offered will determine the level of interest and how quickly a sale can be consummated. The offer to accept barter serves to attract buyers from a new market that have barter credits to invest.

Your proceeds in barter credits are deposited into a barter bank account with Equitrade which can then be spent for goods and services that are offered by thousands of businesses nationwide. Equitrade can provide you with the spending opportunities necessary to redeem your barter credits for travel, home improvements, dining, entertainment and a host of other available items. Using barter credits to offset cash in your purchasing allows you to save cash that you were already planning to spend, leaving that cash in your bank account.

Whether your need to sell is motivated by relocation, negative cash flow, pending foreclosure, divorce or even the need to dispose of unproductive vacant land, Equitrade can deliver buyers who are eager to purchase your property with a barter component. Using barter to obtain relief from debt, liquidate a partnership, or dispose of an otherwise idle asset can be a viable alternative to hanging on to an unproductive property. Equitrade can provide you with a ready buyer for your real estate, whether residential or commercial, and can solve your real estate problem quickly. For more information, please visit www.myequitrade.com or call 678-951-9030.