Dear church family,

This letter concerns a change that is coming in how we process “automatic giving.” We currently use a company by the name of Vanco. We have many members who are using this method for their tithe but have had difficulties with it. It has not been user-friendly.

A few months ago, we rolled out the online directory called Breeze. Breeze has been a wonderful tool for our church and is very user-friendly. It has many functions including the option to set up automatic giving. You can also choose what fund you want your money to go to. You can opt to split it into different funds. You will also have the option to give by texting. This is a feature several of you have asked for. It is a very easy option. I have tested both options and they are a breeze!

With Breeze, you always have access to your private giving statement, and you always have access to the online directory which changes frequently, especially as we add members.

Here in the office, we love to say, “Use Breeze! It’s a breeze!” Breeze also has the church’s event calendar so you always know what’s happening at your church!

If you have not utilized Breeze yet or have had difficulties signing in, let the office know and we will certainly help you.

We have not yet made the official switch from Vanco to Breeze. Vanco is still what you will see on our website until The Board of Trustees sets a date for our transitioning time. However, Breeze online giving and giving by text are operational now. You simply go into your account and you will see the GIVE NOW tab at the top. Or you may follow the link that I have below. You can also text to 940-350-3040.

I will help each of you who have been using Vanco faithfully in this transition.

We truly appreciate that many of you took advantage of Vanco either through one-time or recurring gifts, and we’re excited to transition over to Breeze for future online and text donations.

A lot of thought went into switching giving providers, and ultimately, because of all the benefits that come with using Breeze, the Board of Trustees decided it was the right move for us. First, we already use Breeze as our church management system, and online and text giving is built-in. This means we don’t have to pay a monthly fee for giving software and we can put that money back into the church. Plus, it helps us consolidate tools and manage all gifts in one secure system making daily admin tasks much easier (such as running year-end giving statements for our members).

Here’s how to get started.

Next Steps for One-Time Gifts

Going forward, if you’d like to give a one-time gift, simply give using Breeze instead of Vanco by going to https://firstmethodistbridgeport.breezechms.com/give/online and following the instructions on the page.

Or, text the amount you’d like to donate (example: 50) to 940-350-3040 and follow the prompts for a one-time setup. In the future, you’ll simply be able to text the gift amount to our giving number and hit send! If you want to text-give to a particular fund, such as Food Pantry, the text will simply be 50 pantry or to the Building Fund, 50 building, to Church beautification it is 50 beauty. To text to budget, you can simply put 50 for it is the default fund.

Next Steps for Recurring Givers

If you’re a Recurring Giver in Vanco, first cancel the gift within their system. I can do this from the office if you have difficulty.

• Go to https://firstmethodistbridgeport.breezechms.com/give/online
• Enter the amount you’d like to give
• Click the dropdown that shows the words “one-time gift” and select a different frequency from the menu (weekly, every two weeks, monthly, yearly)
• Select your Payment Method and click “Continue”
• Now, enter your Contact and Payment Information and choose if you would like to cover the processing fees
• Click the “Give $” button

As with all online giving platforms, there are the normal fee percentages for using this service. We have found that these percentages are cheaper with Breeze. They are listed here.

Credit/Debit Cards
2.9% + $0.30/transaction 2 Business Days

American Express Charge/Credit/Debit Cards
3.5% + $0.00/transaction 2 Business Days

Bank Transfers (ACH)
1% + $0.25/transaction 7 Business Days

We truly appreciate your help as we make this transition. It is through your generous gifts that we’re able to make a real impact in our community when people need it most. We’re so grateful for your continued support which allows First Methodist Bridgeport to be faithful to our mission to Love God and Share God!

In Him,‍

Tracie
From the Board of Trustees and the office