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Just a fraction of members make automated donations to First Baptist Church of Mount Washington, Ky. Still, Pat Bowen can see the difference every time she deposits weekly offerings.

“It really helps,” said the church's administrator. “When we go to the bank on Monday morning and look at everything, I'll think we're down. But when we add in [automated givers] we're always above budget.”

Despite average attendance of more than 1,000, fewer than three dozen people earmark electronic checkbook deductions for the suburban Louisville church. Each month that generates about $7,400 in tithes and building fund offerings.

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After four years, resistance to signing up takes two primary forms: seniors who think they must put an envelope in the offering and parents who want their children to see them giving.

Bowen says their plan addresses those objections, allowing members to note “ACH” (for automated clearinghouse) on their envelopes.

In spite of such reluctance, the finance director loves the automated option.

“I signed up when we first started,” Bowen said. “If I'm sick on a Sunday, I know my money is going where it should be.”

Consistent giving is one of several reasons Mario McGowan cites for churches to consider adopting automated giving. The president and CEO of Direct Tithing calls it the 21st Century method of bringing tithes into the storehouse (Mal. 3:10).

“We're still in an antiquated system that says you've got to bring ye the tithe,” said the suburban Chicago businessman. “But if you're on vacation, your money's on vacation. If you're sick, your money's sick. The only way the pastor, staff and utilities can be taken care of is if you bring your money and put it in the offering plate.”

Beyond creating better cash flow for churches, McGowan sees his blend of business and ministry as a divine call. His purpose is to buck the low tithing trend by reestablishing generous giving.

There is no doubt most Christians ignore this practice. In a recent survey, researcher George Barna found that while average church giving increased 14 percent in 2003, only 7 percent of born-again believers tithed.

In addition, empty tomb, an Illinois-based ministry that tracks nationwide patterns, reported that after-tax giving to Protestant churches dropped 16 percent between 1968 and 2002.

Given such a bleak picture, McGowan's firm is dedicated to calling believers back to God's command to give from the first fruits of their labors.

“To get rid of the problem starts with the system we're using,” he said. “Luke 16:8 says the children of this world are … wiser than the children of light. If you look at investment, insurance and mortgage companies, all of these fee-based organizations shifted years ago into electronic giving.”

McGowan said more than 1,100 churches and 10,000 members have signed up with Direct Tithing, which charges a fee to establish electronic giving plans. Its system enables members and staff to examine up-to-the-minute giving records.

While his company is relatively new, the CEO promises results: “Without a doubt I have evidence that automated tithing increases giving.”