wfn.org | UK Christians say help starts at home

["EAUK Press Office" <press@eauk.org>]

For Immediate Release: 3rd December 1998

Evangelical Christians in the UK are more likely to donate 
money to projects designed to convert people in Britain rather 
than overseas according to a survey published today. 

Charity-finance organisation the Macedonian Evangelical 
Trust, surveyed 2,000 randomly-chosen members of the 
Evangelical Alliance UK, the umbrella body reflecting the 
collective voice of more than one million Christians in 30 
denominations.  923 people responded to the survey which 
also revealed that those in the lower wage brackets are more 
likely to be regular donors and donate a higher percentage of 
their salaries than those in the higher wage brackets. The 
survey also showed that married Christians donate more to 
Christian causes than singles.  

Those between 34 and 44 are the most generous age group, 
while those aged 18 to 24 give the least. Christians are more 
supportive of their local churches than national or local 
Christian charities.  In deciding whether or not to support an 
organisation its reputation is the most important deciding 
factor, with nearly two thirds of donors saying the 
trustworthiness of the charity is a very important factor in their 
decision to donate. Men were more likely to give one-off 
donations to a Christian charity whereas women preferred 
secular organisations. 

The practice of tithing - donating 10 per cent of your income is 
not widely practised by evangelicals. The average donor gives 
five per cent to the church and two per cent to Christian 
charities. The survey was commissioned with the aim of 
urging British evangelicals to think seriously about what they 
give and why.  

Colin Saunders, executive director of the Evangelical Alliance 
said: "I think the results of this survey will challenge those 
earning more in relation to how much they give."

ENDS

For more information contact:

Redina Kolaneci of the Macedonian Evangelical Trust on 
redina@easynet.co.uk or 0121 308 8565 

Alternatively, contact

Gavin Drake, 
gdrake@eauk.org 
0171 207 2117 or + 44 171 207 2117 

or 

Jill Howard, 
jhoward@eauk.org 
0171-207 2116 or + 44 171 207 2116 

Evangelical Alliance UK, 
Whitefield House, 
186 Kennington Park Road, 
London, SE11  4BT 

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