Love Offering
A special collection, given freely and beyond regular giving, for a specific person or cause — a guest speaker, a family in crisis, a missionary passing through.
What they actually mean
“"A special pass-the-plate for one person or need. Give what you want."”
Heard in the wild
“We'll take a love offering for the missionaries after the service.”
“The church took up a love offering when their house burned — it covered the deposit on a rental.”
The Lighter Side
An offering, but with feelings. Same plate, same wallet, more eye contact.
The longer version
What it means
A love offering is a collection taken for a particular purpose, on top of the regular offering, and given freely. Common occasions: a guest preacher or musician (the love offering is their pay), a visiting missionary, a family that's had a fire, a medical crisis, or a death, a member's adoption or mission trip, or a staff member's anniversary. The pastor announces it, explains the need, and the plates go around a second time — or a basket sits at the door. The amount is whatever people choose; nothing is expected, and everything is welcomed.
The name says what distinguishes it: not a bill, not a budget line, but a gift of love from the congregation to someone.
Why people say it
The first Christians shared what they had so that "there were no needy persons among them," and the love offering is that impulse in a modern form. It also lets a church respond fast — a family in crisis on Wednesday can have help by Sunday. For guest speakers, the love offering tradition reflects a belief that ministry is gift, not commerce, though it can also leave the speaker guessing what they'll earn.
How to respond
If a love offering is announced and you want to help, put something in when the plate comes; if not, let it pass — visitors aren't expected to give, and no one looks. If you're the recipient, the church's gift is love, not charity in the cold sense; receive it that way. If you're a guest speaker being paid by love offering, know that it varies wildly and is taxable, and that "honorarium" is the word for a set amount if you'd prefer one.
If you hear it in different churches
Baptist, Pentecostal, evangelical, and non-denominational churches use the phrase and the practice. Methodists and Presbyterians take "special offerings" for designated causes and have benevolence funds. Catholics have "second collections" for the diocese, missions, or disaster relief, and parishes help members through St. Vincent de Paul. Anglicans and Lutherans have benevolence and discretionary funds. The warm name is evangelical; the practice is universal.
Where does “Love Offering” come from?
The Jerusalem church's sharing (Acts 4), the Macedonians' gift "beyond their ability" for Jerusalem's poor (2 Corinthians 8), and the Philippians' support of Paul (Philippians 4) are the models. Special collections for the poor were standard in the early church. "Free-will offering" is Old Testament language (Leviticus 22, Ezra 1); "love offering" as a phrase belongs to American Baptist and Pentecostal church life of the twentieth century, where paying traveling evangelists and helping members in need by second collection became customary.
Good to know
A love offering is separate from the regular offering and usually announced: "we're receiving a love offering for…" It's how churches pay guest preachers (the amount is a gift, not a fee), help members in emergencies, and support visiting missionaries. Give or don't; there's no expectation for visitors. Note for recipients: love offerings to speakers are taxable income in the U.S.
You might also hear
Offering
Church Life & ServicesMoney given to the church during or around the service. A tithe specifically means ten percent of income; an offering is any gift beyond or apart from that.
“"Giving money to the church. A tithe is 10%; an offering is whatever you give."”
Support Raising
Ministry & LeadershipHow many missionaries and ministry workers fund their salaries — by asking friends, family, and churches to commit to regular monthly gifts.
“"Missionaries asking people they know to pay their salary, one monthly gift at a time."”
Pulpit Supply
Ministry & LeadershipA guest preacher who fills in when a church's regular pastor is away — sick, on vacation, on sabbatical, or gone — and the arrangement by which churches find one.
“"A substitute preacher for Sunday."”
Common questions
What's a love offering?+
A special, voluntary collection for a specific person or need — a guest speaker, a family in crisis, a missionary — taken apart from regular giving.
Do I have to give?+
No. It's entirely voluntary, and visitors aren't expected to participate.
Is a love offering to a speaker taxable?+
In the U.S., yes — it's income to the recipient. Churches often issue a 1099 for larger amounts.
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Written by Rev. Christopher D.F. Warrington, Ordained Minister, M.Div. · Updated September 2026
This entry was compiled with AI assistance and has not yet been reviewed by an ordained pastor.