Introduction
When Pastor Michael L. Neal and his wife Deloris felt the call to launch Glorious Light Church in Chicago, they were stepping out in faith – but also into uncharted territory. Like many new church planters, they had clarity on their mission but quickly discovered the complexities of managing a growing congregation behind the scenes.
“We had the founding documents, we had the mission,” Deloris said. “But no one really talks about how you're going to handle giving.”
From Spreadsheets to Stewardship
As a healthcare administrator by profession, Deloris initially leaned into what she knew – Excel spreadsheets and manual processes.
“It was so time-consuming,” she explained. “Everything was on paper. It worked for a while, but it wasn’t scalable.”
With a steadily growing attendance of about 200 people each week and a ministry philosophy that extended far beyond Sunday mornings, Glorious Light needed a system that could support both structure and spontaneity. Enter Amplify Giving, Ministry Brands’ online platform for cheerful generosity.
Giving Without Walls
Glorious Light Church describes itself as a “church without walls,” with ministry opportunities happening throughout the week – not just during Sunday worship. That same flexibility is now reflected in how their congregation gives.
Since introducing online giving, the church has seen a remarkable 90% increase in donations. This shift empowers congregants to give at any moment inspiration strikes—not just during Sunday services.
“People give whenever it hits them,” Deloris said. “It’s not just Sunday. If they get paid on a Tuesday, we see giving on Tuesday. That kind of consistent generosity tells me people are committed – and Amplify makes it easy for them to respond right away.”
Real Ministry, Real Impact
The funds coming in through Amplify Giving aren’t just being stewarded – they’re being multiplied for community transformation.
Alongside the church, the Neals launched Timothy Community Corporation, a non-profit center focused on leadership development, health and wellness, and literacy. Through this initiative, the church has created:
- Little Free Libraries across underserved Chicago neighborhoods, giving children access to books where school libraries don’t exist.
- A fitness center offering free Zumba, kickboxing, and cycling classes—addressing health equity in the community.
- Health tracking and education, pairing physical wellness with compassionate follow-up for those with ongoing concerns.
“These aren’t just programs – they’re ministry,” Deloris said. “And we’re able to do all of this because of the efficiencies and insights Amplify gives us.”
A Seamless Financial System
One of the biggest wins for Glorious Light has been Amplify’s ability to integrate with their accounting workflows.
“Every month when the bank statement comes, we reconcile everything in Amplify and QuickBooks. It’s so clean and seamless,” said Deloris. “It allows us to keep a high level of stewardship. This isn’t our money – it’s God’s money – and we take that responsibility seriously.”
That commitment to stewardship also shows in their efficiency. Before adopting online giving, Glorious Light relied on a four-person finance team to open envelopes and manually reconcile accounts—a process that often took several hours each week, including time on Sundays and Monday mornings.
Today, with 90% of their giving happening online, only two people are needed, and the entire process takes a fraction of the time. Electronic reporting has brought both accuracy and simplicity to their weekly workflow.
Deloris laughed as she shared, “They tease me because I get giving statements out before the 20th of the month. But when it’s this easy, why wait?”
Advice for Other Churches: “Take the Leap”
Deloris knows firsthand how intimidating technology can feel—but she encourages other churches not to let fear hold them back.
“I wasn’t an expert, but Amplify made it easy. The training, the support, the integrity of the platform – it gave us confidence. Even filling out PCI compliance forms was straightforward.”
After comparing fees and vetting multiple platforms, Glorious Light decided to stick with Amplify.
“We know other churches using different tools, but this one works for us – and the integrity of it is something we believe in.”
Next Steps
Glorious Light Church is proving that with the right tools, every church can make a big impact. With Amplify, their ministry is expanding beyond the walls of the church, meeting needs in their city, and living out the Gospel in tangible ways.
Is your church’s giving process helping or hindering your mission? Are you spending valuable time managing donations manually – or missing opportunities to engage givers throughout the week? If so, Glorious Light Church isn’t alone, and like them, you may be ready for a change.
Sign up for your free demo of Ministry Brands Amplify Giving.
With simple, secure tools for online and mobile giving, Amplify empowers your church to receive gifts anytime, from anywhere. It’s built for churches that want to grow generosity, maximize stewardship, and stay focused on ministry, not paperwork.
