FAQ 003
AS A PASTOR FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY, WHEN I VISIT ANOTHER PASTOR’S CHURCH, MUST I GIVE HIM MY TITHE?
Tithing, Spiritual Fathering, the Storehouse and Kingdom Stewardship
A visit to another congregation does not automatically transfer a believer’s established stewardship or spiritual relationships. Scripture teaches that giving belongs first to the Lord, that those who minister the Word may rightly receive material support, and that generosity should be deliberate rather than compelled.
1. Introduction
The question normally arises when a pastor, minister or believer travels to another country, visits another congregation, or temporarily worships under another pastor. Because that pastor is also a spiritual leader – and may even be regarded as a father within his own household of faith – the visitor may wonder whether the tithe should now be redirected to the host pastor.
The uploaded teaching rightly begins with the conviction that the tithe belongs to the Lord and that giving should not be treated casually. It also connects the tithe to the spiritual environment from which a believer receives nurture and grace. To develop the matter more fully according to Scripture, however, we must distinguish between the Old Testament storehouse, New Testament support of gospel workers, spiritual fathering, local-church stewardship, and voluntary offerings.
QUESTION
As a pastor from another country, when I go to another pastor’s church, must I give him my tithe because he is a father?
SHORT ANSWER
No. Merely visiting another pastor’s church does not automatically transfer your tithe or established giving responsibility to that pastor. The tithe belongs to the Lord, not to a human leader. A believer should steward regular giving faithfully in the spiritual household, congregation or ministry context in which he or she is genuinely planted, instructed, accountable and participating.
A visiting pastor or host congregation may rightly be honoured with an offering, gift or practical support. If the visit becomes a long-term relocation and the believer is genuinely replanted into a new spiritual household, the pattern of regular giving may also need to be reconsidered prayerfully.
It is also important to state that Scripture does not explicitly teach that every Christian must pay a tithe personally to a ‘spiritual father.’ That is an application made within some father-son ministry frameworks. The clearer New Testament principle is that those who receive spiritual instruction should materially support those who faithfully labour in the Word, while all giving remains an act of worship to God.
2. The First Principle: The Tithe Belongs to the Lord
Leviticus 27:30 (BSB)
Thus any tithe from the land, whether from the seed of the land or the fruit of the trees, belongs to the LORD; it is holy to the LORD.
This establishes the governing principle: the tithe is first God’s. It should therefore never be treated as though it becomes the personal property of a pastor, spiritual father or ministry leader.
A leader may receive or administer what God’s people give, but the believer gives ultimately unto the Lord. This protects both sides of the relationship. The giver must not manipulate the gift, and the leader must not claim ownership over the giver’s finances.
3. Deuteronomy 12: The Place God Chose for His Name
Deuteronomy 12:5-7 (BSB)
Instead, you must seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to establish as a dwelling for His Name, and there you must go. To that place you are to bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and heave offerings, and your vow offerings and freewill offerings, as well as the firstborn of your herds and flocks. There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your households shall eat and rejoice in all you do, because the LORD your God has blessed you.
In its original context, this passage concerns Israel’s covenant worship and the central place chosen by God. It teaches that worship and giving were not to be governed merely by personal preference.
A useful Kingdom principle can be drawn from this: our giving should be deliberate, ordered and connected to the place where God has genuinely planted us. However, we should not turn the passage into a claim that every modern pastor personally becomes ‘the place where God put His name.’ Under the New Covenant, God’s dwelling is not restricted to a geographical sanctuary, and Christ Himself is central.
4. What Was the Storehouse?
Malachi 3:10 (BSB)
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this, says the LORD of Hosts. See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure.
The storehouse in Malachi was connected to God’s house and the provision required for the covenant ministry of Israel. The text does not literally define the storehouse as an individual spiritual father.
Nevertheless, a New Testament application is possible: believers should not consume every resource upon themselves while neglecting the spiritual work, people and ministries through which they are being equipped.
The safe distinction is therefore:
- Biblically, Malachi’s storehouse referred to provision connected to God’s house under the Old Covenant.
- By application, a believer should faithfully support the spiritual household and gospel work in which he or she is genuinely planted.
- The storehouse should not be reduced to the private bank account or personal ownership of one leader.
- Financial stewardship should remain transparent, accountable and God-centred.
5. The New Testament Principle: Support Those Who Minister the Word
Galatians 6:6 (BSB)
Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word must share in all good things with his instructor.
1 Corinthians 9:11-14 (BSB)
If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much for us to reap a material harvest from you? If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings? In the same way, the Lord has prescribed that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
These passages provide a clearer New Testament foundation for financially supporting those who feed, teach and serve the people of God. There is a relationship between receiving spiritual ministry and sharing material provision.
Yet Paul also demonstrates that this right was not exercised as a demand for personal control. His overriding concern was that the gospel not be hindered.
6. Honour Those Who Labour in Leadership
1 Timothy 5:17-18 (BSB)
Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, ‘Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,’ and, ‘The worker is worthy of his wages.’
Biblical honour includes more than words. It can include practical and financial support. A congregation should not expect faithful leaders to carry spiritual responsibility while deliberately withholding appropriate provision.
But the passage speaks of honouring faithful elders; it does not teach that every pastor a believer happens to visit automatically acquires the believer’s regular tithe.
7. Does Every Pastor Become My Spiritual Father?
No. A pastoral title and spiritual fathering are not identical.
1 Corinthians 4:15 (BSB)
Even if you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.
Paul’s language shows that fathering was relational and connected to formation through the gospel. It was not automatically assigned to every Christian leader encountered.
A pastor may be worthy of honour without being your spiritual father. A spiritual father may influence your development without being the pastor of the church you happen to visit. These relationships should never be confused simply to determine who receives money.
8. The Difference Between Tithe, Offering and Hospitality
Your uploaded FAQ makes an important distinction: a visiting congregation or pastor may receive an offering even when your regular stewardship remains connected to your home spiritual household. This is a helpful distinction when applied without legalism.
- Regular giving supports the spiritual household and ministry responsibilities to which you are genuinely committed.
- An offering is a voluntary expression of honour, thanksgiving, generosity or participation in a specific need.
- Hospitality may include helping with travel, accommodation, meals or other practical costs.
- A love gift or honorarium may appropriately honour someone who has ministered to you.
- None of these gifts should be driven by pressure, fear or competition between ministries.
9. New Testament Giving Must Not Be Compulsory
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (BSB)
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
This passage is essential when discussing tithes and offerings. Even where a ministry teaches tithing as a continuing Kingdom discipline, New Testament generosity must never be enforced through intimidation or manipulation.
Giving should be faithful, deliberate and cheerful. A visiting pastor should therefore not pressure a guest to redirect regular giving merely because the guest is temporarily present.
10. What About Abraham and Melchizedek?
Hebrews 7:1-2 (BSB)
This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything.
Abraham’s giving to Melchizedek occurred before the Mosaic law and is often used to show that the principle of giving a tenth predates Sinai. Hebrews 7 uses the event primarily to establish the superiority of Melchizedek’s priesthood and ultimately the priesthood of Christ.
The passage should therefore lead us first to Christ. It does not provide a simple rule that every person who blesses us spiritually becomes entitled to ten percent of our income.
11. What About Firstfruits?
Proverbs 3:9-10 (BSB)
Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
Firstfruits and tithes were related but distinct Old Testament practices. Both expressed honour toward God, but they should not simply be merged into one modern payment rule.
The continuing principle is powerful: God should be honoured first, not merely given what remains after every other appetite has been satisfied.
12. Faithfulness With What Has Been Entrusted to Us
Luke 16:12 (BSB)
And if you have not been faithful with the belongings of another, who will give you belongings of your own?
The uploaded teaching applies this verse directly to financial faithfulness toward one’s spiritual father. In context, however, Jesus is teaching a broader principle of faithful stewardship.
It is therefore safer to apply the verse this way: God expects believers to handle entrusted resources faithfully. That includes honouring commitments, supporting legitimate ministry responsibilities and refusing to use money irresponsibly or manipulatively.
13. A Practical Scenario: You Are Visiting Another Country
Suppose you pastor or belong to a congregation in South Africa and travel for several weeks to another country. While there, you worship in a local church and receive ministry from its pastor.
A balanced biblical response would be:
- Continue honouring the regular financial commitments connected to your home congregation or spiritual household.
- Do not assume that attendance for one Sunday creates a new covenantal or father-son financial relationship.
- Give a freewill offering to the host congregation if you are able and led to do so.
- If the pastor personally ministers to you, an additional gift of honour may be appropriate.
- If the host congregation is carrying significant costs on your behalf, contribute generously and practically.
- Do not allow either the home or host leader to manipulate you through guilt or competition.
14. What If the Visit Becomes a Permanent Move?
The answer may change when a temporary visit becomes a genuine relocation.
If you permanently move to another country, become established in another congregation, receive ongoing pastoral care there, participate in its mission and become accountable within that spiritual household, then it is reasonable to reconsider where your regular giving should be directed.
This is not because a new pastor automatically ‘takes possession’ of your tithe. It is because your actual sphere of participation, responsibility and spiritual nourishment has changed.
Where ongoing covenantal relationships with a sending ministry or spiritual father remain, those relationships can still be honoured through planned giving or offerings. Such arrangements should be prayerful and transparent rather than competitive.
15. What If I Am a Pastor Visiting Another Pastor?
Pastors should model generosity without confusing honour with submission.
When one pastor visits another pastor’s church, the host pastor should be recognised and honoured within that local sphere. If the visitor ministers publicly, hospitality and mutual honour should characterise the relationship.
But visiting another leader’s congregation does not automatically make that leader the visitor’s spiritual father, nor does it automatically transfer the visitor’s regular tithe to him.
16. What Should Never Happen?
- A pastor should not claim a visitor’s tithe simply because the visitor entered his church building.
- A spiritual father should not treat a son’s finances as personal property.
- A believer should not redirect committed ministry funds impulsively because of emotional pressure.
- Churches should not compete for tithes as though believers were financial assets.
- A giver should not use money to control a pastor or manipulate ministry decisions.
- A leader should not promise guaranteed wealth in exchange for a particular payment.
- Giving should never replace obedience, justice, integrity, family responsibility or wise stewardship.
17. A Kingdom View of Giving
Kingdom giving is larger than the question, ‘Who gets my ten percent?’ It begins with the recognition that everything belongs to God and that we are stewards.
A mature believer should therefore develop an ordered pattern of giving that may include:
- regular support of the congregation or ministry household in which one is planted;
- support for those who faithfully teach and equip;
- care for the poor and vulnerable;
- mission and apostolic work;
- hospitality;
- special offerings;
- generosity toward other ministries as the Holy Spirit leads; and
- responsible provision for one’s own household.
This protects us from reducing stewardship to a single transaction. The tithe can be understood as a foundational discipline of honour, but generosity should grow beyond legal minimums into a Kingdom lifestyle.
18. DIRECT ANSWER TO THE QUESTION
If you are a pastor from another country visiting another pastor’s church:
- You are not biblically required merely by that visit to transfer your tithe to the host pastor.
- Your tithe belongs to the Lord and should be administered according to your settled stewardship and spiritual responsibilities.
- If you have an established spiritual father or home ministry, a temporary visit does not automatically dissolve that relationship.
- The host pastor is worthy of honour, hospitality and generosity, but he does not automatically become your spiritual father.
- A voluntary offering to the host church or pastor is appropriate when given freely and cheerfully.
- If you become permanently planted in the new congregation, reconsider your regular giving in light of your actual spiritual participation and accountability.
19. 777th Precinct Ministries – Position Statement
777th Precinct Ministries teaches that all giving ultimately belongs to God and must be administered as faithful Kingdom stewardship. We affirm the biblical principle of materially supporting those who labour in the Word and the spiritual households through which believers are genuinely equipped, nurtured and sent.
We do not teach that every pastor a believer visits automatically becomes that person’s spiritual father or becomes entitled to the believer’s tithe. Spiritual fathering is relational, covenantal and developmental; it is not created by geography, a church service or a financial transaction.
Where the language of ‘storehouse’ is applied to a spiritual household or spiritual fathering relationship, this should be understood as a ministry application rather than a literal definition supplied by Malachi 3. The Old Testament storehouse was connected to God’s house and covenant provision, while the New Testament clearly teaches the support of those who minister the gospel and instruct believers in the Word.
We therefore encourage believers to give faithfully, deliberately, cheerfully and without compulsion; to honour established commitments; to support their spiritual household; and to remain generous toward other servants and ministries of God as the Holy Spirit leads.
20. Conclusion
The central issue is not which pastor can claim the money. The central issue is whether the believer is faithfully stewarding what belongs to the Lord.
A temporary visit does not create an automatic transfer of tithing responsibility. Continue to honour the spiritual household in which you are genuinely planted, while remaining open-handed toward the congregation and pastor who host and minister to you.
If your spiritual location changes permanently, then your stewardship should be prayerfully reviewed. But in every situation, giving must remain centred on God rather than personalities.
The biblical pattern can therefore be summarised:
Give to the Lord. Support the work that feeds and equips you. Honour faithful leaders. Be generous to those who host and serve you. Refuse manipulation. Remain faithful in your established commitments. And allow all your giving to become worship.
Grace to you.
Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain.
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