Over & Above Offering
“Over and Above” giving is exactly what it sounds like: gifts members choose to give in addition to — over and above — their regular tithes and offerings. Every dollar given to Over and Above is set apart from the general operating budget and deposited directly into a dedicated, high-yield savings account earmarked exclusively for paying off our building debt ahead of schedule.
Your regular tithes and offerings continue to fund the church's week-to-week ministry — nothing about that changes. Over and Above gifts are a separate, optional way to accelerate our journey to becoming debt-free. Because these funds sit in an interest-bearing account until they're needed, even the giving itself keeps working for us while we wait.
This page exists to keep everything organized in one place for our members — the numbers, the plan, and a portal to ask questions — so you always have clear, transparent access to where we stand and what it will take to finish strong.
The Plan
How Our Mortgage Payoff Plan Works
Our current mortgage balance is $605,463.23.
Rather than making extra payments directly to the bank each month, we are following a strategy that allows our money to earn interest before making a large payment.
Here's how the plan works:
We continue making our regular monthly mortgage payment of $8,353.35, which covers both principal and interest.
If we continue this plan, our mortgage balance on January 1, 2028 is projected to be $502,174.36.
By that time, we expect to have accumulated:
All "Over and Above" gifts are deposited into a high-yield savings account earning approximately 3.5% interest.
We also have $300,000 invested in Certificates of Deposit (CDs) earning approximately 4% interest.
In addition, the church contributes $3,646.65 each month to that same savings account.
CD Investments: approximately $318,000 (including interest)
Over and Above Giving: approximately $61,000 (including interest)
Church Monthly Contributions: approximately $69,300 (including interest)
Together, these funds will total approximately $448,300, which will be applied as a lump-sum payment toward the mortgage.
After that payment, the remaining mortgage balance is expected to be only about $54,000, putting us within reach of being completely debt-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Your tithes and offerings fund the church's ongoing ministry and operating budget. Over and Above gifts are separate, optional gifts set aside specifically to retire the building debt — they don't affect or replace your regular giving.
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No — there's no minimum. Every gift, large or small, moves us closer to the goal, and gifts add up faster than most people expect once interest is included.
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Yes. Recurring gifts (monthly, biweekly, etc.) are one of the most effective ways to help, since they build steadily and start earning interest sooner. You can set up or adjust a recurring Over and Above gift through the “Give” section below.
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Gifts to Hunt Valley Baptist Church are generally tax-deductible as charitable contributions if you itemize deductions on your federal tax return. The church issues an annual giving statement documenting your total contributions for tax purposes. Because everyone's tax situation is different, we recommend confirming the details with your tax preparer or CPA.
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If you take the standard deduction, a cash gift generally won't reduce your taxable income directly. However, if you're 70½ or older, giving directly from an IRA (see “Qualified Charitable Distributions” below) can lower your taxable income even without itemizing.
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If you're 70½ or older and have a traditional IRA, you can make a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) — a gift transferred directly from your IRA to the church. For 2026, the IRS allows individuals to give up to $111,000 this way ($222,000 for married couples who each have their own IRA). A QCD is excluded from your taxable income for the year, and if you're 73 or older and subject to required minimum distributions (RMDs), it can count toward satisfying that year's RMD. Because it lowers your reported income rather than just adding a deduction, a QCD can be a tax-smart way to give — even if you don't itemize.
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Contact your IRA custodian (the bank or brokerage holding your IRA) and request a “Qualified Charitable Distribution” made payable directly to Hunt Valley Baptist Church Inc. The funds must transfer directly from your IRA to the church — money that passes through your personal bank account first does not qualify as a QCD. Please also let the church office know a QCD is on its way so we can properly credit it to your giving record.
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Reach out to us — we're glad to walk through the logistics with you. For the tax implications specific to your situation, we always recommend also checking with your own CPA or financial advisor.
This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or financial advice. Tax laws change and every person's situation is different — please consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor about how a gift may affect your own return before making a giving decision.
Ways to Give to Over & Above
Choose whichever option is easiest for you
Scan the QR code
Point your camera at the code to go straight to the giving form.
Give in person
Bring your gift to any regular service. Just note that it’s for Over and Above on your check or envelope.
Questions? Please Contact Us.
Pastor Caleb Bottrell — Pastor
Phone: (717) 586-4514
Mr. Aaron Glover — Chief Financial Officer
Phone: (443) 829-2003
Mr. Steve Brown — Deacon
Phone: (410) 952-0491