As the number of people using paper checks continues to decline, evangelical churches are becoming more tech savvy in terms of giving methods for parishioners, according to a new survey from the National Association of Evangelicals. The NAE reports that 84% of its members attend churches that accept online donations (http://nae.net/resources/news/1228-online-donations).

In addition, according to the 2012 State of the Plate survey cited by the NAE, more than one-third of Christians who give at least ten percent of their income do so through online giving methods.

While online giving methods will seemingly continue to grow, the NAE believes that some smaller churches might not adopt these methods. Also, other churches may believe the actual process of putting a check in an offering plate is a good reminder of generosity.

With more giving taking place online, churches must also adopt security measures and other procedures to protect against data breaches and malicious virus attacks.