We don’t give to God via the local church because the local church needs it, although that may be the case.  We give because we have been called through the scriptures to surrender our money to ministries where God is moving for the sake of the Gospel, Discipleship, and Evangelism.  If God wants the local church to have funds for the sake of ministry God will see to it that it is done, but more than that, God wants believers to be the conduit through which His financial blessings move to the places he wants it being used!  Therefore we plan personally to give regularly for the purposes of God.