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Strong August Giving Helps Tighten Gap in CP Totals
09/20/2011
LOUISVILLE – Kentucky Baptists’ strong giving through the Cooperative Program in August helped tighten the gap between actual giving and the budgeted needs for fiscal year 2010-2011.
Kentucky Baptists’ giving in August exceeded the monthly budget by more than $193,000. Total gifts for the month were $2,151,866.
Despite the strong showing in the final month, giving for the fiscal year, which began Sept. 1, 2010 and ended Aug. 31, 2011, was 4.67 percent below the budget goal of $23.5 million.
The good news, according to Lowell Ashby, leader of the KBC Business Services Team, was that Kentucky Baptists exceeded the trimmed-down "spendable budget" goal that KBC leaders adopted for the fiscal year.
"In anticipation of the economy impacting CP receipts this year, the mission board staff has been operating on 95 percent of the CP budget goal," he explained.
The "95 percent spendable budget" goal was $22,325,000; total CP giving for the fiscal year was $22,403,090, exceeding the spendable budget goal by $78,090.
"These year-end funds will be distributed by KBC Mission Board approval following the December board meeting, Ashby added.
This was the third consecutive fiscal year that Kentucky Baptists did not meet their annual giving goal for the Cooperative Program. This year’s giving total was $527,053 less than fiscal year 2009-2010, Ashby reported.
"It is important for us to look back at the previous year," said Billy Compton, KBC’s executive associate for Cooperative Program and resources. "In spite of difficult economic conditions, our churches have been very generous with their mission gifts through the Cooperative Program.
"However, I do anticipate Kentucky Baptists looking forward as we focus on our three-year ‘More for Christ’ emphasis," Compton said.
Messengers to the 2010 KBC Annual Meeting approved More for Christ (www.moreforchrist.com) as a way to challenge themselves and fellow Kentucky Baptists to an increased commitment to Christ and the Great Commission.
"We can be encouraged that CP ministries and mission causes are not a sprint, but more like a marathon," Compton continued. "Windshields are larger than rearview mirrors because it is necessary to understand the past but it is more important to look forward by setting goals and making strategic plans."
The Cooperative Program is a unified plan of Southern and Kentucky Baptists to fund missions locally, across North America and around the world.
Among the many ministries and resources provided by the Kentucky Baptist Convention through CP gifts is the upcoming Ministry Assistants’ Conference Oct. 13. The one-day event includes guest speakers and workshops to help church secretaries and other ministry support staff and volunteers.
The conference is $35 per person and online registration is underway at www.kybaptist.org/ministryassistants. The fee covers only a portion of the costs associated with the event. The remainder is provided by CP dollars.
Legacy giving opportunities are available to ensure that the Cooperative Program will sustain missions in future generations. For details, contact the Kentucky Baptist Foundation at (502) 489-3533 or (866) 489-3533 (toll-free in Kentucky).
The Kentucky Baptist Convention is a cooperative missions and ministry organization made up of nearly 2.400 autonomous Baptist churches in Kentucky. A variety of state and worldwide ministries are coordinated through its administrative offices in Louisville, including: missions work, disaster relief, ministry training and support, church development, evangelism and more. For more, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
by Dannah Prather, KBC Communications
