- Baptist Press - https://www.baptistpress.com -

6/2/97 May CP receipts increase; year up nearly $6 million

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Southern Baptist Convention Cooperative Program receipts for May jumped more than 9 percent over the previous year’s month and nearly $6 million year-to-date over the previous year, according to Morris H. Chapman, president and chief executive officer of the SBC Executive Committee.
May CP gifts totaled $14,014,953 compared to May 1996 of $12,838,700, a 9.16 percent increase or $1,176,252.
At the end of eight months of the SBC 1996-97 fiscal year, total CP receipts were $104,834,013 compared to the same period in 1995-96 of $98,927,932, an increase of 5.97 percent or $5,906,081. The SBC fiscal year is Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.
Designated gifts for May also topped the previous year’s May: $21,817,238 compared to $17,741,912, an increase of 22.97 percent or $4,075,325. For the year to date, designated gifts total $119,761,552 compared to the previous year of $114,278,816, an increase of 4.8 percent or $5,482,736.
“God continues to bless Southern Baptists as we focus on missions and evangelism and in preparation for a new century,” Chapman said.
For the SBC’s CP Allocation Budget, the May receipts were $1,927,161 above the required monthly figure of $12,087,791, or a 15.94 percent increase. For the year to date, the required budget figure of $96,702,332 has been surpassed by 8.41 percent or $8,131,681.
The SBC Cooperative Program total includes receipts from individuals, churches, state conventions and fellowships for distribution according to the 1996-97 Cooperative Program Allocation Budget.
The Cooperative Program is Southern Baptists’ method of supporting missions and ministry efforts of state and regional conventions and the Southern Baptist Convention. Designated contributions include the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for foreign missions, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for home missions, world hunger and other special gifts.
State and regional conventions retain a percentage of Cooperative Program contributions they receive from the churches to support work in their areas and send the remaining funds to the Executive Committee for national and international ministries. The percentage of distribution is at the discretion of each state or regional convention.