[1] NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Southern Baptist Convention Cooperative Program receipts for July increased more than 14 percent over July 1996 while year-to-date receipts climbed to nearly 6 percent over the previous period, according to Morris H. Chapman, president and chief executive officer of the SBC Executive Committee.
July 1997 CP receipts totaled $13,036,519 compared to July 1996 of $11,411,336, an increase of $1,625,182 or 4.24 percent.
For the SBC’s fiscal year to date, October through July, CP gifts totaled $129,894,847 compared to the previous year of $122,834,012, an increase of $7,060,834 for the 10 months or 5.75 percent.
Reacting to the good news, Ernest E. Mosley, the Executive Committee’s vice president for Cooperative program advancement, voiced praise to God for Southern Baptists’ financial stewardship, enabling continued growth in evangelism and ministry throughout the world. “The 10-month growth means an increase of more than $6.5 million for
international and North American missions and the seminaries that train church leaders and missionaries to reach the world for Christ,” Mosley said.
Designated gifts for July 1997 dropped $444,640 over last year. For July, $4,254,583 was received compared to July 1996 of $4,699,223, a 9.46 percent decrease. For the year to date, designated gifts totaled $135,596,519 compared to the same period last year of $133,130,017, an
increase of $2,466,501 or 1.85 percent.
For the SBC’s Program Allocation Budget, the July 1997 totals surpassed the required monthly budget requirement — $12,087,791 — by $948,727 or 7.85 percent. For the fiscal year to date, the CP gifts have surpassed the budget requirement — $120,877,915 — by $9,016,931 or
7.46 percent.
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 SBC Executive Committee for national and international ministries. The percentage of distribution is at the discretion of each state or regional convention.