[1]OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BP)–The Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists increased gifts to Southern Baptists’ Cooperative Program by a quarter-percent during their Oct. 11-12 annual meeting at Blue Valley Baptist Church in Overland Park, Kan.
At last year’s KNCSB annual meeting, with the convention facing a budget shortfall, messengers reluctantly voted to cut CP gifts for national and international missions and ministry.
After the 2003 meeting, however, Kansas-Nebraska Southern Baptist churches rallied in their giving and avoided reducing CP gifts. “We finished the year very strong” and met the budget, R. Rex “Peck” Lindsay, KNCSB executive director, recounted.
The economy in Nebraska and Kansas is improving, Lindsay said. However, Wichita, Kan., continues to struggle after the downturn in the aircraft industry.
“I thank you for your faithfulness,” Lindsay said in expressing appreciation for the generosity of Kansas-Nebraska Southern Baptist churches.
Messengers approved the 2005 KNCSB budget of $5,517,990. Gifts to national CP causes were increased from 31.75 percent to 32 percent.
[2]In other action, Steve Dighton, pastor of Lenexa Baptist Church in Lenexa, Kan., was elected by acclamation as the new KNCSB vice president, succeeding Matt Culbertson, pastor of Southview Baptist Church in Lincoln, Neb., who had resigned after accepting a church staff position in Florida.
KNCSB officers re-elected by acclamation included: president, Ray Kempel, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Hutchinson, Kan.; recording secretary, Bryan Jones, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Junction City, Kan.; historian: Tony Mattia, pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Wamego, Kan.
Messengers also adopted a resolution encouraging Southern Baptists to exercise their right to vote and to cast their ballots for candidates who espouse godly values.
KNCSB’s 2005 annual meeting will be Oct. 10-11 at New Covenant Community Church in Lincoln. The meeting will mark the convention’s 60th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of Southern Baptist work in Nebraska.
Rich Jenkins, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church, Coffeyville, Kan., will preach the 2005 annual sermon.
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