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

SBC Cooperative Program continues increases for May, year to date

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Cooperative Program gifts for May increased 3.83 percent above that month a year ago, according to Morris H. Chapman, president and chief executive officer of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee.

For the first eight months of the fiscal year, receipts totaled $118,479,606 compared to $112,779,048, an increase of 5.05 percent or $5,700,558. May CP gifts totaled $14,309,091 compared to May 1999 of $13,780,657, an increase of $528,433 or 3.83 percent.

For the SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget, the year-to-date receipts totaled $118,479,606 compared to the budget need of $106,389,162, an increase of $12,090,444 or 11.36 percent. For May, the monthly budget need of $13,298,645 was surpassed by $1,010,446 or 7.60 percent.

In designated gifts, the year to date totaled $126,743,712 compared to the same period a year ago of $124,315,889, an increase of $2,427,823 or 1.95 percent. For May, designated receipts totaled $14,179,998 compared to the same month a year ago of $18,570,071, a decrease of $4,390,073 or 23.64 percent.

The SBC Cooperative Program total includes receipts from individuals, churches, state conventions and fellowships for distribution according to the 1999-2000 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 international missions, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American missions, world hunger and other special gifts.

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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.

Information about Southern Baptist Convention missions and ministries funded through the Cooperative Program can be obtained by phoning 1-800-722-9407 or visiting the CP Missions section on the Internet at www.sbc.net.