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SBC Cooperative Program July gifts up nearly 6 percent


NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Southern Baptist Convention Cooperative Program receipts for July increased nearly 6 percent over the same month a year ago, according to Morris H. Chapman, president and chief executive officer of the SBC Executive Committee.
The July receipts, $13,797,941, compared to July 1997, $13,036,519, are an increase of $761,422 or 5.84 percent.
For the SBC fiscal year, October through July, SBC Cooperative Program gifts total $132,927,617 compared to the previous fiscal year period of $129,894,847, an increase of $3,032,770 or 2.33 percent.
Designated gifts for the month of July increased 59.02 percent over the same month a year ago: $6,765,560 compared to $4,254,583, an increase of $2,510,977. For the 10 months of this fiscal year, $144,364,306 in designated gifts has been received compared to $135,596,519 during the same period a year ago, a 6.47 percent increase or $8,767,787.
For the SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget, the July receipts exceeded the $12,348,756 monthly requirement by $1,449,185, an increase of 11.74 percent. For the 10 months of the fiscal year, the budget allocation requirement of $124,487,564 has been surpassed by $8,440,053 or 6.78 percent.
The SBC Cooperative Program total includes receipts from individuals, churches, state conventions and fellowships for distribution according to the 1997-98 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.
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.