Archive for January, 2015
11 Financial Facts of the Southern Baptist Convention
Facts are our friends. Without the facts, one cannot determine reality. Without facing reality, it is impossible to chart a successful future. This is not only true for us personally, but for our churches as well as our Southern Baptist Convention.
Each of our churches has the privilege to join in our grand vision of reaching the world for Christ. We do this by giving monies through the Cooperative Program, which is our way to fund Great Commission work together statewide, nationally, and internationally.
Today, I share with you 11 Financial Facts of the Southern Baptist Convention. This is our reality. These facts are our friends because from here, we launch to the future.
These facts are not my opinions; they are facts about our financial status following the fiscal year from October 1, 2012 through September 30, 2013. Following the presentation of these facts, I will extend three brief observations.
1. $482,279,059 was given in Total Cooperative Program by our churches through the State Convention through the SBC Fiscal Year, October 1, 2012, through September 30, 2013.
2. $188,001,276 was received by the SBC Executive Committee directly in order to distribute to our SBC entities:
- $183,419,803 from state conventions
- $4,581,473 from individuals and churches
- 38% on average was sent by the states to the National SBC CP Allocation Budget
3. $298,859,256 of the $482,279,059 was reported as the State Convention Share of Total Cooperative Program in order to conduct their Great Commission ministries.
4. 28,853 churches reported giving through the Cooperative Program on the latest Annual Church Profile report. Of the 46,124 churches, LifeWay reported that at least 8,846 churches did not submit an ACP report.
5. 17,721 churches did not self-report any giving through the Cooperative Program on the latest ACP report.
- $25,352,778 was received for the Cooperative Program from non-ACP reporting churches; therefore, when a church does not report Cooperative Program gifts on the ACP, it does not necessarily mean these churches did not give through the Cooperative Program.
6. 7.5% less monies was received by our churches over the past five years.
- $12.1 billion in 2008 to $11.2 billion in 2013
7. 5.6% is the percentile of decline of the National Cooperative Program over the past five years.
- $194 Million to $183 Million
8. $57,004,211 was reported by the North American Mission Board for the 2013 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North America Missions.
9. $154,057,852 was reported by the International Mission Board for the 2013 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.
10. $777,452,659 was reported by the most recent ACP for 2013 Southern Baptist Convention gifts to “Great Commission Giving”, which is defined by the ACP as “total amount of all money given to Southern Baptist Mission causes by the congregation.”
- When you take this total and subtract Cooperative Program and the two major mission offerings, it means that Southern Baptist Convention congregations gave $84,111,698 to other Southern Baptist Missional endeavors.
11. $1,294,701,479 was reported as Total Mission Expenditures by congregations in the 2013 ACP (defined as “Total amount of all money given to Southern Baptist and non-Southern Baptist mission causes.”)
- When you subtract the $777,452,659 of Great Commission Giving from this figure, it means that Southern Baptist congregations gave an additional $517,248,659 to direct church mission trips or projects or non-Southern Baptist Convention mission causes. There is no way to quantify what was used for specific church mission trips or projects as compared to non-Southern Baptist Convention mission causes.
3 Brief Observations
1. Due to the increasing lostness in the world, each church needs to find a way to give now through our Cooperative Program and additionally, give more now than ever before, so we can continue advancing the gospel together.
2. For the churches giving to mission causes apart from Southern Baptists, consider reallocating some of that money or even all of it to our Southern Baptist mission causes.
3. Pastor and church leader, talk with your church’s financial team about increasing your church’s commitment to the Cooperative Program of the Southern Baptist Convention.
In Closing
In closing, this is not about money and finances as much as it is about advancing the gospel of Jesus Christ at an accelerated pace. Together, we can do more than we can ever do by ourselves.
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church President, Southern Baptist Convention*******
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is currently serving as the President of the Southern Baptist Convention. The Southern Baptist Convention is America’s largest Protestant denomination with more than 15.7 million members in over 46,000 churches nationwide.
To request an interview with Dr. Ronnie Floyd
contact Gayla Oldham at (479) 751-4523 or email gaylao@crosschurch.com.
Visit our website at http://ronniefloyd.com
Follow Dr. Floyd on Twitter and Instagram @ronniefloyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
This Week at Cross Church | Major Announcement This Sunday, Schedule Changes on Each Campus
This Sunday, our schedule will temporarily change on each campus. We will be making a major announcement regarding our Cross Church Family and our future together, and we want everyone to hear it at the same time. Having five campuses and conducting ten worship services weekly, this is very difficult to achieve. Yet this is one Sunday, we will attempt to meet simultaneously and pray God alone gets all the glory for His great work among us.
Please prepare for this week by praying for what we have before us. Pray for our entire team as we lead through this coming Sunday. I pray the weather cooperates and we have a grand day for God.
On this day 25 years ago, my wife Jeana was diagnosed with cancer. Today, we celebrate that she has now been a cancer survivor for 25 years. I hope you will take a few moments to read what I wrote about her cancer diagnosis and journey yesterday. Please celebrate with her and thank our great God for His healing power upon my wife. Not only do I love Jeana dearly, the Cross Church Family does as well.
Here are more details for your campus’s schedule this Sunday:
Springdale
This Sunday, January 18, the Springdale campus will have a different schedule for the day. Starting at 8:30 a.m., we will have a continental breakfast set up in the Atrium and outside the Elva & John Floyd Chapel. All of our small groups will meet at 9:00 a.m. including preschool, children, and students. All of our senior adult classes will meet in the Elva & John Floyd Chapel. For parents of teenagers, we will have a parent meeting in the Student Ministry building; our new Minister to Students, Chuck Butler, will share his heart and vision for the student ministry. All other adult classes will meet in their regular locations unless notified by your leader. All small groups will conclude at 9:45 a.m. At 10:00 a.m., all adults and students will join in one service in the Worship Center. Preschool and children will have their worship experience in their normal areas. It is going to be a great day, and I look forward to seeing all of you here in small groups and worship!
CHRIST will return and ALL will be well,
Clint Smith
Campus Pastor
Cross Church, Springdale Campus
Pinnacle Hills
This Sunday, January 18, will be a great day for our Cross Church Family as Pastor Floyd shares some exciting news. In order for all the church to hear this announcement at the same time, this Sunday only, we are moving our services to ONE SERVICE at 10:00 a.m. Beginning at 8.30 a.m., our Adult Small Groups, Cross Kidz, and Cross Students will have a light breakfast. Each of these group venues will begin at 9:00 a.m. and then move to the Worship Center for this special service.
Please make every effort to be here to join the celebration. Come expecting to encounter our Lord on this historic day at Cross Church. Bring someone with you. You will be proud of what your church is doing to make a difference in NWA, America, and the world.
Buster Pray
Campus Pastor
Cross Church, Pinnacle Hills Campus
Fayetteville
This Sunday we are combining all four of our services into one service at Fayetteville High School at 10:00 a.m. We hope you that you’ll join us for this powerful day together! Doors will open at 9:00 a.m., so make plans to show up early to allow yourself time to make it into the gym for worship. We are believing God that this going to be a historic day in the life of our church. Just trust me, you won’t want to miss it! We will see you on Sunday!
Nick Floyd
Teaching Pastor/Campus Pastor
Cross Church, Fayetteville Campus
College Avenue
College Avenue Campus, I know you will be excited to hear the announcement from Pastor Floyd this coming Sunday. We need to make every effort to be on time because our schedule will be slightly different.
Small groups will start on time at 9:15 a.m. as always, but end by 9:45 a.m. This will be an abbreviated small group, so plan accordingly and please be sure to end on time so our people will be in place for the start of the 10 a.m. service.
Just for this Sunday, we will have a 10:00 a.m. service, as the announcement will be synchronized with all the other Cross Church campuses. I will see you Sunday at 9:15 a.m. for Small Groups and 10:00 a.m. for Worship.
Blessings In Christ,
Andy Goode
Campus Pastor
Cross Church, College Avenue Campus
Neosho
The Neosho campus will kick things off this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. with a community potluck breakfast! Everyone is invited to arrive by 9:30 a.m. and bring your favorite breakfast food. Then, at 10:00 a.m., our service will begin as all 5 Cross Church campuses meet in their respective locations to hear some very exciting news from our Senior Pastor. Following the service with great worship and this breaking news, our small groups will meet for a brief prayer and discussion time. All activities will dismiss by 11:55 a.m. as usual. You will not want to miss this week as we hear a major announcement, enjoy a meal together, and participate in a time of worship and prayer. Bring a friend and join us this Sunday morning!
Michael Shafer
Campus Pastor
Cross Church, Neosho Campus
Yours for the Great Commission,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.