Notes on Evangelism & Missions

                                                                                                                        Vol. VII, No. 1, January 1994

Study: 6,001 Churches Baptized No One Last Year: A study of 1992 SBC baptisms shows 6,001 churches baptized no one and that less than three percent of the churches accounted for nearly 24% of all baptisms. Produced by Steve Whitten, Home Mission Board director of program research, based upon the uniform church letter, the study also revealed that (1) half the churches with no baptisms had fewer than 100 members, yet 18% had more than 200 members, (2) most churches reporting no baptisms are rural, but 14% are in communities of 10,000 or more, (3) churches with no baptisms are older, the average church age being 70 years, and (4) 910 churches reported 50 or more baptisms, 239 showed 100 or more. [BP]

Suggestions to Increase Baptisms: After four years of increasing baptisms, peaking at 397,000 in 1991, they have fallen to 367,000 in 1992 and an estimated 350,000 in 1993. Larry Lewis, HMB president, offered five suggestions to increase baptisms: (1) Start satellite units. First Baptist, Dallas, reported 900 baptisms of which more than 600 were from its 31 off-campus congregations. (2) Leaders should model soul winning. Lewis cited Ed Young, SBC president and pastor of Second Baptist in Houston, because of Young's commitment to spend two nights every week in evangelistic visitation. (3) Learn from other denominations and para-church groups reporting increases in professions of faith. (4) Have a major evangelistic thrust every year. And (5) Use Sunday School as the major outreach arm of the local church. Suggestions from state evangelism directors included: careful follow-up on prospects discovered through ministry projects, increase preaching and teaching on baptism, and conduct "celebration baptism services" away from the church building. [BP]

New Record of Foreign Mission Workers: A record annual total of 495 mission workers (223 career and 272 two-year personnel) exceeds 1985's record of 429, although the 1985 figure of 304 career missionaries remains a record.