From Short Spots
Vol. XI, No. 2, February 1998
Another Annie Armstrong Record! The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for home missions collected last spring set a new record, for the fifth year in a row. The total of $41,060,000 was $1.5 million or 4% above the record offering of 1996. All the Annie Armstrong Offering goes to the support of Southern Baptists’ approximately 5,000 home missionaries. [BP]
God Blesses Overseas: The Southern Baptist International Mission Board reports that last year, the Nigerian Baptist Convention recorded 627 new church starts — the most ever reported in a year by any Baptist convention with whom the IMB works. Missionaries are working especially hard in responsive areas called "harvest fields," and with unreached people groups that have been shut off from access to the gospel by such forces as religion, culture, and hostile governments. Such efforts paid off last year among the board's 4,249 missionaries working among 336 people groups in 127 countries. Worldwide, IMB partner groups reported 2,451 new churches last year, up by about 3.5 percent from the 2,367 new churches reported the year before. Spurred by new growth, the total number of churches worldwide in groups with which IMB missionaries cooperate rose by 4.1 percent, to 41,521 — for the first time in history surpassing the number of stateside Southern Baptist churches. The number of churches has doubled since 1987. Other significant indicators of growth on the field are a continuing upsurge in people enrolled in discipleship training and a sharp rise in church contributions. Statistical researchers say both are precursors to future church growth. Participants in discipleship programs more than tripled from 1996 to 1997, to 657,988. Total financial contributions to churches increased from $287 million to $478 million, a 66 percent jump. Baptisms were down 0.2% from 1996. [BP]
Elliff names study committee for BFM: Responding to a request made at the SBC convention in Dallas last June by messenger Charles Lawson of Maryland, SBC president Tom Elliff has named a seven-member committee to recommend a possible family article addition to the Baptist Faith and Message. In his motion, Lawson suggested adding "Article XVIII. The Family." Citing Gen. 2:24, he suggested additions regarding the roles of the husband, wife, and children. Lawson asked for an amendment to be brought to the 1998 meeting in Salt Lake City. Elliff said, “I have chosen a committee that represents a broad spectrum of Baptist life. They are pastors, state executive directors, agency head, and wives -- they include those who have a keen grasp of the Scriptures and illustrate in their lives a clear understanding of God's principles regarding the family." Anthony Jordan, executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, was named chairman by Elliff. Other members are: O.D. "Damon" Shook, pastor of Champion Forest Baptist Church, Houston; Richard Land, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, SBC; Mary Mohler, Louisville, Ky.; Bill Elliff, pastor of First Baptist Church, Little Rock, Ark.; John Sullivan, executive director of the Florida Baptist Convention; and Dorothy Patterson, Wake Forest, N.C. Mohler is the wife of R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Patterson is the wife of Paige Patterson, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. [BP]
96-97 Saw Great SSB Results: Southern Baptist Sunday School Board President James T. Draper Jr. commended employees in a Jan. 16 chapel meeting for their "tremendous efforts" during the 1996-97 year. "We have experienced a remarkable financial turnaround," Draper said, "in large part due to greatly improved products that are meeting the spiritual needs of churches and individuals." Financially, the Sunday School Board ended the year with record revenues of $284.1 million, an increase of $23 million or 8.8 percent over the previous year. Also, the board's one remaining debt was paid off during the year. Ted Warren, executive VP and CEO, cited reception by churches and individuals of redesigned Vacation Bible School materials and Beth Moore's new discipleship resource for women, "A Heart Like His." He also praised new lines of children's resources and inspirational gifts. Also, Broadman & Holman had five best-sellers during the year, two Gold Medallion winners (awards presented by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) and four advertising impact awards. [BP]
New ERLC Radio & Online: The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission will launch a national radio program Feb. 16 that will enable millions of Southern Baptists and others to tune in and participate in biblically based discussions on the critical issues confronting the nation. The program, "For Faith & Family," will debut on more than 170 radio stations live and on tape-delay across the United States and at AudioNet on the Internet. The program will air at 12:30 pm Eastern time. ERLC President Richard Land said, "We hope and pray that For Faith & Family will help listeners develop a Christian worldview which will enable them to fully understand and address the critical social, moral, and public policy issues facing our nation." Land, along with special guests, will discuss social and ethical issues of key concern to Christians -- abortion, gambling, racism, pornography and substance abuse, among others. Some listeners will have
the opportunity to take part in the discussion both by calling the program directly, and by interactive communication via electronic mail to Land in the studio. In the near future, listeners will be able to visit the For Faith & Family Internet site at www.fff.com. to hear the program live on AudioNet or to listen to archived programs. For a complete listing of radio stations in your area carrying the program, contact the ERLC at (615) 244-2495. [BP]