Good News, Bad News

                                                                                                                    Vol. V, No. 6, November 1992

Good News:

Dr. Ernest E. Mosley, Vice President of the SBC Executive Committee staff, reported in the September 1992 Baptist Program on the good progress that the SBC has made since the Bold Mission Thrust campaign was launched in 1978. At that time Southern Baptists numbered 13,083,199; today we count 15,238,283. We then had 35,221 churches in 33 state conventions; now: 38,221 churches in 36 state conventions and 4 fellowships. Baptisms in 1978 were 345,690; in 1991 396,668, 15% higher. Sunday School enrollment was 7,430,931 and now is 8,183,801. Foreign Missionaries have grown from 2,794 in 82 countries to 3,906 in 122 countries, and Home Missionaries from 2,839 to 4,922. Churches in foreign countries have skyrocketed from 7,584 in 1976 to 27,932 in 1991. Foreign baptisms in 1976 were 80,747, in 1991 233,334. Lots of good news.

By 1990 we had exceeded our goal for short-term mission volunteers by 41 %, and even though the 1995 goal is a big 75% above the 1990 figure, we are well above the annual average need to reach the 1995 objective. The number of student summer and semester missionaries grew from 127 in 1991 to a record 244 this summer. More good news.

In 1977 the Annie Armstrong offering was $10.5 million, the 1991 offering over $35 million. The Lottie Moon offering has increased from $28 million in 1977 to $78.5 million in 1991. Still more good news.

We need to be giving much more of our money and, especially, much more of ourselves. There is a world to be won for Christ. Nevertheless, it is important to be aware of what has been accomplished.

Bad News:

USA Today reported on a Gallup Poll which found that as our income goes up, the percentage given to others goes down. Those with income below $10,000 give 2.8% to charities and church; those making between $10,000 and $30,000 average 2.5%; those receiving from $30,000 to $50,000 2.0%; and those making $50,000 to $100,000 give only about 1.0%. It seems that the more we make, the more we value our earthly-possessions; whereas, it should be that the more we make the higher percentage we give.

Remember, tithing is not the ceiling; it's the floor.