Baptist and Reflector
FRANKLIN – Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova, and Bethel Baptist Church, Greenfield, were leaders among Tennessee Baptist Convention churches in Cooperative Program giving in 2016.
Bellevue Baptist gave $937,531 through the Cooperative Program during the 2016 convention year. They actually became the first TBC church to give $1 million over a 12-month period (from April 2016 through March 2017).
Bethel Baptist led in per capita Cooperative Program giving with $583 per worshiper.
Forest Hills Baptist Church, Nashville, was among the top five leaders in both total gifts ($492,583) and per capita giving ($437.07 per worshiper).
Others in the top five in total gifts include First Baptist Church, Cleveland, $464,170; First Baptist Church, Sevierville, $454,180; and First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, $365,546.
Joining the top five churches in per capita giving are Smyrna Baptist Church, Burlison, $496.75; First Baptist Church, Grand Junction, $446.54; and Calvary Baptist Church, Rutherford, $427.35. See list of top CP giving churches on page 6 (of the print edition of the B&R).
“We are grateful for the faithful giving of all of our Tennessee Baptist Convention churches,” said Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.
“Every gift through the Cooperative Program is valued and needed to help penetrate the lostness not only in our state, but around the world,” Davis added.
In 2016, Tennessee Baptists met the budget for the first time in a decade and was the largest CP total in five years.
Giving in 2017 is slightly behind. In June, Tennessee Baptist churches gave $2,929,457 through the Cooperative Program. For the year to date, Cooperative Program gifts total $22,840,847. The amount is $428,507 or 1.8 percent below what was given during the same time frame last year.
After eight months of the current fiscal year, gifts are $492,486 or 2.11 percent below budget.
“We remain confident that Tennessee Baptists will continue to faithfully give to meet missions and ministry needs in our state and around the world,” Davis said.
