Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

LOTTIE MOON CHRISTMAS OFFERING HITS CUMULATIVE $5 BILLION

By Myriah Snyder
IMB senior writer/editor

International Mission Board leaders are celebrating a monumental milestone in Southern Baptist life: On March 31, 2021, the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® surpassed $5 billion total gifts since collection to send missionaries to China began in 1888. 

The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is an annual offering collected by believers around the world to support international missions. The offering is unique because 100 percent of the gifts are used to provide for missionaries who are spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth. 

“I praise God for this significant milestone in giving through the Lottie offering as it indicates that the love of Southern Baptists for the lost has not waned, nor has their commitment to sending and supporting missionaries through the IMB,” said Paul Chitwood, president of the International Mission Board.  [Read more…]

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TBC CP GIVING REMAINS CONSTANT

Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches contributed $2,766,834 through the Cooperative Program in February.

For the year-to-date, Tennessee Baptists have given $11,612,365 through the Cooperative Program to fund missions and ministries in Tennessee and around the world.

After the first quarter of the 2020-2021 fiscal year, CP gifts are $545,624 or 4.5 percent below what was given for the first quarter last year, but are on $54,302 or 0.47 percent below budget needs. [Read more…]

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CHURCH DISPLAYS TRUE ‘GIVING SPIRIT’

Despite pandemic, Hilldale Baptist surpasses budget, mission goals

By David Dawson
ddawson@tnbaptist.org

CLARKSVILLE — “In good times and in bad; in sickness and in health.”

Those words, commonly heard at weddings, also describe the commitment displayed by the members of Hilldale Baptist Church, Clarksville, in 2020.  

Amid all the devastating details of last year, including economic hardships brought on by the pandemic, Hilldale had a record setting year in giving. The church not only surpassed its overall budget, but also reached its goals for the Cooperative Program and the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions. 

“It’s easy to see that God did a miracle in our midst,” said pastor Larry Robertson. “I’m so proud of our church family for a job well done, and for their willingness to let God use them in this way.”

The church exceeded its $3.1 million budget by more than $73,000, in addition to designated giving. This display of generosity would be noteworthy for any year, but it was especially impressive during a year that featured so many adjustments.  [Read more…]

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TBC CP GIVING ON TARGET TO MEET BUDGET

Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — During the first month of the year after the start of a worldwide pandemic, Tennessee Baptists continue to give faithfully through the Cooperative Program.

Tennessee Baptist Convention churches gave $3,322,496 through the CP giving channel in January. For the year-to-date, Tennessee Baptists have given $8,845,531.

The amount is $654,465 or 6.9 percent below what was given after three months last year, but is $95,531 or 1.07 percent above budget needs for the first quarter of the 2020-21 fiscal year. [Read more…]

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TBC CP GIFTS AHEAD FOR YEAR

Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches ended 2020 by giving $2,977,864 through the Cooperative Program in December.

After two months of the 2020-21 fiscal year, Tennessee Baptists have given $5,523,036. The amount is $106,938 or 2.0 percent above the amount given at the same time last year. The amount, however, is $310,298 or 5.32 percent below budget needs. [Read more…]

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2020: A YEAR TO REMEMBER

Ministry created by tornadoes, pandemic dominate year’s top stories

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org 

FRANKLIN — The year 2020 began on a positive note with giving through the Cooperative Program at a high level for the first four months of the fiscal year and after a record-breaking year for gifts through the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions in 2019.

Then came March — and life turned upside down, not only for the nation, but for Tennessee Baptist churches as well. [Read more…]

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TBC CP GIFTS INCREASE FROM A YEAR AGO

Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches contributed $2,545,172 through the Cooperative Program in November, the first month of the 2020-21 fiscal year.

The amount was $99,598 or 4.1 percent more than was given in November of 2019.

The year-to-date total, however is $371,495 or 12.74 percent below budget needs after one month. [Read more…]

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A NEW TAKE ON AN OLD, OLD CHRISTMAS STORY

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org

In a new Cooperative Program video entitled, “It’s a Wonderful CP” Mr. Finch, left, takes a trip in his dreams, and discovers that a world without the Cooperative Program “is a nightmare.”

FRANKLIN — Everyone knows the story told in “The Christmas Carol” about an elderly man named Scrooge who thought Christmas was a waste of time and money.

Now, thanks to the creative talents of Matt Tullos, assistant to the executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and Cooperative Program/stewardship specialist, Tennessee Baptists have the opportunity to meet Mr. Finch (just happens to rhyme with another old Christmas curmudgeon named Grinch) through a new video entitled, It’s a Wonderful CP. [Read more…]

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NOW DEBT FREE, MARYVILLE CHURCH DOUBLES CP GIVING TO 10 PERCENT

By Diana Chandler
Senior Writer, Baptist Press

Scott Linginfelter, pastor of Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Maryville, recently preached during the opening night of a tent revival. The church recently voted to double its giving through the Cooperative Program from 5 to 10 percent. — Submitted photo

MARYVILLE — Pastor Scott Linginfelter had just preached the opening night of a tent revival on a farm field in rural Greenback when he told Baptist Press of his commitment to the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program.

“Somebody found treasure in a field,” he said of his sermon based on Matthew 13:44. “To find treasure, it means you don’t just get saved, but you become part of kingdom theology, and you work with other believers to reach people who also want to be a part of that kingdom, and also find that treasure. It’s something that we work together toward as a church and as Southern Baptists. We cooperate toward missions.”

Linginfelter is pastor of Maryville’s Mount Carmel Baptist Church, which in October voted to begin giving 10 percent of undesignated receipts to the Cooperative Program, doubling the longtime annual contribution of 5 percent. [Read more…]

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TBC CP GIFTS END YEAR NEAR GOAL

Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN — In a year when most churches across Tennessee could not meet in person for several months, Tennessee Baptists continued to faithfully meet missions and ministry needs in the state and around the world.

Tennessee Baptist Convention churches gave $2,824,225 through the Cooperative Program in October.

Tennessee Baptists gave a total of $34,203,543 through the Cooperative Program during the 2019-20 budget year which ended Oct. 31. The amount was $516,061 or 1.51 percent below what was given last year. The total also was $796,457 or 2.28 percent below budget needs. [Read more…]

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