The Executive Board of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, meeting Dec. 8 in Columbia, approved a recommendation from the budget, finance and audit committee to create a Kingdom Challenge Fund. The board also approved allocating to the new fund any monies received during 2005 that exceed the budget goal for Executive Board ministries.
Executive director-treasurer Carlisle Driggers reported to the budget, finance and audit committee during the morning meeting that he had received a letter from the presidents of the institutions of the South Carolina Baptist Convention supporting the establishment of a Kingdom Challenge Fund for the South Carolina Baptist Convention.
“Our institution presidents have asked that any funds received beyond the budget for their ministry in 2005 be allocated to the kingdom Challenge Fund. This action truly represents a Kingdom vision on the part of our institution leaders,” said Driggers.
Driggers also reported that South Carolina Baptist Ministries for the Aging supports the new Kingdom Challenge Fund, but, due to current difficult financial circumstances, requested that the ministry receive its portion of the overage for this year.
The Kingdom Challenge Fund will assist in international missions and evangelism opportunities, North American missions and evangelism opportunities, disaster relief efforts, and for starting new churches in South Carolina. The budget, finance and audit committee of the Executive Board will have the responsibility for the allocation of the Kingdom Challenge funds.
Mike Moody, chairman of the budget and finance committee, reported Cooperative Program gifts are on target to meet and exceed this year’s budget of $32,150,000.
In other reports, Ben Maynard, chaplain of the Bethea Retirement Center, conveyed the progress taking place at the retirement center. There has been a tremendous increase in volunteerism from churches which has dramatically improved the appearance of Bethea. A new church has been started and is meeting in the chapel. Maynard also reported that the new management team has been very successful in billing and collecting for past services provided at Bethea. Also, all filings for Medicare and Medicaid are up-to-date and are being processed more efficiently.
Thirteen convention staff members were also recognized for their five, 10, 20 or 30 years service. Driggers was also recognized for 15 years as executive director-treasurer.
Mike Hamlet, pastor of First Baptist Church, North Spartanburg, was re-elected as board chairman for a second term. Tom Swilley, pastor of Cedar Grove Baptist, Conway, was elected as vice chairman, and Royce Addis, pastor of First Baptist, Norris, was elected secretary.