Through the first three months of 2013, Cooperative Program gifts from South Carolina Baptist churches were 8.65 percent, or $616,120, short of budget goals for the first quarter.
Jim Austin, executive director-treasurer of the SCBC, said, “While our giving is down for the first quarter, we hope that it will pick up during the second quarter. Our SCBC churches are faithfully giving, in spite of a still sluggish economy.” Austin went on to point out that the state’s youth camps are on course for a record attendance. “We thank South Carolina Baptists for investing in these future leaders by giving through the Cooperative Program.”
January giving was over budget by 10.7 percent, while February fell to 16 percent below budget, and March fell to 21 percent below the monthly budget goal.
Tom Tucker, chairman of the Executive Board of the SCBC, responded to the shortfall by stating, “I am praying for a good April, and I am rejoicing at what people are giving. Most of our CP dollars support missions, and we have got to support our missionaries.”
On the national level, CP giving is 1.4 percent above the SBC budget goal. However, receipts for March were $3,288,840 less than March 2012.