Through their Cooperative Program gifts, South Carolina Baptist churches have exceeded the 2006 state convention budget goal of $32,150,000.
This is the third consecutive year that the convention has exceeded the budget goal. Budget gifts totaled $32,896,687 which was $746,687 over the goal. Cooperative Program gifts for the year totaled $32,622,233, an increase of $753,703 or 2.37 percent over 2005.
Forty percent of the overage, or $318,893, was distributed directly to the Southern Baptist Convention for its work. The remaining 60 percent was allocated on a pro rata basis to South Carolina Baptist Convention institutions and the ministries of the Executive Board.
Gifts to the three weeks of prayer offerings all increased for 2006. The Lottie Moon offering totaled $8,011,450, or an increase of $11,957; the Annie Armstrong offering totaled $3,801,201, or an increase of $246,703; and the Janie Chapman offering totaled $1,776,945, or an increase of $42,165.
The 2007 South Carolina Baptist Convention Empowering Kingdom Growth budget totals $32,750,000 for an increase of $600,000 over 2006.