CP: 2.56 percent ahead of last year
Year-to-date contributions through the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program are 2.56 percent ahead of the same time frame in 2006. As of Aug. 31, the year-to-date total of $187,804,142 for CP missions is $4,680,522 ahead of the $183,123,620 received at the same point in 2006. For the month, receipts of $15,662,488 were 0.91 percent, or $141,452, ahead of the $15,521,035 received in August 2006. Designated giving of $200,033,834 for the same year-to-date period is 6.66 percent, or $12,481,620, above gifts of $187,552,214 received at this point last year. The $4,468,440 in designated gifts received last month is $303,428 below the $4,771,868 received in August 2006, a decrease of 6.36 percent. – BP
Churches get discounts at OfficeMax
File folders, printer paper, writing pens, staplers – as necessary as these items are for running a church office, they can seem like superfluous expenses in light of funds needed for evangelistic and discipleship purposes. In an effort to help churches lower administrative costs, LifeWay Christian Stores recently signed an agreement with the national office supply company OfficeMax, whereby churches may qualify for 15-70 percent discounts through the OfficeMax Advantage Program. Churches may take part in the new LifeWay discount with OfficeMax by phone, online or in person at more than 900 OfficeMax retail locations. For free registration, churches may call 1-877-633-2MAX, select option 4, and mention the LifeWay affiliation. – BP
Californian to be SBC nominee
Bill WagnerWilliam L. “Bill” Wagner, a former missionary and seminary professor and current president of Olivet University International in San Francisco, says he will allow his name to be placed in nomination for Southern Baptist Convention president when messengers meet in Indianapolis next year. Wagner formerly was a professor of missions at Golden Gate Baptist Seminary and before that an International Mission Board missionary for 31 years in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. He served as SBC first vice president from 2003-04. He also is the pastor of a small San Francisco-area church, Snyder Lane Baptist, and the author of the 2004 book, “How Islam Plans to Change the World.” Wagner served as a missionary in Austria beginning in 1965, and in 1982 became the IMB’s regional consultant for evangelism and church growth for Europe and the Middle East. He served as a professor at Golden Gate from 1996-2005. Wagner has written a “Contract with Southern Baptists,” which consists of 10 points he hopes to implement if elected. Among them, he says he would seek:
— “to help SBC churches become more missional in lifestyle and outreach” and to “support the Cooperative Program and work to make it a priority for all Southern Baptists.”
— “to help Southern Baptists find a method to use our university and college students in world evangelism.”
— “to support the Conservative Resurgence and encourage Southern Baptist schools and universities to continue to retain and to teach biblical basics to their students.”
— “to address the current perception held by many young Baptist leader and future Baptist leaders that participating in the creation and structure of the policies of the Southern Baptist Convention is not a valuable investment of their time.” He proposes to create a program where Baptist colleges and universities will teach about denominational policies and explain “why current practices exist within the SBC.”
— “to help make Southern Baptists aware of the current issues and religions that pose significant obstacles to the advancement of the Gospel, especially in the Western World.”
— “to emphasize the importance of the small church in Southern Baptist life.”
The 2006 Annual Church Profile lists four baptisms for the previous year for Snyder Lane Baptist, located in Rohnert Park, Calif., and primary worship service attendance of 30. The church gave $670 through the Cooperative Program. It did not list its total undesignated receipts or total mission expenditures. The church gave $23 to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering and $73 to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Wagner said he has been the church’s pastor for two years and does not receive a salary. The congregation was “almost dead but is now seeing growth once again,” he said. It had approximately 10 people attending every Sunday when he took the position to “see what could be done to bring new life” to the congregation. The congregation’s record on giving is “deceptive,” Wagner said in an e-mail, explaining, “We have voted that we will give 10 percent to the Cooperative Program and have done so this year. We also have met our goals this year for Lottie Moon ($500.00) and Annie Armstrong ($300.00).” Wagner received his bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico and his master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Texas. He also holds a doctor of missiology degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in California and a doctor of theology degree from the University of South Africa. – BP
SBTC initiative: child abuse prevention
With the goal of providing “safety for children and integrity for ministries,” the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention has reached an agreement with Child Guard Systems of Richardson, Tex., to recognize it as a service provider to assist SBTC churches in this critical area. “Each year nationwide, thousands of individuals and hundreds of ministries are devastated by child abuse,” SBTC executive director Jim Richards said. “The thorough and proactive approach Child Guard provides can be a resource to our churches that will help ensure safety for children, peace of mind for families, and integrity for ministries throughout Texas.” As a service provider, Child Guard will be linked from the convention’s web site and recommended by the convention staff to all SBTC churches. The approach of the company goes beyond the standard criminal background check, although this is an important part of the process. Church staff members and volunteers receive online training, testing and certification to ensure they understand appropriate procedures for maintaining the safety of the minor children under their care. “The safety of children, that is the bottom line,” Richards said. “We hope our recommendation of this service provider will encourage churches to do more to keep kids safe and their own ministries reputable.” – BP