YOUR MISSIONS MONEY AT WORK
How much is given to the BGCT and CBF?
How is it used? In 2006 Trinity Baptist Church gave $104,669.12 to Baptist General Convention of Texas. Our funds sent to the BGCT are divided according to the way we direct the Office of the BGCT Treasurer to split the amount. We have chosen the Texas Way—79% for Texas and 21% for CBF. This means a total of $82,260.53 was given to BGCT. Cooperative Baptist Fellowship received $22, 408. David Nabors, Treasurer of the BGCT, recently sent us an accounting of how our 2006 money was spent. The Missions Team of Trinity wants to share that information with you. Why do we give cooperatively? It is the historic Baptist way. We have found we can do more when we work together.
| Texas Missions and Ministries |
Budget % |
$ Use |
Associational Missions and Administration
African American Ministries, Associational Missions & Admin., Bivocational Ministries, Intercultural Initiatives, Hispanic Work |
3.550 |
2,920.31 |
Christian Ethics and Public Life
Bap. Joint Committee on Public Affairs, Christian Life Commission of Texas |
1.430 |
1,176.28 |
Church Health and Growth
Bible Study/Discipleship, Church Architecture, Church Health and Growth, Office of Music and Worship, Stewardship |
5.770 |
4,746.40 |
Church Missions and Evangelism
Additional New church support, Church missions and Evangelism coordinator, Church Starters, Evangelism, Mexico Endeavors, Missional Church Strategy, Missions Equipping Center, Chaplaincy Relations, River Ministry, Texas Partnership Resourcing Center |
14.320 |
11,741.34 |
Financial Management
Building Support, Finance and accounting, Information Technology, Office of Human Resources, Office of Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer |
8.930 |
7,345.80 |
Institutional Ministries
This section serves 31 institutions of Texas Baptists like Baptist Child and Family Services, Baptist hospitals, Baptist University of the Americas, Baylor University, Hardin-Simmons University, the Baptist Student Ministries on state university campuses. Some samples are San Marcos Baptist Academy ($510.69), Texas Baptist Children’s Home ($1,291.52), Wayland University ($2,072.95), Baylor University ($3,9956.71),
Breckenridge Village Scholarships (98.74). |
47.730 3 |
9,301.43 |
| Leadership Team |
2.190 |
1,801.52 |
| Office of Executive Director |
1.630 |
1,340.86 |
Operations
Communications Center, Chief Operating Officer, Regional Offices, Missions Foundation |
7.070 |
5,815.73 |
Other Missions & Ministries
Church & Retiree Benefits , Minnesota/Wisconsin Convention, WorldConnex |
5.720 |
4,705.25 |
| Texas Baptist Men |
1.660 |
1,365.61 |
| Total |
|
82,260.53 |
|
|
|
|
Cooperative Baptist Fellowship |
Budget% |
$ Use |
| |
|
|
| Administration |
9.870 |
2,211.75 |
| Building Community Networking Initiative |
4.660 |
1,044.26 |
| Communications and Marketing |
5.470 |
1,225.73 |
| Faith Formation Initiative` |
2.620 |
587.10 |
| General Assembly |
1.620 |
363.01 |
| Global Missions and Ministries Initiative 63.640 1,260.85 |
|
|
| Leadership Development Initiative 12.120 2,715.89 |
|
|
|
|
Total: 22,408.59 |
|
|
|
1. Special Offerings
Since the 1880s Baptists have gathered special offerings for missions at Christmas and at Easter. The Christmas offering is for global missions through the CBF. There are 140 CBF missionaries who count on our faithful and cheerful giving to support their families and their ministries. Trinity has set the example for many churches in our giving for missions. Every cent of our offering goes to the work and family support of the missionaries. Last year we gave nearly $72,000 over and above our tithes. These funds were sent through the BGCT to CBF because BGCT keeps records of designated church funds being sent out of Texas.
The 2007 Easter Offering, taken in April, is the only missions offering kept in Texas. With this offering we give to new churches, evangelism projects and the River Ministry. This offering, the Mary Hill Davis Offering, is named for a pioneer Texas missionary. So far in 2007 we have given about $15,000 above our tithes.
2.Baptist University of the Americas and BGCT
Baptist University of the Americas is a BGCT institution. Churches giving to the Cooperative Program of Baptists give a percentage of their gifts to BUA. We are a part of that. However, in addition, several years ago Trinity began giving extra dollars to BUA because it is a San Antonio institution and because it is one of the most important arms of evangelism for Hispanics in our state and, indeed, in our nation. Graduates now come from many states and go out to start churches and become pastors and missionaries in Texas, the USA and also in many foreign countries. Two graduates of BUA now serve as missionaries of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship in India. We give $57,000 per year over and above our BGCT gifts to BUA. We give it through the BGCT because BUA asked us to do that as a symbol of our cooperation with the BGCT. Our example has encouraged other churches to support BUA with a gift from their budget. Interns from BUA have worked in our mission programs and learned from us how to do church. They are a continuing part of Trinity. Several teachers at BUA go to church with us, and their tithes and offerings are a part of our income.
3. Some Samples of Other Mission Team Expenditures:
South San Filadelphia Baptist Church $500.00 (Local Team Funds)
Alazan Creek (Guadalupe St. Coffee) $14,000.00 (Rent)
New CBF church in Lewiston, Maine, for
Pastoral support $500.00 (USA/Global Team Funds)
Help student missionary in South America $500.00 (Tex/Mex/Latin Amer. Funds)
Gift basket for our Habitat Family $300.00 (From Habitat Funds)
Scholarship for one year for a PHDstudent at IBTS
Prague $1,500.00 (USA/Global Team Funds)
4. Sunday School Mission Projects:
In January the Missions Team used funds left over from 2005-2006 to fund special projects requested by Sunday School classes and departments. Here are some samples:
Funds to His Nets for malaria nets for mothers and babies
Funds to Kemper Crabb to build a church in Africa.
Money to support the Dixon Family, former IMB missionaries in Spain.
Special projects for the homeless in San Antonio, using their time to witness and minister.
Develop a relationship with a community in South America in order to sponsor and help children in that poverty-stricken community.
Water For All, the ministry of Terry and Kathy Waller in Bolivia, which brings fresh water and new hope to rural areas in Bolivia, Sri Lanka, Central America and Africa.
Hospitality House, a ministry to prisoners’ families, in Huntsville, Texas
Backpacks for KidsHeart children in Santa Maria on the border.
These mission projects were so well-received that the Missions Team will fund a few projects again in 2007-2008. Inspired by these projects, “That” class sent us a list of the many mission projects they support with their own funds. We know that many others classes have their own special mission projects.