Home Mission Giving on the Up
By Paul Hobson
Thursday 28 January
THIS year’s Home Mission Appeal has seen a small increase, despite the challenging economic climate.
A total of £3,883,873 was raised by the Appeal in 2009, a year-on-year rise of 0.79 per cent.
Although the Home Mission target of £4.25m was missed, Malcolm Broad, Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB) Treasurer, said the final result nevertheless reflected well on the denomination.
“This is a great achievement given the current economic background and while we didn’t reach the Home Mission target, I am pleased with the result,” Mr Broad told The Baptist Times.”‘Thank you so much to all our churches who have responded so generously.
“I am really grateful for the sacrifice some churches have made in giving ‘at least five per cent of their general fund income to Home Mission.
“I have also receive a number of encouraging letters from church treasurers recently who have told me they have increased their budget figure to Home Mission for 2010 based on the ‘at least five per cent’, and that’s really good news.”
His sentiments were echoed by the Revd Jonathan Edwards, BUGB General Secretary, who told The Baptist Times, “I am enormously grateful for the magnificent way in which churches have given to the Home Mission Appeal in 2009.
“It has been a tough year and it is encouraging to see this response.”
Mr Broad said nine associations had achieved a bigger percentage increase than the national increase of 0.79 per cent.
The associations in the East Midlands, Heart of England, London and Southern Counties were “particularly impressive”, with each achieving in excess of five per cent growth compared with 2008.
South West Baptist Association, which increased its giving by 3.51 per cent on 2008, still maintained the highest per capita giving at £35.33.
The figures were released last week and also showed that following a large increase in 2008, direct giving to Home Mission was down from £97,542 to £85,680
However legacy income bucked the recent trend and increased from £343,235 to £409,086.
Mr Broad said some churches had reported falling numbers and as a consequence had less to give away.
He added that many churches were also reporting deficit budgets for 2010. However, while the future was challenging, there was much hope – particularly if the economy recovers.
“2010 will not be easy, but I do sense more optimism than in 2009 and as confidence grows in our economy so too I am sure will the giving.
“I am constantly reminded of the widow’s mite story which continues to challenge me, so I pray that in the same way God has been exceedingly generous to us, so may we continue to give generously, and maybe even ‘exceedingly’, in return.”
Mr Edwards also urged churches to attain the five per cent target. “We still have a huge faith challenge ahead of us.
“I am keen to see us support more and more mission initiatives through Home Mission, but they rely upon an increase in Home Mission giving.
“I pray that every church will look hard at their finances and ensure that they are giving at least five per cent of their income to Home Mission.
“Many churches already give much more than five per cent and this is splendid and we ask them to at least maintain this giving.
“However, if every church could come up to five per cent as a minimum then we would be able to achieve so much more for the Lord.”
Home Mission helps support more than 400 ministers, student ministers attached to churches, staff employed at the national resource in Didcot and the 13 Associations.
Evangelistic and social action projects also benefit.
This report is courtesy of The Baptist Times
