Home Mission giving increases in 2008 despite credit crunch – Thank you
Thursday 22 January 2009
Despite the financial turmoil of the last twelve months, giving by Baptist churches to Home Mission rose by over 4% in 2008.
£3.853,402 was raised in 2008, only £146,000 short of the Appeal target of £4 million. Home Mission money includes the finance of employment related costs involving more than 400 Ministers, student ministers attached to churches and staff employed at the National Resource in Didcot and the 13 Associations, all of whom are either directly engaged in mission or are providing much needed support in making Jesus known throughout Britain.
BUGB General Secretary Jonathan Edwards greeted the increase with enthusiasm. “This is truly wonderful news! We recognized that this would be a tough year and so an increase of over 4% is a source of huge encouragement. 11 out of 13 Associations exceeded their target and the other two associations were not far behind. I want to thank all our churches for their contribution to this total, and urge everyone to dig deep in 2009. For all sorts of reasons this coming year is going to be extremely testing. We are faced with a large number of exciting mission opportunities and none of us would want to see them pegged back by the lack of money.”
In what will be a challenging year financially for everyone, the Baptist Union is asking churches to give at least 5% of their income to Home Mission in 2009. “As a denomination we should take heart from the outturn of the 2008 Appeal, but the need to give as generously as possible remains, even more so in times of recession,” says BUGB Treasurer, Malcolm Broad. “The call, I made at the annual Baptist Assembly last year, for all our churches to give ‘at least 5% of their General Fund income to Home Mission’ is an imperative for us all. I recognise this will not be easy for some churches perhaps hit hard by those in their congregation either made or being made redundant, or those whose reliance on income from savings has been hit by the reduction in interest rates. The target set by Baptist Union Council last November at £4.25M for 2009 is going to be very challenging and is part of our journey together to reaching £5M in 2012. I am encouraged by many churches who have written to me expressing their support for 5% and if we can all get behind this, I know that we can achieve greater things together in God’s name."
ENDS
