NASHVILLE, Tenn.  Year-to-date contributions through the Southern Baptist Convention's Cooperative Program are up 0.66 percent compared to last year, according to a news release.
As of Aug. 31, the year-to-date total of $169 million for Cooperative Program Missions is $1.1 million ahead of the $168 million received at the same point last year. For the month, receipts of $16.7 million were up 4.6 percent, or $744,559, above the $16 million received in August 2002.
Designated giving of $162.9 million is 2.5 percent below gifts of $167 million received at this point in 2002. The $5 million in designated gifts received last month is $1 million above the $4 million received in August 2002, a 25.9 percent increase.
The SBC operates on an Oct. 1-Sept. 30 fiscal year.
The Cooperative Program is the method of supporting missions and ministry efforts of state and regional conventions and the Southern Baptist Convention. It includes receipts from individuals, churches, state conventions and fellowships for distribution according to the 2002-03 Cooperative Program Allocation Budget.
