Southern Baptists gave $153 million to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (LMCO) for International Missions in 2016, which fell $2 million short of the goal.
And while giving was more than $12 million shy of the record $165.8 milllion given in 2015, the 2016 amount was in line with giving in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
“Our goal for the (2016) campaign was $155 million based on projected need and wise stewardship of Southern Baptists’ gifts,” said International Mission Board treasurer Rodney Freeman.
“We see [the 2015] total as an exceptional response from Southern Baptists in light of past financial challenges but not as the beginning of a new trend,” he said.
The LMCO campaign year has historically run from June 1 to May 31 but that will change to an Oct. 1–Sept. 30 schedule if approved by messengers at the SBC annual meeting June 13–14. (IMB)
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