Alabama tops 2004 state CP challenge goal

After falling short of the Cooperative Program (CP) base goal in 2003 for the first time in 12 years, Alabama Baptists reached deep into their pockets in 2004 and not only met the CP base budget but also exceeded challenge goals in all areas of CP giving.
   
“I want to thank Alabama Baptists for their faithful giving through the Cooperative Program in 2004,” said Rick Lance, executive director of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM). “Despite the worst weather event in a generation, Hurricane Ivan, the giving of Alabama Baptists through the CP exceeded the base budget and into the challenge budget range.”
   
In 2004, Alabama churches shot past the total base goal of $40,427,480 and hit a single-year high with $41,653,812, a total topping the year’s challenge goal of $41,427,480.
   
And in specific offerings Alabama Baptists continued the generous trend, surpassing every challenge goal for the first time.
   
“I do not remember a year in my 15 years at the State Board where all areas of giving were responded to as positively as in 2004,” said Bobby DuBois, SBOM associate executive director. “The lesson I take from this is that Alabama Baptists are both missions-minded and generous people.”
   
The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering total of $10,944,510.48 was a single-year record, and in addition it — when combined with the International Mission Board (IMB) designations from the general state CP total — set another record for IMB receipts from Alabama.
   
The same happened with the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering of $5,352,772. The offering alone was a single-year record as well as the offering combined with CP designations to the North American Mission Board.
   
Show Alabama Baptists a need, DuBois said, and “they will respond personally and financially.”
Prior to 2004, the largest single-year disaster relief response came in the aftermath of 9/11 when Alabama Baptists gave just under $300,000 to assist with relief. 
   
But when Hurricane Ivan struck at home, Alabama churches broke that record with gifts totaling $350,018 for Ivan relief and an additional $113,709 for other disaster relief efforts.
   
“The 9/11 financial response made by Alabama Baptists did show the compassion of our people for those beyond our borders,” DuBois said. 
  
“But there is an even more impassioned response when tragedy strikes within one’s own state. The devastation of Ivan was so widespread that it moved people to become sacrificially involved in responding to the needs of fellow Alabamians,” he said.
   
Alabama churches met the needs of their own on a record-breaking level again, collecting $2,362,793 in special offerings for Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries, plus the state CP designation of $266,124.
   
“In Alabama, there is a high level of trust in our elected leadership, our entities are working hard to fulfill their mission and our Baptist family seems united in Great Commission ministry efforts,” DuBois said. “The Cooperative Program is alive and well in Alabama.”
   
John MacLaren, director of the Cooperative Program/stewardship office for the SBOM, said Alabama Baptists are wonderful at seeing needs and responding to them.
   
“It helps people to see that when we pool our resources, we are able to do even more, whether it be in Alabama or other parts of the world,” MacLaren said.
   
Alabama Baptists set yet another single-year record in total gifts channeled to the Southern Baptist Convention — $35,087,996, a total that includes Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong offerings, Cooperative Program designations and world hunger funds.
   
Lance said faithful giving through the Cooperative Program is the God-blessed way of supporting missionaries in Alabama, North America and around the world.
   
“More is yet to be done in 2005 and beyond,” Lance said. “My prayer is that we stay on mission with the Great Commission as people of faith sharing the good news of Christ.”