Giving to SBC missions up; members, baptisms down

NASHVILLE — Southern Baptists gave 2.3 percent more to missions last year despite the economic downturn but they lost members and baptized the fewest number of people since 1987, according to the denomination’s Annual Church Profile, compiled by LifeWay Christian Resources in conjunction with 42 Baptist state conventions. Total giving to missions reached $1.36 billion in 2008 through the denomination’s…