The news was surprising. The Georgia Baptist Children’s Homes eliminated 32 positions and closed or reduced several programs that served children and their families. The reason? A shortfall in income. More than $1 million in expenses had to be eliminated in order to balance the current budget.
A check with other Baptist child care ministries confirmed that Georgia is not alone. Child care ministries in Tennessee, Mississippi and Florida also have been forced to make cutbacks because of financial pressures. Even Buckner Benevolence Child Care Ministries, the largest of the programs in Texas, has cut back services and eliminated positions because of the sluggish economy.
About the same time, other stories revealed similar plights elsewhere in Baptist life. One state Baptist convention announced the possibility of drastic cuts in programs and staff because of reduced giving by the churches. Another Baptist ministry cut its professional staff by 20 percent as a cost-saving step.
The news should not have been surprising. According to a recent report, charitable giving is at an all-time low in terms of percentage of income giving. But that finding is distant and philosophical.
It becomes real when one reads of closed facilities, of children’s homes eliminating beds, of services to churches cut back and of long-term employees laid off.
In Alabama the situation is not that bad yet. Paul Miller, executive director of Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries, said the organization has adopted a slightly reduced budget for 2003 anticipating continuing economic challenges.
How the Children’s Homes finishes this year will be greatly impacted by the result of December giving, he said. Officials anticipate the December mail solicitation producing the largest response of the year. If it does not, the financial situation could be difficult.
Miller said he is “very concerned” about 2003 and the ministry’s ability to continue its wide range of programs and services.
Almost all Alabama Baptist entities face similar concerns. At the recent meeting of the state convention, college presidents and entity heads alike passed lightly over the shortfall each has experienced because of the nation’s economic decline.
Income from reserves or endowment is an important source of income for many entities. Now, most take more out of reserves or endowment than the funds generate in interest and dividends.
Giving through wills and estates is another important source of income. That, too, is threatened. The anticipated size of many gifts has dropped precipitously as the values of estates shrink, reflecting the status of the stock market.
Some potential donors are hesitating about charitable gifts as they ponder how to take care of their family. Two years ago, these same people expected to be able to take care of their families and make a charitable gift.
Individual gifts are becoming scarce. A growing number of previous and potential donors say they do not have the funds to give anymore. The results are obvious: closed facilities, cutback services, employee layoffs, unmet needs and reduced ministries.
The Alabama Baptist is not immune to these circumstances. Income from reserves helps keep the price of the paper affordable for churches. Those reserves have been hammered the past two years. Charitable contributions have fallen, and so has support through wills and estates.
Like others, the state Baptist paper has sought to control expenses through increased efficiencies and employee reductions. The paper, like other Alabama Baptist entities, needs support from concerned Alabama Baptists.
December is a wonderful time to make a contribution to any of the Alabama Baptist entities. All are worthy of support. If you are interested in how to provide support through wills or estate planning, The Baptist Foundation of Alabama (334-834-9586) provides free consultation.
Above all, pray for the ministries. As the psalmist declares, our Father owns the “cattle on a thousand hills.” He can lead us to discover ways to undergird all that Baptists do together for the cause of Christ.
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