The annual meeting of the Kentucky Baptist Convention represents a unique opportunity for our Mission Board staff and KBC agencies and institutions to share ministry highlights and updates from another year of Kingdom work in our state and far beyond. In addition to sharing time on the platform, an annual Book of Reports is compiled as a resource to communicate with Kentucky Baptists.
We are making this year’s book of report available online. It can be accessed at http://www.kybaptist.org/bookofreports. I encourage you to take time to download the book and read all of the reports. I assure you it will be a cause for celebration and thanksgiving to God for the work He is doing through Kentucky Baptists. This week and next, I am posting sections from my report here.
Kentucky Baptists have been working together to share the gospel with the people of the Commonwealth and beyond for 175 years! I consider it a privilege to serve as executive director of the Kentucky Baptist Convention as we mark this historic milestone together.
The anniversary comes at a unique time for KBC, having embarked this year on the most extensive staff restructuring in recent memory. That restructuring has resulted in a Mission Board staff sharply focused on serving well the churches of the KBC.
In this service, we are working to equip Kentucky Baptists to fulfill the Great Commission by sharing the gospel and making disciples. We are also helping Kentucky Baptists obey the Great Commandment by providing avenues to show the love of Christ in serving others through ministries such as disaster relief and Kentucky Changers. We are working to help pastors and ministers implement best practices in outreach, new-member follow-up, Sunday school, stewardship, church safety and other key areas.
And we are working to educate Kentucky Baptists on the power of the Cooperative Program and how gifts made through CP are truly fulfilling the Great Commission. We rejoice in the way KBC churches are renewing their commitment to getting the gospel beyond their community through CP.
In that regard, I have wonderful news to report for the cause of worldwide missions! For the first time in four years, CP giving from KBC churches to support Great Commission work increased over the year before. Since the 2007-2008 fiscal year, CP receipts each year have represented a decrease over the prior year. But as we close the books on the 2011-2012 fiscal year, we celebrate a 1 percent increase over last year’s giving. Knowing that this victory represents a significant sacrifice on the part of KBC churches, let me express my gratitude to the pastors and church members committed to getting the gospel to the ends of the earth.
