Southern Baptists are a fellowship of more than 16.3 million members in about 43,700 churches in all 50 states and Canada. Southern Baptists are a fellowship of more than 16.3 million members in about 43,700 churches in all 50 states and Canada. These churches work together through 1,182 associations, 41 state conventions, 1 fellowship, and the SBC to accomplish through voluntary cooperation far more than each could do alone. The Southern Baptist worldwide missions enterprise is funded in large part through the unique, efficient, and equitable Cooperative Program. A portion of the undesignated tithes and offerings of individuals received by SBC churches becomes Cooperative Program dollars. In 2005, these churches sent more than $522 million through the Cooperative Program to their state conventions to support work within the state and the Southern Baptist Convention. As determined by messengers to the annual session of each state convention, a percentage of these Cooperative Program receipts is sent to the SBC Executive Committee for distribution to SBC entities. In 2005 in Louisiana, 65.5 percent of total Cooperative Program receipts were used for state convention ministries, … [Read more...]
Businessman gets others involved
Businessman Joe Backus jokingly refers to himself as the “Minister of Intimidation” for the 66 churches in north-central Louisiana’s Concord-Union Association, which borders Arkansas. RUSTON – Businessman Joe Backus jokingly refers to himself as the “Minister of Intimidation” for the 66 churches in north-central Louisiana’s Concord-Union Association, which borders Arkansas. As a behind-the-scenes kind of guy, he is the one who makes things happen. “I can’t sing, preach or hammer a nail,” Backus said during a recent interview with the Message. “But I can get people to do things. I multiply.” His real title is Mission Development Director for the Concord-Union Association, a position he’s held for going on 16 years now, and his job is simple: involving members of Southern Baptist churches in the Concord-Union association in any type of mission work. “One of his greatest talents is his ability to work behind the scenes encouraging and involving others in a project,” wrote Jerry Key, associate pastor at East Leesville Baptist Church, in his letter to the 2005 Selection Committee for Lincoln Parish’s Lincoln Humanitarian Award, for which Backus was nominated. Backus really doesn’t … [Read more...]
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