By Will Hall, Baptist Message executive editor NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LBM) – The South­ern Baptist Convention Executive Committee released the December 2023 financial summary on Jan. 9, 2024, report­ing that monthly gifts to SBC causes through the Cooperative Program were down 2.52 percent, while designated gifts were up 5.38 percent, when com­pared to December 2022. Year-to-date giving through both funding channels showed similar trends: — From Oct. 1, 2023, through Dec. 31, 2023, to­tal SBC CP contributions were 1.41 percent lower compared to the same quarter for the previous fiscal year. — Meanwhile, com­bined designated giving was 4.16 percent higher for the same months, with the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering up 1.82 percent, and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offer­ing 10.83 percent higher, respectively. LBC Giving The national report showed monthly giving by Louisiana Baptists to SBC causes in December was down 16.20 percent through CP and up 19.58 percent for special offer­ings. Cumulatively for the quarter, Louisiana Baptists’ Fiscal Year 2024 contribu­tions were lower by 11.80 percent through the CP and off 0.59 percent via designated giving. … [Read more...]