Our International Mission Board is reporting a spectacular increase in the Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions. The total for the 2015 offering is $165.8 million, an increase of $12.8 million over last year.
Here are the Lottie Moon totals for this century:
2000 113.2
2001 113.7
2002 115.0
2003 136.2
2004 133.9
2005 137.9
2006 150.2
2007 150.4
2008 150.4
2009 148.9
2010 145.7
2011 146.8
2012 149.3
2013 154.1
2014 153.0
2015 165.8
Lottie Moon’s really big year was 2003 when the total received was a staggering $21.2 million greater than the previous year. That was a mammoth 18.4% increase. Lottie had a big year in 2006 just prior to the economic meltdown when $12.3 million more was given than the previous year, a healthy 8.9% increase. The record offering just announced falls short of both the dollar and percentage increases of those two previous stellar years but we thank God for the $165.8 million that Southern Baptists gave and for the fact that that is 8.3% greater than 2014.
The $12.8 million is big money but only about 4.6% of the IMB total 2016 budget. With reduced expenses through the voluntary personnel reductions and increased revenue through the greater LMCO and slightly greater revenue through Cooperative Program giving, the IMB is on a more stable footing and should be able to plan for the future with greater confidence and without an immediate fiscal crisis.
Oddly, some voices in SBC life are squawking about IMB having too much money, having cut too deeply. I say, let’s be realistic. IMB has been in poor financial condition for the past number of years and is much healthier now. Now that they are not compelled to sell overseas real estate or spend down financial reserves just to pay current operating expenses, they can have more felxibility in planning for the future.
It is sadly ironic that it took a plan to drastically reduce IMB personnel to motivate SBC churches and individuals to give more. Nothing like a crisis to motivate some of us into doing what we should have done in the first place.
How about for now, we declare a party and celebration day for Southern Baptists who gave generously to reach the world for Christ and leave the griping for later? We deserve a time of undiluted thanksgiving for God’s goodness and grace.
William is right, this is great news. Thanks for chasing down the figures.
How ironic that some of those who have complained loudest about the previous years’ financial shortfalls are the same ones now worried that the IMB will be operating too far in the surplus territory. It’s almost like they’re determined to complain no matter what happens.
Who is complaining about the surplus?
Will Hall http://baptistmessage.com/editorial-why-are-imb-leaders-not-answering-questions/
You know, Brent, I just don’t see the complaining about a surplus in that article. I see him bringing up a lot of other issues. Can you spell it out for me?
David
I rejoice and praise God for the increase but I fear we in the SBC will think everything is fixed now and reduce giving next year… I sincerely hope not.
I am glad the numbers are up. However, the news may not be as rosy as it first appears. I am told that this is not an apples to apples comparison. By that I mean that any dollar received outside the EC distribution of CP dollars is considered LMCO. Therefore, when FBC Orlando took the $1M from CP through the Florida Baptist Convention and gave it directly to IMB, it is all counted as LMCO. And there are other examples. It is possible that at least some of the increase can be attributed to this kind of shell game, as… Read more »
“genuine increase…”
I can speak for the church where I was serving last Christmas – I led them to increase the LMCO goal by almost double – thanks be to God – they collected and sent to IMB more than the church had ever sent before for LMCO.
i also know that several other SBC churches in the region did similarly.
Really – can’t you just rejoice, Rick. Does the glass always have to be half empty?
Tarheel,
We exceeded our goal as well…over $30,000. And of course, I rejoice over these gifts to missions.
Analyzing statistics, however, is another matter. Sometimes, there are variations in methodology that yield different results—just as IMB personnel explained the statistical basis for the reduction in overseas baptisms.
The glass is not half empty at all. But if we have changed our methodology of reporting, even slightly, it may not be the same glass as last year, so the comparison may be a little off. That’s all.
We set a new record too, by more than 20% over our previous year’s (itself a record). I think both methods caused increase and we should be thankful for both.
Well, let’s just hope that it was a genuine increase, so we can all rejoice. I sincerely hope it was, and not just Churches maneuvering the way they gave.
David
David, IMB got $12.8 million more real dollars than they did last year. The CP is up after 8 months of the fiscal year. It will assuredly finish with millions more real dollars.
There is plenty to complain about in the SBC. Pick any one of those things.