Staffs urged to complete Annual Church Profile
By Staff
August 17, 2004
JEFFERSON CITY – Completing the Annual Church Profile (ACP) will bring numerous benefits to a Missouri Baptist church, said David Waganer, associate executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC).
The ACP allows a local church to see how well they are doing as a congregation for a given church year. A church can measure such things as mission giving, total baptisms, total membership and the average number in Sunday School.
Also, when the ACP information is sent to other denomination entities like the Baptist Association, MBC and Southern Baptist Convention, the local church is reminded that it is in a cooperative effort with hundreds of other churches throughout the country.
“It really allows us to see how well we are doing at various levels of convention life,” Waganer said. “Mission giving and the number of baptisms recorded in a church year can be measured to other years. As local congregations and as a convention, our goal is to reach those needing Christ with the message of salvation. Truly, we should celebrate victories and work together to make sure every church can celebrate milestones.”
Thirdly, filling out the ACP is a benefit in the sense that the information helps to determine the number of messengers a local church can have at the state and national convention.
Currently, 35 percent of the churches in Missouri have already completed and entered the information, Waganer said.
Waganer noted that a pastor, a Sunday School director, a church clerk, a church secretary and a church treasurer could sit down and complete the ACP together in 45 minutes.
“Encourage your pastor and other leaders to complete the ACP information in a timely manner,” Waganer said.