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Partners In The Mission:
Mayfield FBC Strong and Growing
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| Release Date: 03/11/2008 |
| a message from Dr. Bill Mackey, executive director |
My wife, Kay, and I recently had the opportunity to worship with First Baptist Church, Mayfield. The church is strong and growing.
The church’s Sunday school enrollment of 977 has strong representation among children, youth, young adults and adults. The largest enrollment group is of people ages 35-54 at 231.
Baptisms have averaged 24 each year and other additions have averaged 34. During the last church year, 389 members participated in mission projects.
The youth ministry is vibrant under the leadership of Jeff Keith. On the Sunday I attended, youth filled the first five pews during worship. The music ministry, led by Dean Brown, and missions organizations are also excellent.
The church supports a Hispanic ministry, and a new believer was presented for baptism the Sunday that we were present.
First Baptist is also strong in giving and support of the missions offerings. The church has exceeded $2.8 million in gifts to missions through the Cooperative Program since 1928. The church has also grown in undesignated receipts by 67 percent over the past 10 years (now exceeding $914,000) even as it purchased property and constructed new facilities.
The congregation gave $51,253 for international missions through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering last year.
Pastor Bob Swift recently announced his retirement. Bob has served on the Kentucky Baptist Convention Mission Board, as a trustee at Georgetown College, and as a trustee at Golden Gate Baptist Seminary. In appreciation for his outstanding leadership, the church was very gracious in making the early retirement possible.
I praise God for churches that are willing to move forward in providing an appropriate salary and necessary benefits for the pastor and church staff persons.
Based on conversations I’ve had with directors of missions, pastors, and Don Spencer, director of the KBC’s Church Financial Benefits Department, it is obvious that too many churches lag behind in providing appropriate salary and benefits.
Sometimes a salary looks adequate at first but when expenses for travel, telephone, books, conferences, health and retirement benefits, Social Security taxes, etc., are taken into account, the real salary is often about 40 percent of the listed amount.
Churches also need to provide adequately for a minister’s retirement. Unless churches put 10 percent of the compensation into a retirement plan, the minister is likely to have income below poverty level at retirement.
The KBC has a partnership with GuideStone and churches to provide disability and term life protection for ministers and staff persons who participate in the Church Retirement Plan. Contact Don Spencer at 502-489-3521 or 866-489-3521 to learn about this wonderful benefit provided by church CP gifts.
Please pray for all who serve faithfully not for compensation but for the glory of God and the growth of His church!
Dr. Mackey's column appears weekly in the Western Recorder. To subscribe to the Western Recorder, call (502) 489-3535. |
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