Research at the Leavell Center for Evangelism and Church Health has revealed that 70 percent of Southern Baptist churches are plateaued or declining, and only about 11 percent of Southern Baptist churches are showing significant, healthy evangelistic growth (http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=19542).   The Leavell Center for Evangelism and Church Health in cooperation with the Baptist Center for Theology and Ministry is honoring Southern Baptist churches of all sizes who meet all five of these challenging criteria for healthy churches as outstanding Churches of Excellence:

(1) An increase of church membership of 10 percent over five years,

(2) At least one baptism each year for the past five years,

(3) A total membership-to-baptism ratio of no more than thirty-five to one,

(4) At least twenty-five percent of the additions each year coming from conversions, and 

(5) In addition, percentage of members involved in discipleship/Bible study and the church’s contribution to missions are taken into account as well to indicate spiritual vitality in the congregation.

We congratulate the following churches for their record of excellence:

Healthy, Growing Churches - 2008

First Baptist was organized in 1888. The pastor, Rev. Randy Harling, came to the church in 1997 when the Sunday school enrollment was 1,297 and Sunday School attendance was 563. The total number of baptisms was 15, other additions equaled 41, and the total general fund income was $850,515. In 2007 total membership had grown to 3,646, Sunday morning worship was 2,145, Sunday School attendance was 1,553, total baptisms equaled 148 with other additions equaling 304, and general fund income was over 3.5 million dollars and gifts to the cooperative program was $435,878.

_________________________

First Baptist was organized in 1876. The pastor, Dr. Jimmy Pritchard, came to the church in 1994 when the Sunday school enrollment was 1,471 and Sunday School attendance was 553. The total number of baptisms was 44, other additions was 65, and the total general fund income was $519,085. In 2007 total membership had grown to 4,597, Sunday morning worship attendance was 1,600. Sunday School enrollment had grown to 2,650 with attendance of 1,197. Total baptisms equaled 158 with other additions equaling 232. General fund income was over 2.6 million dollars and gifts to the cooperative program was $262,472. Value of the church property grew from 2.7 to 15 million dollars.

___________________________

Rev. Thomas McCoy, came as pastor to the church in 1989. In 1993, three years after the pastor came to the church, the Sunday school enrollment was 291 and Sunday School attendance was 127. Total membership was 147. Only 15 baptisms were reported in 1993 and the church had 21 other additions to the church. The total general fund income was $86,085. In 2007 total membership had grown to 2,319. Sunday morning worship was 1,554. Sunday School enrollment was 2,667 with attendance of 1,225. Total baptisms equaled 126 with other additions equaling 148. General fund income was over 2.25 million dollars and gifts to the cooperative program was $210,914. The value of the church property grew to $10.9 million.

Mc Gregor Baptist Church

Pastor, Dr. Richard Powell, came in 1999 upon the retirement of the previous pastor who had served the church for 30 years. The church which was established in 1958. Needing more space for growth, the church moved to its present location in 1983. In 1999, the church had 2,400 in Sunday AM worship attendance and 4,600 total members. Since Dr. Powell came to the church, the church has grown to 3,847 in morning worship attendance and 7,201 in 2007. Between 1999 and 2007, the church’s baptisms increased from 155 in 1999 to 323 and Sunday School attendance has increased from 1,487 to 2,594. Total undesignated receipts have grown from 4.0 million to 9.5 million. In 2007, total missions expenditures was 1.5 million dollars and Cooperative Program funds were $852,947 or 8.9 per cent of undesignated funds.

3750 Colonial Blvd.

Fort Meyers, FL 33966

http://www.mcgregor.net/

McGregor Baptist Church

First Baptist was organized in 1988. Four years later in 1992 the pastor, Rev. Dusty McLemore, came to the church. In 1992 the Sunday school enrollment was 117 and Sunday School attendance was 55. The church’s total membership was 123 and the morning worship attendance was 69. The total number of baptisms was 26, other additions equaled 24, and the total general fund income was $49,535. In 2007 total membership had grown to 1,765, Sunday morning worship was 987, Sunday School attendance was 750, total baptisms equaled 141 with other additions equaling 111, and general fund income grew to 2.1 million dollars with gifts to the cooperative program of $142,701. Value of the church property grew from $150,000 to 9.2 million dollars.

The pastor, Rev. Elton Ikels, came to the church in 1998. Since 2001 the worship attendance has grown from 25 to 923 and total membership from 17 to 2,180 . During 2001 only one baptism was reported, the church had zero other additions to the church, and total church income was only $12,528. In 2007 the church had 125 baptisms with 126 other additions. Total income was over 1.7 million dollars and undesignated income was 1.3 million dollars. Contributions to the cooperative program were $63,833.

The pastor, Rev. J. David Smith, came to the church in 1997. From 2000 to 2007, the Sunday school enrollment grew from 208 to 628 and Sunday School attendance increased from 130 to 331, total membership from 341to 1,600, and Sunday morning worship from 300 to 750. In 2007, general fund income was $924,103 with gifts to the cooperative program of $91,161. The value of the church property grew from $750,000 to 3 million dollars.

Union Valley Baptist Church

Pastor, Thomas Miller, has been at the church for over 20 years. The church is a rural church that was organized in 1927. During its early years, when the church did not have a pastor, it almost closed its doors. When Pastor Miller came to the church in 1987, the church had 250 members and around 100 in morning worship attendance. In 2007, Sunday morning attendance had grown to 650 with 91 baptisms. Membership has grown to 1,170 members. Total undesignated receipts were $654,476, total missions expenditures was $203,923. Cooperative Program expenditures was $96,053 or 14.7 percent of undesignated funds. The church has had six different building programs but is debt free.

932 Highway 64W

Beebe, AR 72012

http://www.unionvalleybaptist.com/

The church was organized in 1860. The current pastor, Dr. Phil Bray, came to the church in 2003. Since 2003 the worship attendance has grown from 130 to 334 and total membership from 417 to 761 . In year before Dr. Bray came to the church, only 7 baptisms were reported, the church had 5 other additions, and general church income was $146,646. Since 2002, the church has had a total of 210 baptisms with 202 other additions. In 2007 undesignated gifts were $346,234 with contributions to the cooperative program of $55,489.

Cornerstone Baptist Church, Rowlett, TX

The pastor, Rev. Jim Everidge, came to the church in 2002. During that year, the Sunday school enrollment was 88 and Sunday School attendance was 80. Total membership was 212 with worship attendance of 200. Total income was $180,000. In 2007 total membership grew to 974 and worship attendance was 400. Sunday School enrollment was 284 with attendance of 147. Total income was $631,570, undesignated income was $592,410 with gifts to the cooperative program of $53,749.

Crescent Beach Baptist Church, St. Augustine, FL

The church was organized in 1992. The pastor, Dr. David Beauchamp, came to the church in 2003. Since Dr. Beauchamp’s coming, the Sunday school enrollment has grown from 169 to 306 and Sunday School attendance has grown from 86 to 180. The total number of baptisms has increased from 28 to 42. General fund income has grown from $356,142 to $691,976. In 2007 gifts to the cooperative program were $53,129.

Healthy, Growing Churches - 2007

CHURCHES OVER 1,000 IN ATTENDANCE

___________

Mike Walker, Pastor

2234 Kaliste Saloom Road

Lafayette, LA 70508-6806

http://www.eastbayou.org/337-984-8291

East Bayou Baptist Church in Lafayette, LA, is 38 years old. Pastor Mike Walker came to the church 23 years ago in 1984. The church has enjoyed long, steady growth during his tenure. However, the greatest increase has come in the last ten years when the Sunday morning worship increased from 427 in 1996 to 1,576 in 2006. During the same period, total membership has increased from 866 to 1,757; baptisms from 59 to 112; undesignated receipts from $830,000 to $2,794,000; total receipts from $958,000 to $5,138,000; and Cooperative Program giving from $54,500 to $225,000. It has also recently agreed to host the Southwest Louisiana extension center of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

For more information on East Bayou Baptist Church, see www.eastbayou.org

____________________

Alan Floyd, Pastor

P.O. Box 1030

Middleburg, FL 32050-1030

904-282-5289

First Baptist Church in Middleburg, Florida was constituted over a century ago in 1899. The church had plateaued at 400-500 in Sunday AM worship attendance for several years. Since coming to the church in 1999, Pastor Floyd has led the church to grow from a Sunday morning worship attendance of 440 to over 1200 in 2006. Total church membership has grown from 1500 to 2,700; baptisms from 50 to over 100; and undesignated gifts from $535,000 to almost $2 million. Cooperative Program giving has more than doubled from $67,000 to $167,000.

For more information on FBC Middleburg, see www.fbcmiddleburg.com

________________________

·           Salem Baptist Church in McDonough, Georgia –

Richard Statham, Pastor

1724 Hwy 155 N,

McDonough GA 30252,

(770) 957-4543

 Sunday worship attendance grew from 483 in 1996 to 1,170 in 2005. During the same period membership grew from 1,140 to 2,011 and total receipts grew from $719,309 to $3,931,606. In 2005 the church baptized 119 people.  

For more about Salem Baptist Church, see http://www.salemchurch.net/.

Salem Baptist Church

·           Hunter’s Street Baptist Church, Hoover, Alabama –

Buddy Gray, Pastor

2600 John Hawkins Pkwy

Hoover, Al 35244

(205) 985-7295

This church, celebrating a century of being in existence, has experienced remarkable growth in the past two decades.  In 1986, this church had a Sunday School enrollment of 464 and weekly attendance of less than 250.  There were 7 baptisms and 23 other additions.  Total budget giving was $301,745.  In 2005, total membership had grown to 6,309, with Sunday morning worship averaging 6,209 and Sunday School attendance averaging 3,087.  There were 205 baptisms with 444 other additions, and total budget giving was $9.5 million. 

For more about Hunter Street Baptist Church, see http://www.hsbc.org/default.htm.

Hunter Street's Recent Centennial Celebration, 1907-2007

CHURCHES 500 TO 999 IN ATTENDANCE

Raleigh Road Baptist Church, Wilson, NC –

  Eddie Maynard, pastor

    (252) 243-0383

Raleigh Road Baptist Church began as a mission church just 20 years ago.  Beginning with just 21 adults and children in 1987, the church has increased by 2005 to over 700 members with an average of 550 persons attending Sunday morning worship.  The church's membership and baptisms have doubled over the past decade.  The baptism to total church membership ratio was one per 13.5, approximately four times better than the average SBC church.  Their Cooperative Program missions giving is over 10 percent of undesignated receipts. 

For more about Raleigh Road Baptist Church, see http://www.raleighroad.org.