A Statement from Highview Baptist Church

It seems that there has been some misunderstanding about the missions giving of Highview Baptist Church where Dr. Mohler is a member. In response to some misinformation, Kevin Ezell has issued the following clarification:


HIGHVIEW’S MISSIONS GIVING
January 7, 2008

Highview Baptist Church has received numerous inquiries from around the world about our giving to missions and missions-related causes, and we are more than happy to address those questions.

As a church, we are committed to The Southern Baptist Convention and to its mission of reaching people for Jesus Christ in our community, our state, our country, and all over the word. Being “Great Commission Focused” is one of our core values. Our church has a history of missions-related giving and of sending career missionaries and volunteers to the field. We are more excited and more committed to missions now than at any time in our church’s history.

In the wake of various erroneous news reports, we do think it’s important that we clear up any misunderstanding about Highview’s contribution to the Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong missions offerings.

In 2006, Highview gave a total of $724,984 to missions. In the Associated Church Profile (ACP) we submitted to the SBC in 2006, we simply chose not to specifically categorize our missions giving. Frankly, at the time, we did not think such categorization was necessary to promote our church.

In 2007, we gave $836,681 dollars to missions. Last year, we did specifically categorize our contribution in the ACP report. Highview gave $64,158 to the Lottie Moon fund and $13,752 to Annie Armstrong.

As for our Cooperative Program giving, Highview has chosen to give the majority of our cooperative funds directly to the SBC instead of funneling the funds through the Kentucky Baptist Convention. The reason is simple: The KBC retains 64% of those funds, and we want to ensure that more of our dollars went directly to evangelism, missions and other programs that Highview supports.

Highview Baptist Church understands that some of the questions about our missions giving come following the announcement that one of our teaching pastors, Dr. Albert Mohler, will be nominated for the presidency of the SBC. We are proud to have Dr. Mohler and his family as active members of our church.

Our giving, our going, our praying, and our serving has always been out of a desire to make Jesus’ name famous all over the world.

Missions and evangelism are at the core of Highview Baptist Church, so in the wake of some misinformation, we thought it necessary to set the record straight. To that end, we are attaching our 2008 plan for missions giving, which our congregation unanimously approved in November of 2007.

NEWS RELEASE

Highview Baptist Church

Phone: 502.239.7711
Fax: 502.239.3353
7711 Fegenbush Lane
Louisville, KY 40228

http://www.highview.org


Investment Plan

2008 GOAL: To INVEST over $1 Million in Missions

Expenditures are proposed and will be
determined by offerings to Million to Missions.
LOCAL
A Woman’s Choice Resource Center 24,000
Southern Seminary
Mentoring/Intern Program 150,000
Prison Ministry 42,000
Media Outreach 20,000
R.O.C.K. 5,000
Fern Creek/Highview United Ministries 5,000
Fellowship of Christian Athletes 5,000
Sunrise Children’s Services 5,000
Shield of Faith 2,600
Long Run Baptist Association 1,200
Campus Missions
Spencer 50,000
Indiana 50,000
Hispanic 50,000
TOTAL LOCAL MISSIONS 409,800

NATIONAL
Cooperative Program (See International Missions)
Through the North American Mission Board a percentage of Cooperative Program funds goes to North America Missions.

Church Plants
New York City | The Gallery Church 50,000
Philadelphia 25,000
Indianapolis 25,000
Atlanta 25,000
Cleveland 25,000

Mission Trip Supplements 20,000
THIRST Student Mission
Trip Supplement 25,000
Eastern Ky Mission Trip 5,000
TOTAL NATIONAL MISSIONS 200,000
INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS
Cooperative Program 400,000
Supports
Over 5,000 international missionaries through
the International Mission Board
Over 5,000 national missionaries
Disaster relief
Our six Southern Baptist Seminaries
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
International Mission Board
Lottie Moon Offering 100,000
International Mission Trips 100,000
1. North Africa
2. Zambia
3. India
4. Guatemala
5. Vietnam
Bible Distribution 25,000
Gideons 10,000
Muslim Bible Day 10,000
Wycliffe Bible Translators 5,000
Highview Missionary House 5,000
Adoption Ministry 10,000
Orphan Ministry (Children from Afar) 10,000
Vietnam Ministry (Norman Coe) 10,000
Turkey 10,000
TOTAL INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS 670,000
TOTAL MISSIONS $1,279,800