LOUISVILLE— Kentucky Baptists gave more than $22.6 million dollars over the past year through the Cooperative Program to support missionaries and ministries taking the gospel to the world.

Kentucky Baptist Convention Executive Director Paul Chitwood called the level of giving “astounding,” saying it was nearly $1 million more than the previous year and $650,000 more than had been budgeted.

“I am continually amazed by the generosity of Kentucky Baptists when it comes to supporting missionaries who are working so diligently to share the good news of Christ in places that the average congregation wouldn’t have the opportunity to reach working alone,” Chitwood said. “Working together, they are part of providing full support to 3,600 international missionaries, and assistance to 10,000 North American missionaries and nearly 100 missionaries serving in Kentucky.”

Total Cooperative Program receipts from Sept. 1 through Aug. 31 reached $22,653,836, up from $21,678,271 the previous year. The level of giving through the Cooperative Program for the 12-month period reached a prerecession high.

Total giving for missions over the past year surpassed $31 million when contributions were factored in from three special offerings. Churches gave more than $5 million through the Lottie Moon offering for international missions, $2.3 million through the Annie Armstrong offering for North American missions, and more than $1.1 million for the Eliza Broadus offering for state missions. (KBC)