The earthly parents of Jesus, Joseph and Mary, participated in the government-mandated census! Though not mandated, the SBC’s Annual Church Profile (or ACP for short) is not unlike this census taken in the Bible.
Barry Whitworth, executive director of the Baptist Resource Network, urges churches to submit their Annual Church Profile (ACP), an important tool for churches, the BRN and the SBC to understand God's activity in our region. Starting this year, Whitworth pledges to change the scorecard on baptisms. For every baptism reported, the BRN will deduct those numbers from 14 million people in our region who do not have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. "At first, it might seem small in the face of an enormous task. But consider what happens when we all do our part," he says. "I truly believe we can accelerate Kingdom movement!"
The Annual Church Profile collects data that is used by the SBC Executive Committee and by the Baptist Resource Network to measure the health and growth of our churches. The BRN uses this vital data to effectively plan events, strategize resources, and evaluate the needs of our churches.