When you give to First Baptist Bethalto, you are automatically investing in a global network that shares the message of Jesus. One of the great benefits of joining the Southern Baptist Convention is the ability for us to pool our vast resources.  With 42,000 churches around the world, our financial unity enables us to sponsor 15,000 seminary students and 10,800 missionaries.  At the same time, this network supports over 1,000 churches in Illinois, in addition to disaster-relief missions across our nation. This network is known as The Cooperative Program (C.P.).

Each year, our church contributes between 10% to 15% of its annual budget to The Illinois Baptist State Association, which collects over $9,000,000 a year from churches across Illinois. Of these funds, less than 10% goes to administration costs: 43% goes toward church plants and ministries right here in Illinois. The remaining 47% goes to our Convention's national offices in Nashville, TN, which pools funds from all 50 states.

At the national level, The Cooperative Program can total as much as $200,000,000 a year.  The Southern Baptist Convention, which is democratically governed by representatives from all member churches, designates 50% of these funds to the International Missions Board (I.M.B.), which sponsors some 5,500 missionaries around the globe. In addition, 22% is designated to our 6 seminaries, wherein education costs are offset for 15,000 students.  Next, 23% is distributed to the North American Mission Board (N.A.M.B.), which sponsors 5,300 missionaries across The United States and Canada.  Finally, 2% is designated to our Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (E.R.L.C.) which serves as a policy watchdog in Washington D.C..  As a result, less than 4% goes toward administration costs.

When you give your money to First Baptist Bethalto, you can give with confidence: At least 10% of every gift goes toward a strategic effort to share the Good News of Jesus!  At the same time, you are investing in Bethalto by supporting our staff, facilities, and outreach services.  Thank you, for your faithfulness!