MBC makes good on its MMO promise, delivers hefty check to Children’s Home

By Allen Palmeri
Staff Writer

February 8, 2005

JEFFERSON CITY – The Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) continues to achieve its goal of delivering more money to the mission field faster than previous administrations were able to deliver it. Evidence was contained within a Jan. 25 check presentation ceremony at the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home (MBCH) Board of Trustees meeting.

MBCH President Bob Kenison was delighted to accept a check for $127,000 in Missouri Mission Offering (MMO) funds. The Children’s Home has never received such a lump-sum allotment so early in the year, Kenison said. This will prove to be a great aid to MBCH cash flow, he said, because donors to the Children’s Home will typically wait until the last four months of the year to give.

“Gifts are low the first part of the year,” Kenison said. “It’s just been that way forever.”

David Waganer, MBC associate executive director, was glad to present the check to Kenison and John Koffman, chairman of the Children’s Home Board of Trustees. Waganer said that the work of MBC Controller Jay Hughes, who started his MBC ministry in July 2003, has been instrumental in getting the convention to the point where it now can bless agencies with lump sums like the one given to Kenison. Hughes responded that he simply praises God for the positive cash flow situation in the Baptist Building.

“It’s just been nice that we’ve been able to do this, because we have the money in hand,” Hughes said. “God’s blessed us with the way that we’ve been able to collect the money.”

Waganer said that he is pleased that MMO money will be distributed in a better way in 2005 thanks to the progress that MBC leaders have made in the area of procedures.

“Last year was a transition year for us, so we learned some things last year in order to get checks out quicker this year,” Waganer said.

Last year, the MBC distributed money monthly to the Children’s Home, as opposed to one lump sum. As long as the MBC cash flow situation remains as positive as it currently is, the present system of one check in January would be the preferred method for all parties involved.

“It makes the money go to work,” Waganer said.