DULUTH — Figures verified through Georgia Baptist Mission Board Financial Services revealed Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta as leader in Great Commission Giving for 2017.
Great Commission Giving refers to all missions gifts to Southern Baptist causes – designated and undesignated – by a church. The report came to Georgia Baptist Convention Executive Committee members at their meeting March 13 in Duluth.
According to the report, Johnson Ferry gave $1,164,332.13 to Great Commission causes in 2017. As that number only covered gifts reported through Georgia Baptist Financial Services, the actual number goes even higher.
"We've put quite a bit of resources – around $500,000 – toward seven SEND churches in San Francisco through the North American Mission Board," explained Johnson Ferry Pastor Bryant Wright of helping foster the church plant movement. Other monies make their way toward helping establishing a church plant in Buckhead and sending church members on mission trips around the world.
"Johnson Ferry is committed to sharing the cost [of travel]," expressed Wright. "I think that's why we're such a missions-sending church. They go and experience it. That's why they keep going."
First Baptist Woodstock followed with $963,689.38 in Great Commission Giving. Other top givers included First Baptist Atlanta ($618,000), Central Baptist, Warner Robins ($549,115.86), and Hebron Baptist, Dacula ($542,044).