F r a n k f u r t/M a i n – The International Baptist Convention (IBC), a gathering of English-speaking congregations from throughout Europe, is suffering from a drop in giving. Consequently, the last issue of the IBC-magazine “Highlights” was not printed. Chief Editor Judith Lynn Maxwell reports that only an on-line version (www.ibc-churches.org) appeared. The decision was not an easy one for, by the coming year, the magazine will have been reporting on Convention developments for 50 years. Its format once consisted of simple copies on coloured paper before advancing to offset printing. For the past five years it appeared in full colour. The reason behind the decision is the fact that at the end of June donations lagged far behind expectations. At that point only 28% of the 465.000 euro annual budget had been collected, yet 43% of that budget had already been spent. In June funds were insufficient to pay the salaries of the three members of staff at the IBC-headquarters in Frankfurt/Main. Strict belt-tightening was therefore prescribed. All IBC-ministries were asked to cut spending by 50% until the financial crisis is over.

The Chief Editor calls on IBC-congregations to contribute more to inter-regional efforts: “Together we can do more than we can do separately.” Judith Lynn Maxwell also requests prayer for the IBC “at this critical time”. When asked by EBPS, General-Secretary Dr. Jimmy Martin reported that financial conditions had improved slightly during July and August following letters to member congregations. The financial diet has consequently been lowered: “We now have 67,5% of the budget available instead of just 50%.”

Sixty-six congregations with approximately 4.500 members in 12 countries of Europe and the Middle East belong to the IBC. At the annual conference scheduled for October in Copenhagen, the acceptance of four new members will be discussed. IBC-congregations are international in character; its members come from 120 nations. The Convention is a member of the European Baptist Federation (EBF) and the German “Federation of Evangelical-Free Churches”.