The appeals address state conventions individually and are designed for use at state-level meetings through next fiscal year.
"Imagine if we take on the 1% Challenge that's given to us by Dr. Frank Page, that each of our churches would give an additional 1 percent -- $100 million, imagine that," Luter said. "One percent would equal over $100 million to do the work that we've been challenged to do through the Great Commission by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
Luter spoke both as SBC president and pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, pledging the congregation's participation in the 1% Challenge.
To the Alaska Baptist Convention, which met Sept. 25-26 in Anchorage, for example, Luter said, "I want to send this out to all the pastors in Alaska just to thank you for the work that you're doing for the Kingdom of God. Guys, our DNA -- it's in us to do all that we can to impact the Kingdom of heaven and we can do this in three ways: by winning the lost, by planting churches and sending missionaries. And how that is fueled is how we give our monies to the Cooperative Program.
"Let me challenge you guys to do that. I will do that at my church and I'm challenging you to do it at your church."
Page, SBC Executive Committee president, has issued the 1% Challenge for two consecutive years. Page thanked God for Luter's leadership in encouraging churches to support Southern Baptist outreach nationally and internationally.
"Pastor Luter is to be commended for his recent efforts in encouraging pastors and churches in our state conventions to accept the 1% Challenge for support of missions and ministries through the Cooperative Program. He has already revealed his true heart," Page said. "He wants to be an encourager, a supporter, as well as a team player in this mighty effort. I personally thank God for Fred Luter and believe that his efforts will result in more missionaries overseas and more evangelism and missions occurring at every level."
In addition to videos addressing more than 30 state conventions individually, a general appeal 1% Challenge video is being edited for download at sbc.net for use in church services.
Diana Chandler is Baptist Press' staff writer. Get Baptist Press headlines and breaking news on Twitter (@BaptistPress), Facebook (Facebook.com/BaptistPress ) and in your email ( baptistpress.com/SubscribeBP.asp).
Copyright (c) 2012 Southern Baptist Convention, Baptist Press www.BPNews.net
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