This information is updated two to three times a year based on information received from entities and the SBC Executive Committee.
Last updated 07/31/2024.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) is a fellowship of nearly 47,000 Baptist churches scattered across the United States and its territories. These congregations, comprised of numerous racial, ethnic, language, and socioeconomic people groups, are called “cooperating churches.” They have organized themselves to accomplish a specific set of missions and ministry initiatives, all for the purpose of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people everywhere.
Cooperating Churches | 46,906 |
Total membership in the SBC network of churches | 12,982,090 |
Weekly worship attendance* in the SBC network * indicates in-person attendance; online also reported, see SBC Annual for more statistics | 4,050,668 |
Weekly small group Bible study attendance* in the SBC network * indicates in-person attendance; online also reported, see SBC Annual for more statistics | 2,429,175 |
Total baptisms (reported by Southern Baptist churches) | 226,919 |
Cooperating state conventions | 41 |
Cooperating local associations | 1,076 |
MISSION BOARD REPORTS
The International Mission Board (IMB) and North American Mission Board (NAMB) assist churches in evangelizing, discipling, and planting reproducing churches in our nation and around the world in fulfillment of the Great Commission.
Overseas missionaries reported by IMB, (imb.org/fast-facts) | 3,500 |
Unengaged Unreached People Groups reported by IMB, (imb.org/fast-facts) | 3,180 |
Domestic missionaries reported by NAMB in the 2024 SBC Annual | 2,961 |
New churches planted reported by NAMB in the 2024 SBC Annual | 608 |
Existing churches joining the SBC reported by NAMB in the 2024 SBC Annual | 122 |
Existing churches replanted in the SBC reported by NAMB in the 2024 SBC Annual | 44 |
SEMINARY STUDENTS TRAINED
The Convention operates six seminaries and a Seminary Extension program to train its ministers and Christian workers.
Gateway Seminary of the Southern Baptist Convention | 2,259 |
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary | 5,144 |
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary | 2,846 |
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary | 4,484 |
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary | 5,624 |
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary | 3,648 |
Total | 24,005 |
Seminary Extension Division, Nashville | 283 |
MISSION:DIGNITY
Mission:Dignity, a ministry of GuideStone Financial Resources, provides financial assistance to retired ministers, denominational workers, their spouses, and widows.
Individuals or couples receiving financial assistance | 2,908 |
Distributed in 2023 | $11,743,667 |
RACIAL/ETHNIC DIVERSITY
Dominant Ethnic Composition | Congregations* |
Total Congregations | 49,842 |
Anglo churches | 38,530 |
African American churches | 3,899 |
Hispanic churches | 3,317 |
Asian American churches | 2,184 |
Native American churches | 416 |
Other ethnic churches | 1,496 |
Data provided by the SBC Ethnic Research Network.
REGULAR CHURCH GIVING
Total reported undesignated receipts given in Southern Baptist churches in 2022–2023 reported by the churches on the 2023 Annual Church Profile, April 2024 | $10,027,338,119 |
Total Cooperative Program dollars given by Southern Baptist churches in fiscal 2022-2023 reported to the Executive Committee by the cooperating state Baptist conventions, April 2024 | $449,039,992 |
Cooperative Program Allocation Budget gifts received for national SBC causes reported by the Executive Committee, October 2023 | $188,505,808 |
Average percentage of undesignated receipts churches gave through the Cooperative Program in 2023 reported by the SBC Executive Committee, 2022-2023 fiscal year | 4.48 percent |
DESIGNATED INDIVIDUAL GIVING
Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions—100% goes to support overseas missionaries updated by IMB as of October 2023 | $196.1 million |
Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions—100% goes to support North American missionaries updated by NAMB as of October 2023 | $70.2 million |
Global Hunger Relief—100% goes to fight hunger in North America and around the world amount received through the SBC Executive Committee, 2022-2023 fiscal year; does not include direct gifts to IMB and NAMB for GHR | $3.8 million |
The Cooperative Program is Southern Baptists’ unified plan of giving through which cooperating Southern Baptist churches give a percentage of their undesignated receipts in support of their respective state convention and the Southern Baptist Convention missions and ministries.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH STATE CONVENTIONS
DISASTER RELIEF
The North American Mission Board and state convention partners organize Southern Baptists’ response to disasters. They contribute manpower, ministry, and financial help during floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, earthquakes, and urban disasters.
Volunteer days | 76,569 |
Work hours | 636,069 |
Gospel presentations | 32,546 |
Professions of faith | 8,561 |
Meals prepared | 1,022,084 |
CHILDREN’S AND FAMILY MINISTRIES
The Baptist Coalition for Children and Families represents twenty-one ministries established by state Baptist conventions to serve at-risk children and their families through residential care, counseling, foster care enlistment, and adoption assistance.
Number of children in residential care | 3,151 |
Number of others served | 595,348 |
Spiritual decisions reported | 688 |