FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
2026 Budget
On behalf of the Elder Team, Administration Team, church teams, and staff, we are excited to present our 2026 Budget Proposal. This budget reflects our desire to align with the ministry priorities of FBC, adopting a plan that meets our current needs while maintaining a hopeful yet realistic outlook for the future of our mission.
The Administration Team has invested significant effort in developing a budget that supports the vision of the Elders while making thoughtful adjustments to ensure that future spending priorities can be sustained within our historical giving trends. Both the Administration and Elder Teams have worked diligently and collaboratively, incorporating one another’s insights throughout this process.
As we seek to be faithful and generous stewards of the resources God provides, we aim to guide and direct our church with wisdom in the management of finances. Each year, an annual budget is presented to the church body for review, discussion, and approval. This operating budget is a vital expression of our accountability, transparency, and integrity as a church family.
Our Giving Drives our Budget.
Our budget is based on our giving. As our giving increases, our budget increases.
Our actual giving for this year was roughly 14% below the forecast, which means for 2026, we reduced our proposed budget by roughly 14% as our budget is based on our giving.
| 2025 Forecast | 2025 Actual | |
|---|---|---|
| Tithes & Offerings | $790,052 | $688,855 |
How to ask questions.
If you have any questions about the budget, please feel free to reach out to any member of our Elder Team — Pastor Todd, Pastor Mick, John McCubbin, Kalleb Greene, Rich Liebe, Ken Hatzakorzian, or Mason Clark.
You may also contact anyone on our Administration Team — Kelley Workman, Jarrod Bennett, Bennett Greene, Jerry Gilliam, Wes Westerfield, or Jessica Shepard.
We welcome your questions and value your engagement as we work together to steward the resources God has entrusted to our church.
How to use this Budget Page
START HERE - 2026 BUDGET OVERVIEW
This overview shows the category totals that are detailed in the sections that follow.
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed | |
|---|---|---|
| Giving Back | $84,000 | $55,268 |
| Hoptown Kids | $5,500 | $6,450 |
| 180 Students | $5,100 | $2,600 |
| First Adults | $5,100 | $3,750 |
| Worship Mission | $17,000 | $3,500 |
| Administration | $40,900 | $36,086 |
| Facility | $169,000 | $182,000 |
| Team | $463,452 | $391,766 |
| Net Totals | $790,052 | $681,420 |
Section A:
Giving Back to God by giving back to our community.
The Cooperative Program
The SBC Cooperative Program is local churches giving to a central fund, and that fund fuels the reach to every person for Jesus Christ in every town, every city, every state, and every nation. This reflects our “to the ends of the earth” mission strategy.
This line item will be 4% of our total giving and will be paid to the cooperative program every month. This is the only line item in our budget that is based on a percentage of our giving. As our giving increases in 2026, our giving to the cooperative program will increase.
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $36,000 | $27,268 |
Hopkinsville Mission Fund
Hopkinsville is our Jerusalem. This is the center of our mission for Christ. Our goal in 2026 is to have our giving back to the community reflect that truth. This fund will support a variety of outreach strategies, giving opportunities, community partnership and relationships we build in Hopkinsville. The ultimate goal for this fund is to make FBC a key partner in our community.
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $28,800 | $20,000 |
The Christian County Baptist Association
Christian County is our Judea. The CCBA helps to support churches, pastors and mission right here in our backyard.
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $7,200 | $2,000 |
Local Mission Partnerships
These mission partnerships in Hopkinsville are critical partnerships in our community. These include: Alpha Pregnancy Care Center, Grace & Mercy, and our Jail Ministry.
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed | |
|---|---|---|
| $4,000 | $2,000 | Alpha Pregancy Care Center |
| $4,000 | $2,000 | Grace & Mercy |
| $4,000 | $2,000 | Jail Ministry |
Section A Totals: Giving Back to God by giving back to our community.
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $84,000 | $55,268 |
Section B: Hoptown Kids
Investing in the next generation, especially children, means that we will have a youth program, a college program and more adults carrying on the mission and ministry of FBC in the future! Growing a church begins with children and families.
Sunday School Curriculum
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $2,000 | $3,000 |
Supplies
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $2,000 | $2,300 |
VBS
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $500 | $900 |
Background Checks & Training
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $1,000 | $250 |
Section B Totals:
Hoptown Kids
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $5,500 | $6,450 |
Section C: 180° Student Ministry
Investing in our students is necessary in growing the body of Christ. Teaching young people in the church to grow in their relationship with the Lord prepares them to serve Christ in all they do. As a result, this nurtures the congregation and allows the church to flourish.
Sunday School Curriculum
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $2,000 | $1,000 |
Activities & Events
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $2,000 | $1,000 |
Discipleship Material
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed | |
|---|---|---|
| $500 | $0 | Category no longer used |
Gifts for Grads
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $300 | $300 |
College Ministry
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $300 | $300 |
Section C Totals: 180° Student Ministry
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $5,100 | $2,600 |
Section D: Adult Ministry
Sunday School Curriculum
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $2,000 | $2,000 |
WMU Women's Ministry
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $2,000 | $1,250 |
Senior Adult Ministry
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $500 | $500 |
Cafe: The Cafe is self sustaining. Keep dropping in some cash when you get a coffee and we can keep this line item at $0!
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $600 | $0 |
Section D Totals: Adult Ministry
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $5,100 | $3,750 |
Section E: Our Worship Mission
This section focuses on our worship through song, and the space in which we meet to worship.
Production Costs & Subscriptions
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $6,000 | $2,000 |
Instrument Maintenance
This line item covers the yearly maintenance and tuning of our piano, and other instruments.
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $1,000 | $500 |
Worship Center Tech Maintenance
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
Section E Totals: Our Worship Mission
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $17,000 | $3,500 |
Section F: Administration
Kitchen
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $2,000 | $1,800 |
Copier Lease
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $8,400 | $4,000 |
Stewardship Costs
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $4,500 | $6,000 |
Postage
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $1,500 | $1,000 |
Office Expenses
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $3,500 | $3,000 |
Baptism & the Lord's Table
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $1,000 | $250 |
Operating Contingecy Fund
Our goal is to have a fully funded emergency fund of 6 months expenses.
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $20,000 | $20,036 |
Financial Audit
York & Neil Financial Audit - Completed in 2025, we will keep this line item in the budget until needed again in a few years.
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $3,000 | $0 |
Section F Totals: Administration
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $40,900 | $36,086 |
Section G: Our Facility on mission
Utilities (Main building & CLC)
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $75,000 | $96,000 |
Maintenance / Equipment
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $15,000 | $15,000 |
Cleaning Supplies
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $3,000 | $3,000 |
Mowing & Landscape Maintenance
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $1,500 | $1,000 |
Exterior Signage
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $20,000 | $0 |
Facility Insurance
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $27,500 | $37,000 |
Facility Improvements
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $27,000 | $30,000 |
Section G Totals: Our Facility on mission
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $169,000 | $182,000 |
Section H: Our Team
In 1 Timothy 5:17 Paul writes, “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.” In v. 18 Paul grounds this teaching with two quotations: “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain” (Deut. 25:4) and “The laborer deserves his wages” (Luke 10:7; cf. Matt. 10:10). Paul’s point is that pastor-elders should not be taken for granted or taken advantage of, but rather should be adequately compensated for their gospel labors.
This is where we as a church support the work and become a blessing to Pastor Todd, Pastor Mick and the rest of our awesome staff!
Salary
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $269,960 | $248,970 |
Housing
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $57,000 | $57,000 |
Insurance
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $58,824 | $37,000 |
Retirement
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $23,250 | $23,750 |
Bonus
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $4,200 | $3,000 |
Conference, books, travel
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $4,500 | $3,000 |
Pulpit Supply
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $1,000 | $0 |
Social Security (All Staff)
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $22,718 | $19,046 |
Section H Totals: Our Team
| 2025 Budget | 2026 Proposed |
|---|---|
| $463,452 | $391,766 |
Section I: Add it all up!
Our proposed budget for 2026 is $681,420
This is a 14% decrease from last year.
Imagine what we could do as a mission if all of our members committed to tithing? Are you giving to the work of the church? The Bible says in Matthew 6:24 that the top competitor for our commitment to Jesus is money. Giving allows us to demonstrate that He is more important to us than material things. Not having cash or a check on hand doesn't have to hold you back from giving. You can be obedient today by giving online. There is no organization with more potential to change the world than the local church!
Section J: Where you come in
Tithing was created for our benefit. It teaches us how to keep God first in our lives and how to live unselfishly. Unselfish people make better spouses, friends, relatives, employees, and employers. And they usually have better finances. God is trying to teach us how to prosper over time. Remember, no one has ever become poor by giving.
Tithing is an act of obedience and should be given freely with pure motives. In other words, we give without expecting anything back in return. And it teaches us to be good stewards of what God has given us.
Make your commitment to the Lord today to support His work through FBC with your tithes in 2025! Check out our giving page, you can set up a recurring gift online!
What does a weekly tithe look like based on income?
| Annual Income | Weekly Tithe |
|---|---|
| $20,000 | $38 |
| $30,000 | $58 |
| $40,000 | $77 |
| $50,000 | $97 |
| $60,000 | $115 |
| $75,000 | $145 |
| $100,000 | $192 |