b'BROADER CONNECTIONSFirst Baptist participates in a broad range of external connections. At the local level we engage with the city in cooperative efforts particularly in relation to our urban social ministry, where the city periodically calls on us for assistance with acute human needs. Local foundations have been very supportive of our efforts, providing several significant gifts. First Baptist cooperates closely with downtown congregations of other denominations and with ministries of the Abilene-Callahan Baptist Association, especially through Abilene Baptist Social Ministries. We provide funding for a wide range of regional ministries, including annual gifts to Hardin-SimmonsUniversity,theministriesofthelocalBaptistassociation,andtheareaBaptist encampment. Beyond our region, First Baptist contributes annually to several causes, including the Baptist World Alliance, the Baptist Joint Committee, and graduate theological education in the state.At the denominational level, a recent study at First Baptist led to an affirmation of our churchs ongoing relationship with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF) and the Baptist General Convention of Texas (BGCT), each of which receives 2% of our annual budget. The CBF connection provides a number of important opportunities for us, especially support of global missions. The BGCT offers a means for us to help support a variety of Texas ministries, such as Baptist universities and hospitals.16'