Story number 5 for 10 Jan 2001

And, church goers in the United States are giving less to churches. According to a report by Religion Today, the percentage of income given to ministries dropped from three-point-one percent in 1968 to two-point-five percent in 1998. The research group Empty Tomb says, had church members tithed their 10-percent in 1998, an additional 131-billion dollars could have been used for outreach opportunities. Most of the money is being spent on salaries, in church programs, and building maintenance rather than outreach efforts.