On a Wednesday evening recently, I shared a comical line—not original to me—with the faithful gathered for a meal and Bible study. I told them of having been asked the question of what I’d be if I wasn’t a Southern Baptist. “Embarrassed!” is the laugh line and it worked. Everyone laughed, I delivered an icebreaker, and pivoted to the message (Luke 16:19–31 if you’re interested). I admit we Southern Baptists have our own challenges, but I believe in our churches, their pastors and staff, our ministries, and our commitment to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As a committed Southern Baptist, I believe that the Cooperative Program is one of the most significant and effective means of supporting our churches and ministries. The Cooperative Program is our unified giving program that enables Southern Baptist churches to come together in support of missions and ministries nationally and globally. I want to share three simple reasons why I continue to vocally support the Cooperative Program.
First, the Cooperative Program enables us to fulfill the Great Commission. Jesus Christ gave us a clear mandate to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. The Cooperative Program is a key tool for fulfilling this mandate. Through the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptists support over thousands of missionaries around the world, as well as the work of the International Mission Board, North American Mission Board, six seminaries, and other entities. This enables us to reach people with the gospel who might otherwise never hear it. By giving through the Cooperative Program, we are able to partner with other Southern Baptists to accomplish the Great Commission more effectively than we could on our own.
Second, the Cooperative Program promotes unity and cooperation. How so you might ask? One of the distinctive features of the Southern Baptist Convention is the autonomy of our local churches. However, the Cooperative Program enables us to work together for a common purpose. By giving through the Cooperative Program, we are able to pool our resources and make a greater impact than any one church could alone. This also enables us to support smaller churches and ministries that might not have the resources to support missions and ministries on their own. The Cooperative Program helps the SBC to be a united and cooperative body, working together for the sake of the gospel even when we disagree on secondary or tertiary issues.
Third, I believe the Cooperative Program is wise stewardship of resources. You read that correctly! The truth is the Cooperative Program is a highly efficient and effective means of supporting missions and ministries. Because we pool our resources, we are able to avoid duplication and reduce administrative costs. This means that more of our giving goes directly to support missions and ministries. Additionally, the Cooperative Program enables us to plan and budget more effectively, ensuring that our giving is used wisely and efficiently. By giving through the Cooperative Program, we are able to be good stewards of the resources that God has entrusted to us.
I believe that the Cooperative Program is one of the most significant and effective means of supporting missions and ministries in the Southern Baptist Convention. By giving through the Cooperative Program, we are able to fulfill the Great Commission, promote unity and cooperation, and be wise stewards of our resources. Put simply, we are better together! I encourage all Southern Baptist churches to prayerfully consider giving through the Cooperative Program and to join together in this important work for the sake of the gospel.