The Co-Operative Program and why I believe in it

Four reasons I believe in the Co-Operative Program (CP)?

1.      Missions – I do not know of any other better way to ‘do missions’ than through the CP. Many churches fund individual missionaries and those missionaries every few years have to come home to drum up support. But through the CP our church, working with many other churches, are able to fund 4,816 missionaries through the IMB who never have to return to the states to raise support. Our IMB missionaries saw 114,571 baptisms last year! Many of these missionaries serve in the 10/40 window; that part of the world that is highly unreached and where many people groups are unengaged for the cause of Christ. They are serving in some of the most hostile places to the gospel in the world. By giving to the CP we also support about 6,000 NAMB (North American Mission Board) missionaries. This number includes church planters, chaplains, student missionaries, and others. There is no other way for Eastwood to support 10,500 missionaries outside of the CP. If just 1,000 KBC church members gave $3 more per week, this would result in another $1 million for missions and evangelism though the CP.  

2.      Kentucky Baptist Convention Ministries – The various ministries of our Kentucky Baptist Convention could not and would not happen were it not for the CP. This past week I heard of an affinity evangelism event planned by our Baptist Campus Ministry (Tommy Johnson) at WKU involving 700+ sorority girls. Of these girls in attendance it was reported that about 250 gave their hearts to Christ. Evangelism and discipleship is happening across so many of our Kentucky higher education campuses through the work of BCM leaders funded primarily through CP. The work of the KBC evangelism and mission’s mobilization team is HUGE and it could not happen apart from CP. We read often of the high percentage of churches that are plateaued and declining and the number is staggering. The KBC is trying to turn that tide through their church revitalization and church consulting ministries. I know of a number of churches that are moving in the right direction because of this effort that would not happen apart from CP. Serving on the board of Sunrise Children’s Services (formerly Kentucky Baptists homes for children) for the past year has afforded me the opportunity to hear first-hand about the great work helping hurting children and their families through Sunrise. Much of their work would go undone were it not for CP. Many students are blessed with scholarship and aid at our Baptist institutions of higher education, our kids are being saved and called to the gospel ministry at our Kentucky camps, our KBC Women’s Missionary union is blessed financially by the KBC, the work of our state Baptist paper, and so many other efforts across Kentucky happen because we give to the CP.

3.      Seminary Education – as a Southern Baptist graduate of one of our six SBC seminaries, I have had a large portion of my education paid for by Baptists across our convention. By giving to the CP we are today helping educate about 16,000 future church leaders as well as missionaries to the world. There are untold thousands, maybe millions, which will be reached by these who are preparing right now to take the gospel to then ends of the earth. The future pastors of your church and mine are likely being trained at one of seminaries right now and much of their education costs are covered by the CP.

4.      An ethical voice to the world – The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the SBC is dedicated to addressing social, moral, and ethical concerns, with particular attention to their impact on American families and their faith. They also provide print resources that offer scriptural responses to the moral and ethical problems of our culture. They are our voice to politicians regarding issues of importance to people of faith. They help educate us concerning the moral and ethical concerns of today that we might sound an intellectual voice of reason to our nation and world that has morally lost its way.

There are other reasons I believe in the CP. The hope here is to motivate some and educate others about the great work that goes on when we give to the CP. I am proud that our KBC has led the way in committing to a 50/50 split of all CP dollars given. Not only did our state convention commit to this split on a timeline well ahead of most all other state conventions, almost a decade earlier than the timeline that was originally laid out and approved, this has already been achieved. I am today a Southern Baptist by conviction. I grew up in a largely unchurched home with little church background outside of “Protestant” Easter services on whatever Army post my dad was stationed at. So when God called me to ministry I had a large number of denominations to choose from and I chose Southern Baptists because of what they believe and how they practice what they believe. While I am a Southern Baptist by conviction, I am a Kentucky Baptist by calling. I am grateful to the Lord for the day He saved me, the day He called me to the gospel ministry, the day He committed my heart to the work of Southern Baptists, and the day He called me to serve in the Kentucky Baptist Convention.  I am proud to serve alongside the people of Eastwood Baptist Church who are committed to sacrificial giving through the CP.