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.
