Point of View

If you are a Southern Baptist what do you need to know about the Cooperative Program? Is it merely a way to support the denomination, or is it a relevant, viable process that makes a difference in people’s lives beginning where you live and extending around the world?

The Cooperative Program has the potential, when rightly employed, for moving Southern Baptist missions and ministries from the ordinary, the average, the good – to superlative, outstanding, great fruitfulness for the Kingdom of God.

YOU NEED TO ABOUT OUR GREAT OBLIGATION

Jesus said, “Pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth workers into the harvest” (see Matt. 9:38). Those who first heard this plea ended up going themselves, and they went to their deaths serving the Lord. Peter was crucified. Andrew was crucified. James was beheaded. John was exiled. All the apostles were spreading the Gospel at the cost of their lives to the far reaches of the known world.

The call comes to us to pray that God will send more into the harvest field. It comes down to that, doesn’t it? It finally gets personal. What are you going to do about it? What is your response going to be? We suggest these:

• Pray. Jesus said, “Ask the Lord.” Pray that God will mobilize a whole new generation. Pray that God will unleash the call of the Gospel on to the world. It may be you who will answer the call.

• Go. There are no remote places anymore. You can get there, and you can communicate, and you can share the Gospel. Get ready to go.

• Give. What a shame it would be if Southern Baptists locked up God’s resources or frittered them away in an indiscriminate way rather than focusing them and directing them to the task that is on his heart and ought to be on our hearts.

Mrs. W. C. James was national WMU president in 1925 and served on the Future Program Commission that recommended the adoption of the Cooperative Program by the Southern Baptist Convention in Memphis, Tenn. Over 30 years later, as she resided in a nursing home, she was asked about that momentous decision. She commented that it was the best thing she ever did, and then she added, “Tell Southern Baptists to keep it going!”

You need to know how to keep the Cooperative Program going and growing. If we are to fulfill our Great Commission command, we must enhance our cooperative efforts. The Cooperative Program is the most efficient, effective and expansive way to grow God’s kingdom until He comes. Contact your state convention office for resources that will help you and your church know more about the difference you are making through the Cooperative Program or log on to www.sbc.net/cp.

This column is the fourth of four adapted from “One Sacred Effort” by Chad Brand and David Hankins. Copyright 2005. Used with permission. All rights reserved.