Cooperative Program Archives - Page 6 of 6

CHURCH PUTS OTHERS BEFORE SELF

November 3, 2015

Gives large gifts to Southern Baptist missions/ministries while building new facility

By Connie Davis Bushey
News Editor, Baptist and Reflector

David Worley, right, pastor, Bethel Baptist Church, Greenfield, thanks Jeff Perkins, worship leader of the church and chair of the building committee, on Oct. 18. From left are other members of the building committee, Larry Pentecost, Judy Huffstetler, and Martha Allen. Not pictured is Jeff Rush.

GREENFIELD — Bethel Baptist Church here celebrated a momentus day on Oct. 18. The congregation began meeting in its new facility.

Church members did this with a clear conscience — they had continued their tradition of strong support for Southern Baptist missions and ministries while building the facility.

The new $3.5 million facility was built over the past couple of years, said David Worley, pastor.

During that period the only basic change in the financial situation and plan of the church was the increased total giving which was up from 2014 by 41 percent. Members were asked to help pay off the building debt so they gave designated gifts to the building fund which may have led to that increase, explained Worley. [Read more…]

COOPERATIVE PROGRAM — WHERE IS THE MONEY?

October 23, 2015

By Ronnie Floyd
President, SBC

Ronnie Floyd

The Southern Baptist Convention is a convention of churches that partner together to reach the world for Christ. As we aspire to this biblical vision of presenting the gospel to every person in the world and to make disciples of all the nations, we must find a way to increase financial resources to this serious and grand vision.

I am often asked, “Where is the money to accomplish this vision?” In this month of emphasis on the Cooperative Program, I think we must answer this question openly and honestly. As one Southern Baptist, I want to attempt to answer the question, “Where is the money?”

The money is in the pockets of God’s people. The most recent research by empty tomb, inc., reveals the following:

Less than 3 percent of all Christians tithe, meaning give at least 10 percent of their income to their church.
The median annual gift to a church is $200.
In 1968, Americans gave 3.1 percent of their disposable income; now Americans give 2.2 percent, which is less than they gave during the Great Depression.
At the current rate of decline, by the year 2050, Americans will give only 1 percent of their disposable income to the church; if this occurs, a vast number of churches and missions will be forced to close. I find this data somewhat disgusting. It shows the selfishness and narcissistic reality of millions of professing Christians today.

The money to reach our towns, cities, regions, states, nation, and the world is in the pockets of God’s people. We need to repent now and call people back to God with boldness and compassion.

Pastors, Christian leaders, and church leaders must lead the way in giving at least 10 percent of their income through their local churches. The professing Christians and members of our churches must also do the same.

Money is in the pockets of our churches. Each of our churches must evaluate continually what we are doing to partner with our Southern Baptist Convention in reaching the world for Christ. We do this through our gifts through the Cooperative Program. How much a church gives through the Cooperative Program is a church’s decision. Each church is autonomous and we honor their decision. [Read more…]

Winning Tennessee for Jesus Christ

August 13, 2015

Roc Collins

By Roc Collins
Pastor in Kingsport

As followers of Christ we have been called to “Go and Make Disciples.” What a great task is ours!

There is no one person who can fulfill that mission alone. God, in His infinite wisdom, has granted us the opportunity to fulfill the Great Commission by working together. Certainly we can get together to participate in ministry but there is another way.

We can give through the Cooperative Program (CP). As we give through the CP we are giving fuel to fulfill the Great Commission. The whole purpose of our giving is to point people to Jesus Christ. [Read more…]

TBC CP Giving Rebounds from Slow Start

October 7, 2014

Baptist and Reflector

BRENTWOOD — In January, Cooperative Program giving from Tennessee Baptist Convention churches was nearly 16 percent below what was given in 2013 at the same time.

After September receipts were counted, however, giving has rebounded.

Tennessee churches gave $2,934,212 through the Cooperative Program in September. [Read more…]

The Cooperative Program in Tennessee

September 30, 2014

Editor’s Note: October is recognized as Cooperative Program month on the calendar of the Southern Baptist Convention. Selected articles from this issue demonstrate how the Cooperative Program is at work in Tennessee.

By Chris Turner
Director of Communications, TBC

Students at the University of Memphis learn about the Baptist Collegiate Ministry as they stop by its exhibit recently and visit with Jeff Jones, center, BCM director. — Photo by Royce DeGrie

MEMPHIS — The countenance on Abrahim’s* face betrayed the secret he was hiding inside, and he didn’t even know it. How could he? Only days before he’d accepted Christ into his heart and now he was home in a staunchly fundamentalist Islamic country.

But being alive in Christ changes everything, and Abrahim’s parents immediately noticed.

“I was only home three days and my father came to me and said I’d changed,” Abrahim said. “ ‘What is different about you?’ he kept asking. I only told him at that time that God changed my heart.”

God had changed his heart, and He used the faithful witness of fellow college students involved in the University of Memphis’ Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) to do it. [Read more…]

Cooperative Program & Popcorn

September 30, 2014

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Lonnie Wilkey

I love good popcorn, but not necessarily the microwave variety.

In my household, I usually am the one designated to make popcorn. I use a deep pot with a lid on the stove top. I place oil and butter in the pot and let the butter melt into the oil. Then I place the popcorn kernels into the mixture.

At first, not much happens. The kernels float in the oil and butter as it gets hotter and hotter. Then, one by one, the kernels begin to pop.

Slowly but surely the once dormant kernels turn into fluffy popcorn. As all the kernels are popped, they gradually rise to the top of the pot. Before you know it, the popcorn has lifted the lid off the pot (you better have bowl in hand).

A single kernel could never lift that heavy lid but numerous kernels working together can accomplish that feat. [Read more…]

TBC Recognizes Top Churches in Baptisms, Gifts

September 25, 2014

Baptist and Reflector

BRENTWOOD — The Executive Board of the Tennessee Baptist Convention recognized churches that led the state convention in baptisms and gifts in 2013.

Representatives of the churches were recognized during a banquet held prior to the Sept. 9 meeting of the TBC Executive Board held at Brentwood Baptist Church here.

“We are grateful to these churches for their outstanding leadership in leading people to Christ, resulting in baptism and to those churches that lead the way in giving through the Cooperative Program,” said Randy C. Davis, TBC executive director/treasurer. [Read more…]

TBC Giving Below Budget for Year

September 12, 2014

By Baptist and Reflector

BRENTWOOD — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches gave $2,421,683 through the Cooperative Program in August.

For the year-to-date, Tennessee Baptists have given $27,893,395.

The amount is $801,328 or 2.8 percent below what was given at the same point last year.

With two months remaining in the 2013-14 budget year, Cooperative Program receipts are $2,523,271 or 8.3 percent below budget needs. [Read more…]

Cooperative Program Is ‘Best Strategy’

September 12, 2014

By Larry Robertson
President, TBC, & Clarksville Pastor

I didn’t grow up in a strong Cooperative Program giving church. When I got to Blue Mountain (Miss.) College as a ministerial student, however, my eyes were opened to the unparalleled strategy Southern Baptists have to fund missions and ministry.

Dr. James Travis, longtime biblical studies professor at Blue Mountain, taught us that being Southern Baptist is more than geography or theology. Our distinctive bond is our commitment to cooperation, namely through the Cooperative Program.

In the first church I pastored as a 19-year-old boy, we ran 22 on a good day. Yet we were connected to missions and ministries far beyond our abilities and limitations as a congregation. I was able to remind those precious people that ten cents out of every undesignated dollar they gave supported 8,000 missionaries (at that time) at home and abroad, six SBC seminaries, and a whole host of other denominational causes. [Read more…]

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