CP gifts are well worth the sacrifice

“Bring the full tenth into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way,” says the Lord of Armies. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure.” (Malachi 3:10).

My grandfather was a Baptist preacher, and my father was a Baptist preacher. I am Southern Baptist through and through. As a preacher once said, “I was Baptist bred, I was Baptist born, and when I die, I’ll be Baptist dead!” When I was young, I used to say, “My hope is built on nothing less than Lottie Moon and Broadman Press!”

So it’s no surprise that I believe in the importance of the Cooperative Program (CP). I have pastored three Tennessee Baptist churches over the past 35 years and have led all three churches to give at least 10% through CP. I believe if we as pastors are going to teach and preach the truth of God’s Word and ask our people to tithe, then our churches need to tithe to CP.

I believe in the value of the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

I encourage our church to support each offering plus the other special offerings such as the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home and the Tennessee Baptist Adult Homes. I have always believed we can do more together than we can separately.

I truly believe the Cooperative Program is the best and most effective way churches can work together to fulfill the Great Commission.

I have been on countless mission trips within the United States and beyond. I have worked alongside our SBC missionaries, seen what they are doing, and how they need our support.

I am so thankful that our missionaries do not worry about raising their own support. Instead, they can concentrate on sharing the gospel, doing ministry, planting churches, and making disciples.

The IMB commissioning service is one of my favorite parts of the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. This year we appointed and commissioned 63 new missionaries to go to international mission fields. They will join 3,500-plus SBC missionaries currently on the front lines.

We must work together to get the gospel to the nations. Jesus will not come back for His church until all people have had a chance to hear the gospel. “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).

The reason I believe in the Cooperative Program is because together we can do more, send more, and reach more. Please encourage your church to pray, give and go. The sacrifice is worth it and the rewards are eternal. B&R