One thing I’ve learned through the years is that I never know what questions I might get asked.
For instance, a pastor asked me several years ago, “Do you know what our unity as a network of churches is built upon?” From his body language and tone, I could tell he already had an answer, so I responded to his question with a question: “What do you think our unity is built upon?”
He responded as I would have, with important pillars of our shared biblical values: the Word of God; belief in the centrality of Jesus to the gospel message; His virgin birth; His death, burial, and resurrection; and that salvation comes by faith alone in Christ alone.
But he appropriately amplified his answer to say that our shared urgency found in fulfilling the Great Commission binds us together. And that is the main thing.
He then added that it’s the Cooperative Program (CP) that financially supports all the work we’re doing together that amplifies our unity and drives our effectiveness forward.
I frequently say the highlight of every Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting is, for me, the commissioning service of newly appointed International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries. It is, in my opinion, the pinnacle reminder of how we accomplish the main thing together. That was again the case in June in Orlando when more than 11,000 messengers and guests representing more than 4,000 Southern Baptist churches celebrated sending out 63 new missionaries.
These biblical pillars of unity should so focus us with laser-like precision on an unrelenting urgency to reach people for Christ that we can’t help but generously give through the Cooperative Program.
I felt the urgency in Orlando. As I sat there listening to our missionaries, the vision for growing CP giving was at the forefront of my mind. It was compelling to hear these faithful servants testify about following God’s leadership to a foreign land. They go; we support. But we must do more.
Why? Because the work is worth it.
I am so thankful for how Tennessee Baptists invest in missions here in our state and around the world. However, we have plateaued for the past decade at around $35 million in CP giving. Unfortunately, inflation of more than 26% over that time means our money isn’t stretching as far as it needs to in supporting the work we want to accomplish, such as sending more IMB missionaries.
That’s why I believe a push to increase CP giving to at least $40 million by 2030 is imperative. The idea is certainly audacious.
But the work is worth it.
I imagine that when Jesus cast the vision of the Great Commission to that motley band of first disciples, they probably thought that was audacious. It is unlikely most of them — if not all — had ever been more than 150 miles from home. How were they going to reach the world? But many of them literally sacrificed their lives for the vision.
They believed the work was worth it.
I do believe it is an audacious vision to reach $40 million, but I also see the simplicity of it and a path forward to achieving it. To reach $40 million given through the CP program by 2030 would mean that TBC churches only need to increase giving by .25% of 1% each year for the next four years.
I fully recognize — and appreciate — the several hundred TBC churches that are currently giving at the 101-year CP gold standard of 10%, with many giving beyond 10%. Unless the Lord leads them to contribute beyond that gold standard, their giving at that level serves as an example for the rest of us.
Some churches have already told me they are increasing their CP giving over the next four years by 2 percentage points, to 6%.
The goal here isn’t just to increase CP giving. It is to increase CP giving with a purpose. Tennessee Baptists alone could be responsible for adding to the deployment of 12 to 14 new IMB missionaries.
We currently have 400 empty pulpits in Tennessee Baptist churches on any given Sunday. The CP increase could take us from 60 interns and residents being practically prepared for ministry now to more than 300 as we train the next generation.
Our reality in Tennessee is that our population is growing faster than our current capacity to reach people with the gospel. That will be our challenge for the foreseeable future, but we have the capacity to see more church plants, more churches revitalized, more people served through disaster relief, and on it goes.
Tennessee Baptists, I believe we have a unity that stands upon a clear doctrinal understanding of the key pillars of our faith. I believe we have a clear command from our Lord to reach the nations with the gospel. I believe we have a solid funding mechanism in the Cooperative Program.
And I believe it is time for us to embrace a vision with an urgent audacity. Will you join me? If so, let me know. Also, in the weeks ahead you will receive more information about how your church can commit to being a part of the movement to reach $40 million by 2030.
It is a joy to be with you on this journey. B&R