THAT’S BILLION — WITH A “B”

By Randy C. Davis
President and executive director, TBMB

Randy Davis

God is good, all the time. All the time…

You know the rest.

It is providentially fitting in this year of celebrating 150 years of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, and on our way to next year celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program, that God would slip in the number 1.5.

As in $1.5 billion.

That’s how much Tennessee Baptists have collectively given over these many decades through the Cooperative Program, the SBC’s missions mutual fund. (See related story HERE). That is a significant milestone, and an exclamation point to this year of celebration.

Here’s an interesting fact. It took 85 years to reach the first billion given through CP by sacrificial, grassroots, salt-of-the-earth, Great Commission-focused Tennessee Baptists, like you. You gave the next half billion in just the last 15 years. I’ve always said that when there is a need, Tennessee Baptists always rise to the occasion, and there is not a better occasion than Great Commission work

What does this miraculous moment mean?

It means Tennessee Baptists have had a part in sending tens of thousands of missionaries around the world, many to the uttermost parts taking the gospel to some who for millennia have had limited to no access to the Good News of Jesus Christ.

The Cooperative Program has always been about people, supporting people who go out from among us to serve others who need to be served. In fact, several on our TBMB staff are people in whom you’ve invested who served others overseas and now they serve you.

Chris Turner, TBMB director of communications and in January will also be editor of the Baptist & Reflector, sits just down the hall from my office. He and wife Michele served as IMB missionaries in Panama and England.

Down the other hall from Chris is TBMB Chief Financial Officer Joe Lovell. He and Ann served as IMB missionaries in South Korea, Philippines and Thailand for over two decades. Beth Moore, TBMB compassion ministries specialist, served in Central Asia. And William Burton and Kim Cruse are also former IMBers respectively serving in Venezuela and the Philippines.

Then many on our staff were educated at Baptist universities and most of them have degrees from one of the SBC’s six seminaries.

Tennessee Baptists through the Cooperative Program invested in people who became leaders who now serve you. Your generosity made that possible.

But you’ve also invested in countless churches plants in Tennessee, North America and around the world; in untold numbers of ministers equipped for ministry through seminaries; and in orphans lovingly cared for through children’s homes. And there is so much more.

So, here are three things I’d like to humbly express.

First, let’s take a moment to celebrate and appreciate what God has done. Every CP dime and dollar comes from the Lord’s hands through the hands of His people.

Second, I want to express a strong word of gratitude. Thank you for “manning the ropes.”

There are about 900 TBC churches generously contributing 10 percent or more of their weekly offerings through CP.

Amazingly, many of these churches have maintained this standard since 1925 when CP launched. Then, more than 2,000 TBC churches also give annually through the Cooperative Program. Seriously, thank you for your faithfulness.

Finally, let’s use the 2025 Centennial Anniversary of the Cooperative Program to prayerfully consider how we can accelerate our giving through this powerful channel of supporting Great Commission work across the street, across the state and across the seas.

A two percent increase in CP giving during 2025 would have a monumental impact in gospel advance. I know that might be a challenge for some, but not for Baptists in the Volunteer state.

Let’s say it again, together. God is good, all the time. All the time…

Yeah, you’ve got it.

It is a joy to be with you on this journey.

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