CP is an impact equalizer

I grew up the son of a Baptist pastor in rural Louisiana. Most of the churches my father pastored were small, but all of them had a big heart for missions. My mother was an active part of that ministry and involved in an organization called the Women’s Missionary Union. This group of ladies kept the church informed about mission efforts around the world. 

As a child growing up in that environment, this was my first exposure to world geography. I heard stories of people and places far away. To my amazement, I was told many of these people in distant lands had never heard about Jesus. 

Of course, I could not remember a time I had not heard of Him, so that seemed impossible. At an early age, we were taught that it is the responsibility of every Christian to share the gospel with the world. But I remember thinking, “How can a small rural church and a child make a difference around the world?” Our church had limited resources, and I was just a kid. 

The answer was the Cooperative Program. By joining hands with thousands of other churches around the world through prayer and giving, small congregations can make a global impact and fulfill the Great Commission. Somehow, even as a child, that made sense. Of course! If we could put our offerings with others, we could get enough to make a difference. 

Today, I am the pastor of a larger church, and the Cooperative Program affords us the exact same opportunity to make a global impact and fulfill the Great Commission. In the small churches I grew up in, missionaries would visit and share stories that captivated our attention and confirmed we were part of what God was doing on the mission field. 

I am privileged today to have many from our church who have answered the call to missions, so for us, the Cooperative Program is very personal. 

Our church partners with many of our missionaries and goes on mission trips around the world on a regular basis to share the gospel. This connection has made a huge difference in our day-to-day ministry. We have become a globally minded church, and that has translated into a desire to reach our neighbor across the street. We often ask our members, “Is your passport current?” That is our way of saying be ready—He may call at any time. 

It is easy to think a larger church can make a global impact in a way a smaller church cannot. Yet because of the Cooperative Program, even churches that do not feel they have a personal connection with missions or are not able to go on a mission trip are just as connected as our church. Here is the genius—if a church gives through the Cooperative Program, each church member has a personal connection to over 3,500 international longterm missionaries and thousands of others serving in North America. This means small and large churches are equal in cooperation as they seek to fulfill the Great Commission. 

The Cooperative Program is not just what we do. It is a part of who we are.