We are better together

“We have been committed to giving to the Cooperative Program since the beginning, and it is my prayer that our church will continue to be committed.” 

Five years ago, as I sat in our church’s business meeting, these words were spoken by the pastor emeritus of Mesquite Friendship Baptist Church, Terry M. Turner. As our founding pastor was preparing for retirement, he wanted to ensure our church did not stray from the path of cooperation.

After he spoke those words, every eye in the room turned to me. I was the incoming pastor and, as most are aware, transition can bring about change. And at that moment our church wanted to know if a change in leadership would also bring about a change in what we supported.

This was my first major decision, and as my pulse quickened and my palms began to perspire, I spoke with a voice befitting a pubescent boy: “We will continue to give to the convention.”

At that time, I did not know the “why”—I just knew we would. However, since that time, I have discovered not just why we gave, but why we will continue to give.

We are convicted to cooperate

Thirty-four years ago, as a church plant out of Town East Baptist Church, we were required to give 7% of our funds back to the Southern Baptist Convention. During the early years of our ministry, we would have been unable to keep our doors open without the financial resources we received from the convention. 

We know that without others cooperating back then, we may not have been in existence now. What was once done as a requirement is now done out of necessity. Giving through the Cooperative Program is a must—not a may—for our church.   

We cheerfully cooperate

We’re reminded in 2 Corinthians 9:7 why cheerful giving is important: “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Giving cheerfully is so much easier when we turn on the news and see disaster relief showing up in places our church is unable to go and sharing the gospel with folks our local church would never come in contact with, or when we see thousands coming together to worship, fellowship, and learn at our annual Empower Conference. Our giving is not a burden, but a blessing! 

We will remain committed to cooperate

God has blessed our church and we are growing. However, as we’ve grown, new ministry needs have arisen. Our church needs a new parking lot and we need to expand our worship center. It takes money to do these things. It would be easy to stop giving through the Cooperative Program to help fund these projects. But we will remain committed to cooperate.

Why? As the leader of this local body, I have had the opportunity to see how we, as a cooperative convention, are better together. As a trustee for the North American Mission Board, I have seen churches planted and thriving in hard-to-reach areas. As an M3 Camp speaker, I have seen hundreds of teens saved. I have spoken with and heard the stories of International Mission Board missionaries, and I have sat in the classroom with and served alongside students from our seminaries. 

We give with conviction, cheer, and commitment because cooperatively, we are better together!