One state convention goer mentioned holding a competition for the person who could find the words “Cooperative Program” (CP) the most times in the exhibit area.
Those attending the Alabama Baptist State Convention (ABSC) annual meeting at Whitesburg Baptist Church, Huntsville, Nov. 17–18, know that would have cost the winner a lot of time — time counting, not searching.
CP references on banners, backdrops, brochures and giveaways were certainly in abundance among exhibitors, but that’s not the only place they showed up.
The CP might possibly have been mentioned several times every hour in some fashion during the annual meeting. And most often, it was followed by a big, fat “thank you.”
Not only did those words of appreciation come in the form of a video presentation of all ABSC entity heads describing how the CP makes their work possible but it also showed up during the entity reports as well.
“What was shared by the boards and entities was a seamless thread of the Cooperative Program,” said Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM) Executive Director Rick Lance.
Lance, a stalwart CP supporter, coined the much-touted and jokingly labeled “pledge” of Alabama Baptists — “We have one mission, the Great Commission; one program, the Cooperative Program; and many ministries, Great Commission ministries” — more than a decade ago.
And for even longer than that Alabama Baptists have remained consistent and purposeful in their CP giving, state Baptist leaders contend.
State convention President Jimmy Jackson said, “We have learned far more together than apart. Multiplication not addition brings glory to God.
“Everybody here (at the annual meeting) has expressed gratitude (for giving through the CP),” he said. “My impression is that the Cooperative Program was interwoven through all our ministry (presentations) because it is part of all our ministries. … It supplies the lifeblood to minister here and beyond.”
Pointing to the “beyond” during the annual meeting was Jerry Rankin, president of the International Mission Board.
He also commended Alabama Baptists for their giving.
“If all of our Southern Baptist churches were as conscientious in stewardship as those of you from Alabama and dedicated to the priority of giving to missions, I don’t think we would have had to defer any missionaries from going to the field.
“You are the state that is continuing to stay focused on God’s priority of reaching a lost world,” he said. “How grateful we are for your support of the Cooperative Program and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.”
Affirmation of the CP also came in the form of a resolution approved by messengers.
The resolution was a response to Alabama coming in first among all state conventions in CP giving for the Southern Baptist Convention fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.
In fact, nearly $1 out of every $10 given through the CP came from Alabama Baptists.
The resolution recognizes Alabama’s Baptist entities, the importance of working as cooperative ministries and the CP’s role in propelling ministry. It also states that CP dollars “are managed prudently, and allocated consistently with our vision for comprehensively and simultaneously reaching our state, nation and the world.”
Were Alabama Baptists encouraged and inspired to be even more focused on CP giving?
Initial reports indicate yes.
Pastors enthusiastically shared ideas with each other in the hallways. And SBOM staff said at least five churches requested a copy of the state convention entity heads’ video the day after the annual meeting.
The videos provide a concise and fast-paced presentation about how CP dollars are used among Alabama Baptist entities such as the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission, the Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes & Family Ministries and The Alabama Baptist newspaper.
For a downloadable file of the video, visit www.alsbom.org/convention. To order a DVD, e-mail chobbs@
alsbom.org.
Share with others: