On May 13, 1925, the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Nashville, Tennessee birthed a strategy for funding mission work and spreading the Gospel both within the United States and around the world. This new venture would bring Southern Baptists together for greater Gospel impact. Thus, regardless of size, location, or cultural make-up, every Southern Baptist congregation could have the privilege of reaching within and beyond their own local context to see lives redeemed by the love of Jesus Christ. We know this strategy as the Cooperative Program.
For 100 years the Cooperative Program has been the funding strategy for the work of the Gospel. There is probably not a single one of our 47,000 Southern Baptist Churches that has not been impacted, one way or another, by the generosity of Southern Baptist gifts over the years. Whether that be through seminary trained men and women who have served in leadership and local church ministries, or through educational and VBS resources, or through evangelism strategies and grants, or through loans and financial assistance which enabled a church to begin, or through being moved by the stories of missionaries who sacrificed to answer God’s call-each church whether they realize it or not has been impacted by the collective work of Southern Baptists through the Cooperative Program.
Since the inception of the Cooperative Program tens of thousands of IMB (formerly the Foreign Mission Board) missionaries have been commissioned and have served overseas. Since the founding of the Cooperative Program hundreds of thousands of seminary graduates have been prepared and have made an eternal impact on the lives of countless people. Though the Cooperative Program has been our primary funding stream for doing Gospel ministry, it is certainly much more than that. It has left a Legacy of Cooperation for all Southern Baptists to follow!
Even though the Colorado Baptist General Convention was not around in 1925, this legacy of cooperation has had a significant impact in our state. Because of the partnership commitment of Colorado churches since 1956, the state convention has been able to support our churches through consultants, trainings, resources, grants, and initiatives which have helped churches better engage their communities with the Gospel. In our state this legacy of cooperation continues as local associations which provide “boots on the ground” support to churches and their leaders are strengthened through their Regional Directors because of the desire of church members and their leaders to work together.
Since the CBGC’s founding in 1956, over $82,000,000 has been given from Colorado churches through the Cooperative Program. That means Colorado churches have had an equal part in the commissioning and support of every overseas missionary, church planter, and seminary graduate since 1956. And in the time since our convention started Colorado Baptist churches have recorded an amazing 144,727 baptisms. While we realize there were others not counted in those reported numbers, what we do know is at least 144,727 people gave their lives to Christ and followed Him in believer’s baptism. These baptisms are the fruit of people who followed Christ’s instructions to His disciples to “Go therefore and make disciples…” These faithful laborers went forth and spread the seeds of the Gospel and watched the work of the Lord unfold in the lives of those who were at one time far from Him but responded as the Holy Spirit moved upon their hearts. And while the mode of sowing was unique to each sower, the willingness to “Go” binds us all together. The work is far from finished, but this legacy of cooperation has made a difference.
Yet, rather than try and related large numbers as the sole outcome of this work let me share how this legacy of cooperation has impacted one family. After all, every number represents a life and contains a story. On August 14, 1983, a young man of 20 who was at the end of his rope entered into a small Southern Baptist Church in eastern Boulder County. This was a church begun by Southern Baptists, started by a Southwestern Seminary graduate who surrendered to the call to plant a church. And it was in this church that this young man gave his life to Christ and was one of those 144,727 reported baptisms. I know this story because I was that young man. A few months after my baptism my wife Sally gave her life to the Lord and she became one of those 144,727 who were baptized. And due to the spiritual nurture and encouragement of this congregation, a legacy grew in my family. Because of the investment they made in Sally and me all four of our children were baptized in Colorado Baptist churches and they each became part of the 144,727 baptisms reported in our state since 1956.
The impact of Gospel partnership runs so much deeper than just the numbers we are able to celebrate. Together we have made a difference in the Gospel work both here in our state and around the world. It is my prayer that when we hear the words Cooperative Program, we do not just think in terms of money. My prayer is that we are able to imagine a legacy of cooperation. Not just the lives of those who have contributed to this legacy, but the lives of people impacted because the work of the Gospel was carried out. And while we did not all do this the same, we all have a part in celebrating the work of the Lord. May the Lord continue to grow our legacy of cooperation and may He receive all the glory!
Dr. Michael Proud, Jr., Executive Director of Colorado Baptists General Convention
