3 essential functions of the Cooperative Program

October 13, 2020

These days, the word together means more than ever. As a group of churches dispersed across North America, the Cooperative Program (CP) is central to our heart of ministry and mission.

Through the generous support of churches across the nation, baptists combine their resources to greatly increase the ministry and missions work they can do together.

Here are three ways the CP enables churches to fulfill their mission:

Prioritize purpose
Every Sunday, congregations across our state and North America need to be reminded of their central purpose – to make disciples of Jesus Christ. Elevating the Cooperative Program reminds churches that we are a part of a bigger story, a bigger picture and mission than our smaller gathering.

Prior to the offering, consider leading your church in prayer for church plants across our nation, missionaries across our world, and other churches in our communities. If our hearts aren’t oriented and burdened toward the lost, we will not take the steps necessary to reach them through our words, actions or wallets.

Every church, no matter the size of the gathering, can make a global and comprehensive missional impact through the Cooperative Program.

Elevate mission
Through generously affirming and supporting the CP, we are opening ourselves corporately and individually to the mission set before us — to create a culture of disciple-making disciples.

The CP provides an opportunity for our church members to turn their eyes outward to the community and world, seeing the lostness and lack of access to gospel witness, and respond in both word and deed.

Accelerate impact
Many new members and folks occupying our gatherings on Sunday mornings did not grow up as Southern Baptists. Explaining how the Cooperative Program enables specific ministries and missions across the world can add fuel to the fire of missions activity.

Sure, the CP requires funding, but more importantly, the CP requires likeminded people. In order for there to be a likemindedness in terms of mission, we have to take the time to slow down and educate our people on what mission is. The CP is a great instrument to do just that.

For more information and resources on the Cooperative Program in North Carolina, visit ncbaptist.org/cp.

The Southern Baptist Convention has been hard at work to promote and strengthen the voice of the CP through new branding and messaging. You can find those newly developed resources here.

by Will Taylor / Communications / Baptist State Convention of North Carolina

NC Pastors’ Conference to highlight statewide ministry leaders

A full slate of pastors and ministry leaders from across North Carolina will highlight the lineup of speakers for the 2021 N.C. Baptist Pastors’ Conference, scheduled for Nov. 7-8 at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro, N.C. “A Place at the Table,” based on Matthew 9:37-38,...

5 reasons your best church members should leave

Our family returned from the mission field in 2005. We were struck by what we found. Church attendance and baptisms were declining. Students were leaving the church after graduation and few were returning. Society was moving away from the gospel. And a host of refugees and...

3 ways to encourage baptism in your church

Will you lead your church to “Fill the Tank” on Sept. 12? “Fill the Tank” is a statewide initiative in which every North Carolina Baptist church has the opportunity to celebrate the sharing of our faith and God’s saving power. Church leader, here are three ways this initiative can...

The importance of a good ministry exit strategy

The landscape in North Carolina has changed. The nations are now our neighbors. Almost 1 million North Carolinians (11%) do not speak English at home. Many of these are unreached peoples who have yet to hear the gospel. Population growth in cities like Charlotte, Greensboro and...

Executive Committee hears $28 million budget proposal for 2022

The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina’s (BSCNC) Executive Committee heard a Cooperative Program budget proposal for 2022 totaling $28 million during a regularly scheduled meeting held Tuesday, July 13, via video conference call. The proposal presented by the state...

NC Baptist meeting to focus on being ‘On Mission Together’

Echoing the vision of newly elected Executive Director-Treasurer Todd Unzicker, “On Mission Together” is the theme of the 2021 Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSCNC) annual meeting, scheduled for Nov. 8-9 at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center in Greensboro.Since...

Whose voice is the loudest in your child’s life?

As a parent, I take my role seriously as the primary disciple-maker of my children. That’s a privilege and a responsibility that requires great wisdom. I was reminded of the significance of my influence in my children's lives at my son's soccer game. I cheered from the sidelines...

Why you should encourage families to parent based on strengths

Many parents struggle with keeping the lines of communication open with their teens. Conversations can become less frequent and less meaningful as children get older. One parent said, “As my son got older we spent less time together. Our conversations were shallow and we just...