I have always been thankful for the many cooperative ministry partnerships that we enjoy in Baptist life. These partnerships include local churches working together, Baptist associations, state conventions, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) and its entities like the International Mission Board (IMB) and the North American Mission Board (NAMB).

Cooperation and personal involvement in missions is the heartbeat of who we are as Southern Baptists. While ministry and missions may look different in these days of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19 has made it clear that people are looking for hope and we can offer it to them in Jesus’ name.

COVID-19 has brought with it unprecedented challenges, but it also has brought unique opportunities. Two upcoming online events that I want to call to your attention highlight the benefits of cooperative missions and ministry work that we enjoy as Southern Baptists.

First, is the “Go2 Collegiate Challenge” webinar scheduled for Thursday, July 23 at 7:30 p.m. “Go2” is a joint initiative of NAMB and the IMB that has been spearheaded by SBC President J.D. Greear, pastor of The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham. “Go2” challenges college students to live on mission by encouraging them to dedicate their first two years after graduation to serve with a church plant in the United States or as a missionary overseas.

Greear and Dhati Lewis, vice president of NAMB’s Send Network will host the webcast, which will feature a number of breakout sessions facilitated by a variety of missionaries and ministry leaders. You can learn more about the “Go2 Challenge” and register for the webinar by visiting go2years.net.

Even as COVID-19 has forced alterations and adjustments to what campus life will look like this fall, now is the perfect time for college students to take time to consider what the Lord may have to say to them and how He may be directing them in these days.

Another opportunity that I wanted to call to your attention is the “Resourcing Worship” virtual conference scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 1. This online event offers online training from some of the today’s most influential worship leaders including Keith Getty, Matt Redman, Shelly Johnson, Mark Harland, Matt Boswell and others.

Kenny Lamm, senior consultant for worship and music here at the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, has been one of the key organizers of the conference, which is a joint effort of at least 17 state conventions and other Baptist entities. The event is believed to be one of the first large-scale partnership training events between so many state conventions and other Baptist ministries.

The virtual conference grew out of conversations between worship ministry consultants from across the country at the outset of COVID-19 as a way to offer worship resources and training to churches dealing with the pandemic. You can learn more and register for the conference by visiting resourcingworship.com. Those who register for the conference will have access to the training resources for 90 days following the conclusion of the event.

The “Go2 Challenge” and “Resourcing Worship” virtual conference are just two of many opportunities that we have as Southern Baptists to partner together for the sake of the gospel. The adage we often hear and say as Southern Baptists is as true today as it’s ever been — we can accomplish far more together than we ever could apart.

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from this day until now.” — Philippians 1:3-5 (NKJV)