By Sharan Sitton -
The basic overall mission of the Cooperative Program, since 1845, is the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). Here is how it works: each Southern Baptist Church (SBC) that decides to participate will determine what portion of its undesignated funds go to the Cooperative Program (to support their state convention and the SBC missions and ministries). Those funds are forwarded, by your church, to our state or your regional Baptist convention. Messengers at the State Convention Annual Meeting (messengers are made up from the SBC churches across the State of Indiana) decide what portion of the Cooperative Program funds contributed by our state congregations stay in our state to support local missions and ministries. The remaining funds to be forwarded is also determined at this time, they are forwarded to the SBC Executive Committee for North American and international missions and other SBC entity ministries.
Messengers at the SBC Annual Meeting from across the country decide how the funds received from the states will be distributed among the SBC entities. These funds are used by SBC entities to send and support missionaries (sound familiar WMU ladies?), train pastors and other ministry leaders, provide relief for retired ministers and widows, and address social, moral, and ethical concerns relating to our faith and families.
BOTTOM LINE: People around the world hear the Gospel and have the opportunity to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior!
(All information is derived from https://www.namb.net/the-cooperative-program/. There are other ways to designate your individual or local church's giving, so please peruse that website thoroughly!)
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Sharan Sitton is the WMU Director for the Southeastern Indiana Baptist Association.
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