What is the Cooperative Program?

Since its inception in 1845, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has always had one mission. We call it the Great Commission.

Go therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age. Amen (Matt. 28:19-20, NKJ).

However, prior to 1925, each SBC entity was left to find its own support to fulfill its part of this divine mandate. This resulted in the entities competing with one another for the churches' missions gifts. Many special offering appeals were made directly to the churches. Overlapping pledge campaigns and frequent emergency appeals were the end result of this system. By 1919, the expanding work of Southern Baptists faced severe financial deficits. In fact, it was not uncommon for agencies and institutions to borrow operating funds in order to function until pledges or special offerings came in.

In 1919, the partnership began to take form when the leaders of the SBC proposed the 75 Million Campaign, a five-year pledge campaign that, for the first time, included everything - all the work of all the state conventions as well as that of the Southern Baptist Convention. Even though the financial goals of the campaign were not realized, a God-given partnership was conceived.

Thus, in 1925, a new system of missions support began. It was, and still is, dependent upon all those involved (individuals, churches, state conventions, and SBC entities) working together as allies, associates, affiliates, as partners. It was called the Cooperative Program.

For detailed information about the Cooperative Program, visit their web site at http://www.cpmissions.net/.