May 19, 1999

GRACE & PEACE:
Cooperative Program
strengthens Baptists' ministries
___"Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work" (Ephesians 4:15-16).

___Cooperation is a virtue emphasized in the Bible. Cooperation also is a key characteristic of Baptists who are part of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Realizing the impossibility of an individual Baptist church fulfilling the Great Commission, Baptists began to cooperate for the sake of the gospel. At first, Baptists formed associations of

WILLIAM M. PINSON JR. Executive Director BGCT Executive Board

churches, then "societies" or organizations for missions and other causes, then state conventions and finally national and international bodies. Through voluntary cooperation, they gave up no independence or autonomy but gained much in Great Commission effectiveness.
___In Texas, various BGCT entities cooperate for evangelism, missions, benevolence and Christian education. These state organizations cooperate with entities related to national and international Baptist bodies.
___Providing adequately for these ministries always has been a challenge. The gospel is free, but the delivery system is costly.
___Financial support is provided in several ways: tithes and offerings to churches; contributions to Bap-tist entities; earnings from endowments provided through wills, trusts and other forms of donations; and fees for services rendered.
___Of the tithes and offerings, a portion goes beyond the churches for Baptist causes, some of this in the form of special offerings and some in the form of Cooperative Program gifts.
___Cooperative Program giving is one of the best examples of Baptist cooperation. Rather than each Baptist organization or institution making individual appeals to churches, churches send a portion of the tithes and offerings they receive to the state convention as Cooperative Program gifts. The state convention, such as the BGCT, distributes funds to entities in its budget and also sends a portion to worldwide Baptist entities, such as the Southern Baptist Convention, which in turn distributes the funds to various entities in its budget.
___Such a system of giving not only provides a steady and reliable source of funds for Baptist organizations but also protects churches from a constant barrage of appeals for money from the scores of Baptist entities benefiting from Cooperative Program giving.
___In Texas, BGCT Cooperative Program giving provides financial support for Baptist schools, Baptist Student Ministries, medical centers, child- and aging-care institutions, Texas Baptist Men, the State Missions Commission with its numerous ministries, the Christian Life Commission, Texas Partner-ships, Mission Service Corps, the Ministers Counseling Service and the office of minister/church relations. Beyond Texas, Cooperative Program giving provides support for national and international missions and seminary education. How exciting to realize the millions of lives touched for good in Jesus' name because of Cooperative Program giving.
___Please pray for continued cooperation and generous support through Cooperative Program giving of Baptist ministries in Jesus' name.

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