Southern Baptists have an amazing engine to fulfill the Great Commissions. It’s called the Cooperative Program (CP). As each church gives what they can, added together, the missions and ministries of the Southern Baptist Convention and respective state conventions are able to accomplish big things for God.  

But I have learned something disturbing as I listen to and talk with other Southern Baptists: Not many people understand how the CP works. And I’m not talking about only the people who attend church just at Easter and Christmas. I’m talking about Journeymen, pastor’s kids, and even missionaries themselves.  

Something else I have learned — and this one is from the Bible — is that if we don’t pass our traditions on to our children, they cease to be our traditions. In fact, the Bible tells us that “One generation will declare your works to the next and will proclaim your mighty acts” (Psalm 145:4 CSB). God has certainly done mighty acts through the Cooperative Program!  

What are some things you can do at your church to help children — and even the adults — understand the Cooperative Program?  

• Plan a lesson on stewardship and the Cooperative Program. Help children understand how the money they and their families give to the church is multiplied to change the lives of people in their community, country, and around the world. Check out our children’s lesson Cooperative Program: How Southern Baptists Work Together as an option. Even though we designed it for children, churches have used it to teach all ages with great result! 
• Visit the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program website to learn more about the CP and find resources to share with your church. Download a video clip to show children or share in your church service that highlights the Cooperative Program. 
• Visit the website for your state’s board of missions. They will have more resources about the Cooperative Program that are specific to your state. 
• Invite a state missionary to your church to speak about the Cooperative Program with children or with your whole church. This can be done by contacting your state’s board of missions. 

 

When you teach children about the Cooperative Program, don’t forget to award them a Cooperative Program Badge/Patch! 

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by Sarah Murray