Changing pulpits, Brunson pledges support for Cooperative Program

Pledging ongoing support for Southern Baptists’ main funding channel for missions, Mac Brunson, newly called as pastor of First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Fla., said he is “a product” of the Cooperative Program, to which he will continue giving strong support.

Mac Brunson

First Baptist Church, Dallas, where Brunson has served since 1999, gave 16.4 percent of its undesignated gifts through the Cooperative Program in 2004, as well as giving more than $1 million to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.

Brunson told the Florida Baptist Witness his father was a Baptist deacon and his home church in South Carolina gave 20 percent through the Cooperative Program.

“I’ve always tried to get my churches to do at least 10 percent, that we ought to tithe the tithe,” said Brunson, whose first Sunday in the Jacksonville pulpit will be April 8. “I’m a team player. I believe in the Cooperative Program.”

Brunson said his maternal grandfather was one of the first children to be cared for at Connie Maxwell Baptist Children’s Home in Greenwood, a ministry supported by South Carolina Baptists’ CP gifts. Additionally, Brunson said his father and two sisters came to faith in Christ through efforts of Baptist church planters.

“I owe a lot of what I am to Southern Baptists, and I try in every way I can to support Southern Baptist work,” Brunson said. “I want to put our money where our mouth is. I think we will try to begin to incrementally increase CP and increase what we are giving to Lottie Moon and missions.”

Brunson said missions support involves “not just giving, but going. We’ll be very involved in both – in giving and going.”

Brunson said his personal commitment to missions includes involving his family in mission trips. His daughter Courtney was a missionary to an unnamed country for a two-year period prior to getting married last year. His wife Debbie is a trustee for the SBC’s International Mission Board.

First Baptist, Dallas, seats 2,000 for three morning worship services; First Baptist, Jacksonville, seats 10,000.