Morris ChapmanI was delighted to hear that the South Carolina Baptist Convention has adopted a five-year plan to increase the percentage of its Cooperative Program receipts forwarded to the Southern Baptist Convention. Your action stands as an exemplary model of kingdom consciousness. Together we can make a greater impact in the fourfold missions’ challenge of our Great Commission – conduct ministry in local communities through our local churches, meet missions’ needs within your state, address the lostness of our country at the national level and fulfill the unending task of international missions. We continue to pray that Empowering Kingdom Growth will serve as an ignition point for genuine spiritual renewal and Holy Spirit revival among Southern Baptists.
The funds forwarded by South Carolina Baptists to the national Cooperative Program unified budget help underwrite training for thousands of seminarians preparing for ministry, and help keep our North American and international missions forces of more than 10,000 missionaries in their various fields of service without financial distractions. They also empower our Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission to keep our churches abreast of political and cultural issues that impact our faith, and provide funding for the facilitating ministries of our convention.
As you know, the Executive Committee is charged to receive and distribute all Cooperative Program funds according to the adopted SBC budget. On behalf of the entire Executive Committee, I commend you for this bold initiative. Your leadership in this has been stellar. Thank you for your partnership in the gospel.
Chapman is president and chief executive officer of the SBC Executive Committee.