Fred Stone doesn’t see the adoption of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force report as a threat to the viability of the Cooperative Program.
In fact, the president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention believes a renewed commitment by Southern Baptists to focus resources on presenting the gospel to unreached people groups will be a catalyst that will reignite CP giving “across the board.”
“If there is a clear and strong focus on doing more in international missions, I think it will encourage greater CP giving in all churches,” he said. “That is my prayer and realistic hope.”
Fred StoneStone said he witnessed “great excitement” among a noticeably larger contingent of younger leaders at this year’s annual meeting. “I sensed a growing commitment in our convention – involving younger pastors, but not just younger pastors – for local churches to reevaluate what they’re doing and focus more on reaching unreached people groups of this world,” he said.
“Let’s give generously to the Cooperative Program, then let’s do other things – send church members on mission trips, adopt an unreached people group, engage in partnerships in other countries.
“I hope a lot of younger pastors will get involved, because the SBC has made a clear statement that we are going to focus more on international missions and church planting. That should excite everyone.”
Stone said he favors sending 50 percent of Cooperative Program receipts out of state for SBC work, but he believes a reenergized commitment by Southern Baptists to reach people around the world will make up for the smaller percentage of funds left for state work. “I believe the size of the pie will increase,” he said, “and there will be more financially for everyone.”
“What we’re doing in our state is important,” he said, noting that 70 percent of South Carolinians are unchurched. “I am strongly supportive of using Cooperative Program funds in our state in church planting, revitalization, and specialized ministries that help us as churches to reach people no one else is reaching.”
He added that South Carolina Baptists have “something special” in the state’s three Baptist-affiliated universities. “They are teaching a Christian worldview through all academic disciplines. I don’t know any state that has all their colleges doing that.
“What we’re doing as churches together through our state convention matters,” Stone said. “It is important. But we need to increase what we’re giving outside the state with the prayer that it will challenge churches to give more through the Cooperative Program so that there will be adequate funds to do what we need to do in South Carolina and in the Southern Baptist Convention.”
Stone said he supported an amendment to insert new language in the GCRTF report to reassert the role of the Cooperative Program as Southern Baptists’ primary giving mechanism. “It was very positive the way the task force embraced it,” he said. “I think it made the whole GCR report a stronger report. Everyone understands the importance of the Cooperative Program. It is key to all that we’re doing and all we will do.”