A Century of Gospel Impact
Among the greatest treasures of our Southern Baptist heritage is the Cooperative Program—a testimony to what God can do when His people work together. While every Southern Baptist church is fully autonomous in its ministry, we have chosen to unite for a higher purpose: fulfilling the Great Commission.
This is not just something we do—it is the very reason we exist.
One hundred years ago, independent churches recognized a profound truth: we could never accomplish alone what we could achieve together. By pooling our resources, we created a holy synergy of cooperation that has sent missionaries to the nations, planted churches in communities, trained pastors and leaders, and met human needs in the name of Christ.
As we look back on all that God has done through our shared commitment, we also look ahead with anticipation. What more could we accomplish if every church fully embraced this mission? Though Southern Baptists may not always agree on everything, we stand united in one undeniable calling: to take the gospel to every street, town, city, village, and nation.
This is not about politics or institutional survival. It is a Spirit-led mission—a command given by Jesus Christ over 2,000 years ago. And the Cooperative Program remains the most effective means by which we can fulfill that calling together.
Now is the time for every church to embrace its role in this mission. Through our giving, we fuel the work of the gospel, ensuring that Christ’s name is proclaimed to the ends of the earth. Will your church fully join in this great effort?
Let’s not settle for what we can do alone—let’s embrace the power of cooperation and see what God will do through us together.
In the Beginning
How It All Started
It was a sweltering May afternoon in 1925, and the air in Memphis, Tennessee, was heavy with humidity. Inside the city’s newly minted convention hall, the oppressive atmosphere mirrored the tension of the 5,600 Southern Baptist messengers gathered for the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). The grand hall, packed to capacity, buzzed with debate. Evolution was the issue of the hour, a national controversy that had found its way into the proceedings. Though tempers flared sporadically, the debate remained relatively subdued.
The messengers had come with a weighty agenda. Among the most pressing matters was the presentation of the first draft of the Baptist Faith and Message by E.Y. Mullins and his committee—a document destined to become a cornerstone of Southern Baptist doctrine. Yet, another topic loomed quietly in the background, a proposal that would ultimately reshape the SBC: the Cooperative Program.
On the afternoon of May 13, the groundbreaking proposal was introduced under its initial name, the Future Program Commission. M.E. Dodd, a towering figure in Baptist history, stood before the restless audience, presenting the committee’s vision. The proposal, crafted by a distinguished roster of Baptist leaders, was met not with fiery debate but with unanimous approval. The messengers heartily endorsed the recommendation that their collective missions effort be known henceforth as “The Cooperative Program of Southern Baptists.”
The Cooperative Program’s adoption marked a turning point for the SBC. Built on twelve guiding principles, it outlined a unified approach to funding missions, education, and benevolence. It established a partnership between the SBC and state conventions, a framework for equitable division of resources, and safeguards to prevent agencies from directly soliciting funds from churches. It was a bold vision, especially given the SBC’s precarious financial state.
The roots of the Cooperative Program stretched back to the ambitious 75 Million Campaign of 1919. Although the campaign fell short of its financial goal—collecting $58 million of the $92 million pledged—it planted seeds of unity and sacrificial giving among Southern Baptists. Despite its shortcomings, the campaign succeeded in raising more funds for missions than the denomination had seen in its previous seventy-five years combined. It inspired thousands of churches to contribute to national and international causes for the first time.
By 1925, however, the SBC was on the brink of financial collapse. Economic instability in the South, compounded by plummeting crop prices, had left many Baptists struggling. In this context of hardship, the Cooperative Program was a lifeline, a bold step forward in faith. Despite its initial growing pains, the program flourished under the stewardship of Austin Crouch, the first president of the SBC Executive Committee. By the time of his tenure, the Cooperative Program had become a bedrock of the convention’s mission efforts.
From its humble beginnings in a humid Memphis hall, the Cooperative Program has stood as a testament to the power of unity and sacrifice, spreading the Gospel and transforming lives for generations.
How was the Cooperative Program Developed?
How was the Cooperative Program Developed?
The Cooperative Program (CP) of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) stands as a cornerstone of Southern Baptist missions and ministry. Established in 1925, this unified funding system revolutionized the way Southern Baptists supported their collective work, allowing them to achieve far more together than they could individually. But how did this innovative approach come into existence? Its origins tell a story of collaboration, financial challenges, and a vision for greater impact.
A Pre-Cooperative Program Era of Challenges
Before 1925, Southern Baptist churches supported missions and ministries through what was known as societal giving. Under this system, individual churches contributed directly to specific causes or missionaries. While this approach allowed churches to support initiatives they felt passionate about, it also created significant challenges. Ministries and agencies often competed for funding, leading to financial instability and inefficiency.
The lack of coordination hindered Southern Baptists from addressing growing needs at home and abroad. As the early 20th century brought expanded mission opportunities, it became increasingly clear that a more unified approach was necessary to sustain and grow their efforts.
Financial Strain and the Need for a New Approach
The early 1900s were marked by economic upheaval, including the aftermath of World War I and the onset of the Great Depression. These financial challenges strained Southern Baptist entities and missionaries, highlighting the limitations of the existing funding system. Agencies struggled to meet their financial obligations, and the decentralized approach to funding made it difficult to prioritize and sustain essential ministries.
The Birth of the Cooperative Program
In response to these challenges, Southern Baptists sought a better way. At the 1925 annual meeting of the SBC in Memphis, Tennessee, the Cooperative Program was officially adopted as a unified and systematic funding plan. This decision was influenced by the lessons learned from the 75 Million Campaign (1919–1924), a denomination-wide effort to raise $75 million for missions and ministries. While the campaign fell short of its ambitious goal, it demonstrated the potential of collective giving.
The Cooperative Program offered a groundbreaking solution. Rather than churches contributing directly to individual causes, they would give a percentage of their undesignated offerings to their state Baptist conventions. These state conventions would then retain a portion of the funds for local ministries and forward the remainder to the SBC for distribution among national and international entities.
A Structure for Collaboration and Stability
The Cooperative Program’s structure brought stability and efficiency to Southern Baptist work. Through this system, funds are distributed to support a wide range of ministries, including:
- International and North American mission boards: Sending missionaries to share the gospel worldwide and planting churches across North America.
- Theological seminaries: Training pastors, missionaries, and church leaders for effective ministry.
- Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission: Advocating for religious freedom and engaging cultural issues from a biblical perspective.
- State Baptist conventions: Supporting local ministries and initiatives.
By pooling resources, Southern Baptists eliminated the competition between agencies and created a consistent funding stream that allowed them to plan strategically for the future.
The Goals and Benefits of the Cooperative Program
The Cooperative Program embodies several key principles:
- Collaboration: By working together, Southern Baptists achieve more collectively than they could individually. Each church, no matter its size, contributes to a greater mission.
- Stability: The unified system provides financial stability for missionaries, seminaries, and other ministries, reducing the uncertainty of relying on sporadic direct contributions.
- Efficiency: Centralized giving minimizes administrative costs, ensuring that more resources go directly to ministry work.
Transformational Impact
Since its inception, the Cooperative Program has transformed Southern Baptist life and work. It has enabled the SBC to send thousands of missionaries worldwide, plant churches across North America, and equip generations of leaders for ministry. The program reflects the denomination’s commitment to cooperation and the Baptist principle of voluntary association.
A Vision That Endures
Nearly a century after its establishment, the Cooperative Program continues to serve as a vital tool for advancing the gospel and meeting needs in a rapidly changing world. Its success lies in the shared vision of Southern Baptists to work together, pooling their resources to make a greater impact than any single church or agency could achieve alone.
As Southern Baptists look to the future, the Cooperative Program remains a testament to the power of unity and a commitment to spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth. It stands as a model for how believers can come together to fulfill the Great Commission and make a lasting difference for the kingdom of God.
A Century of Cooperation
A Century of Cooperation: Dr. Ken Weathersby on the Legacy and Future of the Cooperative Program
For 100 years, the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program has been a cornerstone of mission work, uniting churches in their commitment to spreading the gospel. As the SBC celebrates this milestone, Dr. Ken Weathersby, a veteran leader in Baptist life, reflects on its history, impact, and the road ahead.
A Calling to Ministry and Missions
Dr. Weathersby’s journey into the Southern Baptist fold began when he answered the call to ministry. Initially studying at the Mississippi Baptist Seminary, he was encouraged by a professor to further his education to become a missionary. This path led him to Mississippi College and then to Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he formally connected with the Southern Baptist Convention.
“My desire was to be a missionary,” Weathersby recalls. “I had to research what was required, and I realized I needed further education. That journey led me into the broader SBC world.”
Over the years, Dr. Weathersby has served in multiple leadership roles, including vice president for convention advancement and global evangelism at the SBC Executive Committee, a professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and a strategist at the North American Mission Board (NAMB). His experience has given him a unique perspective on how the Cooperative Program fuels mission work across cultures and nations.
The Cooperative Program: A Kingdom Enterprise
Reflecting on the Cooperative Program’s century-long legacy, Dr. Weathersby describes it as a “kingdom enterprise” designed to maximize gospel impact.
“When the Cooperative Program was established, it was ahead of its time,” he explains. “It allowed churches to pool resources to do more together than they ever could separately. That model has remained effective in making Christ’s name known, not only in our communities but across the nation and the world.”
He points to the early formation of mission boards, such as the Home Mission Board (now NAMB), as a testament to the Cooperative Program’s vision. These organizations helped SBC churches reach diverse populations, including Native Americans, African Americans, and immigrant communities, ensuring that gospel outreach crossed cultural lines.
“Missionaries were placed in areas where individual churches couldn’t go alone,” Weathersby says. “Because of the Cooperative Program, we had national missionaries dedicated to specific people groups—Hispanic, Native American, Asian, and African American communities—ensuring that the gospel reached everyone.”
The Shift in Ministry Mindset
Dr. Weathersby also highlights a shift in how people perceive ministry.
“When I was called into ministry, ‘calling’ was a big word,” he says. “It wasn’t just a career or occupation. It was a divine assignment, and we prepared ourselves accordingly. Today, it seems that some enter ministry as a job rather than a calling, and that’s a concern.”
This shift, he believes, underscores the need for renewed mission education. He argues that understanding the difference between the church and the Kingdom is essential.
“We often mistake the church for the Kingdom, but the church is actually an ambassador for the Kingdom,” he explains. “Jesus didn’t come to establish denominations—He came to bring the Kingdom of God to Earth. Our work, whether in a local church, a state convention, or a mission board, should always be about proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom.”
Looking Ahead: Educating the Next Generation
As the Cooperative Program moves into its second century, Dr. Weathersby emphasizes the need for intentional education about missions and cooperative giving.
“My passion is mission education,” he states. “We need to train the next generation to understand what it means to be a missionary. Who are missionaries? What do they do? How can young people be involved in missions? We must teach this at an early age so that future leaders grasp the importance of the Cooperative Program.”
He praises organizations like the Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) for their efforts in raising mission awareness but believes there is still much work to be done.
“We can’t take the Cooperative Program for granted,” he warns. “If we don’t educate the next generation, they may not see the need for it. We need to continue sharing stories of what it has accomplished and what still needs to be done, because there are millions who have yet to hear the name of Christ.”
A Legacy of Faithful Cooperation
Looking back on his decades of service, Dr. Weathersby expresses gratitude for the impact of cooperative missions.
“The Cooperative Program has allowed us to reach places and people groups that individual churches could never reach alone,” he says. “That’s why it’s still relevant today. But its future depends on us continuing to educate, invest, and commit to the Kingdom work ahead.”
As Southern Baptists embark on the next 100 years of cooperation, leaders like Dr. Weathersby remind us of the power of unity in fulfilling the Great Commission. By working together, the SBC can continue making a global impact for Christ, ensuring that the gospel reaches every tribe, tongue, and nation.
From an Angel’s Eye-View
A Heavenly Perspective
Imagine the story of the last 100 years from an angel’s eye-view!
As I gazed down upon the earth from the courts of heaven, my eyes were drawn to the labor of a peculiar people—those who called themselves Southern Baptists. From my vantage point, their story was a tapestry of faith, ambition, missteps, and perseverance, woven together by the relentless grace of the One they sought to serve.
The year 1919 stands out as a turning point. The Convention gathered in Atlanta with hearts heavy from debt and minds alight with ambition. They dreamed of a monumental campaign, and I marveled as George Truett, a man with words that could stir the soul, was chosen to lead. The goal was lofty: $75 million, a sum that glimmered like the gold of Solomon’s temple. The pledges poured in, and for a moment, the light of hope seemed to burn brighter than ever. Yet, as the years unfolded, the promises of men fell short of their aspirations. Of the pledged $92.6 million, only $58.5 million materialized. It was a bittersweet triumph—a harvest greater than ever before, yet not enough to meet the need.
I watched as their ambitions led to overextension, and some of their institutions found themselves burdened with debt greater than before. In their striving, they learned a hard truth: zeal without wisdom can lead to collapse. But heaven’s hand was not withdrawn. These struggles birthed an idea that would shape their future—a plan to unify their efforts in missions and funding.
By 1925, at their gathering in Memphis, they took a step that echoed in eternity. They adopted a confession of faith—the Baptist Faith and Message—and committed to a unified funding strategy, the Cooperative Program. This was no small feat, for it required humility and partnership among autonomous churches. Their agreement resounded like a hymn of unity, and I saw the delight of the Sovereign as they committed themselves to work together for the spread of the gospel.
But the road ahead was not smooth. The 1920s gave way to the Great Depression, and I grieved as I saw rural families, the backbone of the Convention, struggle to survive. Household incomes plummeted, and the Cooperative Program suffered. In those years, even the missionaries, those who bore the light of Christ to the nations, were few. Scandals and debts loomed over their boards like dark clouds. Yet, I marveled at their resilience. A grassroots effort, the 100,000 Club, arose like a flicker of hope, and by 1944, they declared themselves debt-free.
The years following were a season of harvest. The Cooperative Program became a mighty river, fueling seminaries, commissions, and mission boards. From 1941 to 1961, giving grew exponentially, enabling thousands of workers to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. Their reach expanded beyond the South, and I saw churches planted in the farthest corners of North America and beyond.
As the 21st century dawned, the Southern Baptists faced new challenges, but their missionary spirit endured. Increased giving for international missions reflected their hearts’ cry to see the nations redeemed. Partnerships grew stronger, and I saw glimpses of the glory they pursued—a vast network of believers working together for the Great Commission.
Through the decades, I have seen their triumphs and their failures. I have watched them wrestle with their identity, sometimes faltering under the weight of human frailty. Yet, the One they serve has remained faithful. He has turned their missteps into milestones, their debts into declarations of freedom, and their divisions into a call for unity.
Even now, as I observe them, I wonder: will they remember the lessons of their past? Will they keep their eyes fixed on the One who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light? Only time will tell. But one thing is certain—heaven rejoices in their every step toward the kingdom, for their story is not merely theirs; it is part of the grand narrative of redemption that spans eternity.