Every face has a story! Our stories have been sponsored through the Cooperative Program. We love to tell you about it!

CP100 Faces: William Burton

CP100 Faces: Joe Lovell

CP100 Faces: Greg McCoy

CP100 Faces: Lewis McMullen

CP100 Faces: Gene Nelson

CP100 Faces: Steve Pearson

CP100 Faces: Eric Smith

CP100 Faces: Joe Sorah

CP100 Faces: Phil Young

Ronny Raines

Ronny Raines

As pastor of First Baptist Clarksville, I’m incredibly grateful for the Cooperative Program and its vital role in advancing God’s kingdom. Through the CP, we’re able to:

  • Send missionaries across the globe, fulfilling the Great Commission and sharing the Gospel with all people.
  • Plant, replant, and revitalize churches, strengthening our foundation and reaching new communities.
  • Equip pastors, staff, and missionaries for effective ministry through our six theological seminaries.
  • Extend compassion and care in the wake of natural disasters, providing hot meals, showers, pastoral support, and a powerful gospel witness.

The CP unites every Southern Baptist church, enabling us to make a collective, kingdom impact for Christ. We truly are better together!

Todd Herndon

Todd Herndon

After the historic 2021 flood in Waverly in which 20 lives were lost, First Baptist Waverly was a light during a very dark and tragic time in Humphreys Co.  For months, led by Pastor Scott Brown, our church served the public, not only as a shelter for displaced folks, but also as a hub for supplies, disaster relief, and emotional support.  At one time, every room in our fellowship hall and educational space was packed with much needed supplies.   Our church was the first point of contact for people seeking assistance from FEMA,  Red Cross and United Way.   First Baptist Waverly also housed the Appalachia Service Project for over two years.   They are a non-governmental organization which was founded to address much needed housing after a disaster using volunteer labor to perform repairs to make homes “warmer, safer, and drier or build new homes.   Under the guidance of APS , 45 new homes were constructed in Waverly and the surrounding area.

Because of the efforts of First Baptist Waverly, funds were provided by the TBMB to assist with any necessary repairs due to our faith fueled efforts after the flood. We had damage to our parking lots, walls, utility costs, etc. The TBMB’s willingness and ability to undergird us like that was a major part of how we were able to take so many extreme steps of faith in our efforts. All of this made possible through the Cooperative Program.

Cindi Grooms

Cindi Grooms

A few years ago, while visiting the Carl Sandburg House, I noticed a statement posted on the wall: “Reading a book can take you around the world without ever leaving your house.” That’s exactly how I view the impact of my church’s giving through the Cooperative Program. I’m grateful that even those who may never have the chance to travel—whether across the country or around the globe—can still play a vital role in sharing the gospel with people who have never heard about Jesus.

This is something I often share with my Sunday School class. I remind them that even though there are places they may never visit and people they may never meet, their faithful giving touches lives across the world, starting right here in Tennessee.

Years ago, I participated in a short-term mission trip to Burkina Faso. Our church partnered with another Baptist church and a Baptist college to work alongside IMB missionaries, reaching people groups who had never heard the gospel. We witnessed people come to faith in Christ and begin their discipleship journey. Others, already growing in their faith, were being trained to lead. The Cooperative Program had a tremendous impact on the ministry that took place there.

I’m deeply thankful for the global impact being made as our resources are combined with those of other like-minded believers. Together, we’re able to support ministries on college campuses, provide Disaster Relief, and much more.

I truly appreciate the difference the Cooperative Program makes in providing the resources that empower people to serve and share the life-changing truth that Jesus saves.

Alan Raughton

Alan Raughton

Growing up in a Southern Baptist Church I often heard about the Cooperative Program. I learned at an early age the tremendous benefit of churches joining together to support missions and ministries both in our state, across the nation, and around the world.

However, the Cooperative Program became more than a lesson in RA’s or a presentation in a church business meeting when I surrendered to God’s call to ministry and headed off to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. As a newly married recent college graduate, I found myself on the cusp of being flat broke. But, because of the Cooperative Program, my tuition for a master’s degree in religious education was paid in full.

My education at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary provided the training and preparation needed for me to serve as discipleship pastor at churches in Mississippi, Virginia, Florida, and Tennessee. Coupled with practical local church experience it also led to my training thousands of Sunday school leaders and Christian educators through my work at Lifeway Christian Resources. All this I owe to the thousands of churches that voluntarily contributed to the Cooperative Program.

Through the years I have been blessed to serve churches that take seriously the Great Commission and believe the best way to reach Nashville, Tennessee, the United States…and the world, is through partnering with other churches financially through the Cooperative Program.  At the top of our church budget at Nashville First Baptist Church is “Cooperative Program.”   All other funding for missions and ministries come below it.

Nashville First Baptist Church is a historic church (founded in 1820) with much to be proud of.  For example, The Baptist Sunday School Board, now called Lifeway, started in our church with our pastor as the first president. Nashville FBC helped start the Baptist & Reflector and was instrumental in the creation of Union University. Yet, what our church is most proud of is her consistent contributions that fund our state convention and SBC causes.

The Cooperative Program has served Southern Baptists well since 1925.  As Nashville First Baptist Church joins with other churches across our convention, we will continue to do more to reach the nations with the Gospel message of Jesus Christ than we can do alone.

Richard E. Bray

Richard Bray

In the song To God be the Glory, Andre Crouch opened with the following line: “How can I say thanks for the things He has done for me.”

When I think of everything God has done for me through the Cooperative Program, I cannot help but to give Him praise. Except for the years I lived overseas, I have attended Southern Baptist Churches my entire life and have had the privilege of not only learning about the great things Southern Baptists have done through the Cooperative Program, but I have experienced them as well. 

In a Southern Baptist church at the age of 10, I came under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, asked God to forgive me of my sin, and surrendered my life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. At the age of twenty-one, the Lord called me to serve Him in full-time Christian ministry. The Cooperative Program made it possible for me to receive two degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity in Biblical Studies and a Doctor of Philosophy in Missiology. Because Southern Baptists saw the need for theological education, they established six seminaries. Those seminaries are partially funded through Cooperative Program gifts. The result is students are able to get theological training partially funded by the generous gifts of Southern Baptists.

As I neared the completion of my doctoral studies, my wife was out walking in our neighborhood with a woman whose husband was completing his doctoral studies in an institution of another denomination. She shared with my wife that they were already more than $20,000 in debt, and her husband was not finished with his program of study. Because of Cooperative Program gifts to the seminaries, I did not have to go into debt to get either of my degrees.

In the middle of my doctoral studies, Lesa and I felt called to serve as foreign missionaries. We were appointed as missionaries to Chile by the Foreign Mission Board (now the International Mission Board) in 1989. We went to Costa Rica to learn how to speak Spanish, which was funded through Cooperative Program gifts. We also received a regular salary deposited in our checking account every month. This too was made possible through Cooperative Program gifts.

While in language school with people from other denominations, we were once again reminded of the blessings of the Cooperative Program. A missionary from another denomination had to leave the language institute and return to the United States to raise more funds because those who promised to fund his salary and schooling did not follow through on their pledges. 

As missionaries in Chile, we received a regular salary because of Cooperative Program gifts. We had money to do ministry and saw people’s lives changed because Southern Baptists were faithful to give through the Cooperative Program.

As a pastor, a missionary, and an educator, I have had the privilege of helping others see how giving through the Cooperative Program literally impacts the world.

“To God be the glory! Indeed!