Cooperative Missions
A Baptist church cannot reach the world by itself. The Southern Baptist Convention's Cooperative Program, launched in 1925, channels gifts from over 40,000 churches into a unified missions strategy — supporting the International Mission Board, the North American Mission Board, six seminaries, and state conventions. The biblical case for such cooperation is rooted in the unity of the church and the magnitude of the task. These ten passages establish the foundation.
What Scripture says
All quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).
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Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
All nations. The task is too big for any one congregation alone.
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Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the uttermost parts of the earth.
Local AND regional AND global — concurrent, not sequential.
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Acts 13:2-3
While they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them." Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
The Antioch church sent the first missionaries. Local churches send; agencies serve them.
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Romans 15:24-27
whenever I journey to Spain, I will come to you... But now, I say, I am going to Jerusalem, serving the saints. For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem. Yes, it has been their good pleasure, and they are their debtors.
Paul gathered offerings from many churches to support the Jerusalem saints. Cooperation across distance.
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2 Corinthians 8:1-4
Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia... they gave according to their power... beyond their power they gave of their own accord, begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints.
The Macedonian churches BEGGED for the privilege of giving. Cooperation is grace.
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1 Corinthians 16:1-3
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I commanded the assemblies of Galatia, you do likewise. On the first day of every week, let each one of you save, as he may prosper, that no collections be made when I come.
A systematic, regular, proportionate, cooperative giving plan. Across multiple churches.
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Acts 11:27-30
Now in these days, prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch... a great famine over all the world... The disciples, as anyone had plenty, each determined to send relief to the brothers who lived in Judea; which they also did, sending it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
A unified famine relief effort. The earliest cooperative program.
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Philippians 1:5
for your fellowship in furtherance of the Good News from the first day until now;
Paul praises the Philippians for their PARTNERSHIP — koinonia — in the gospel. Real money. Real shared work.
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Philippians 4:15-17
You yourselves also know, you Philippians, that in the beginning of the Good News, when I departed from Macedonia, no assembly shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you only. For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my need... I seek for the fruit that increases to your account.
The Philippians supported Paul's mission while he was elsewhere. Their giving was credited to their account.
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3 John 1:6-8
They have testified about your love before the assembly. You will do well to send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, because for the sake of the Name they went out, taking nothing from the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.
Supporting missionaries makes us "fellow workers" with them. The reward is shared.
A prayer
Father, the task is too big for any of us alone. Make us a people who cooperate freely, give generously, and pray fervently for those You have sent. Let no nation, no tribe, no language remain without a witness. Amen.