Why We Give
The main reason any follower of Christ gives is because Christ gave himself for us. As Paul explains, “…he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised” (2 Corinthians 5:15 ESV). We no longer think simply about ourselves. Now we are compelled to think of others. “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19 ESV). This love and concern extends to how we spend our money.
Not only that, but in following Christ, we have all concluded that God comes first in everything. We want everyone to know him in all his greatness. We pray for his loving and righteous reputation to spread throughout the world with the desire that it will be revered by all who hear of it. We want his will to be done here on earth just as it is done in heaven. We long to see his rule acknowledged by everyone on earth (Matthew 6:9-10). In everything we do, we want to act in ways that proclaim the greatness of God (1 Corinthians 10:31), and that includes how we use our money.
Because of what Jesus has done for us, the members of our church have committed to pool our financial resources so that we can carry out the work of ministry that God has for us in our congregation, in our community, and throughout the world for the glory of God.
SBC Cooperative Program
Our church associates with other likeminded Baptist churches through voluntary cooperation. Our association and cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention are for the sake of the gospel. We share our resources in order to partner in the work of making disciples of all nations. We do so to follow the example set by those to whom the apostle John wrote in his third epistle. There he says, “Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth” (3 John 1:5-8 ESV). Through the cooperative program of the SBC, our church is supporting those who have gone throughout the US and the world “for the sake of the name” so that we can be partners in their endeavor and fulfill the commission of our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:18-20).