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IRVING—Brian Haynes, pastor of Bay Area Church in League City, championed the heart and purpose of the Cooperative Program during the Empower conference’s CP lunch at the Irving Convention Center on Feb. 23, where 270 attendees gathered to hear how CP dollars are used to strengthen and support Southern Baptist work in Texas and across the globe.
Eight students from the Scarborough College band on the campus of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary kicked off the event with a virtual performance of harmonious praise and worship.
Jim Richards, SBTC executive director, welcomed guests, reminding them of CP Sunday, which is April 25 or any Sunday their church chooses to designate to inform members about what they are investing in by giving to the Cooperative Program.
Richards encouraged listeners about the importance of Cooperative Program giving, outlining how CP resources are used in Texas and throughout the world. Luncheon attendees also received copies of the book Ten Percent: A Call to Biblical Stewardship by Ronnie Floyd, president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
To promote CP giving, Richards told the group that SBTC staff members are “available to speak in your church about the Cooperative Program and then bring a Bible message,” before introducing Haynes as the leader of a dynamic school, an author, an accomplished speaker and a hiker who takes tours in Israel, Jordan and Egypt.
“I am Baptist to the bone,” Haynes exclaimed as he shared the rich history of how the Cooperative program had influenced his life.
“I remember the envelope that my parents gave me to put my dollar in as a child,” Haynes said, as he recalled being raised to give to help further the mission and cause of the Cooperative Program. Little did he know that CP funds would one day offset the cost of his tuition at Southwestern Seminary.
“The Cooperative Program would make an investment in me and my family as I got to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and I got to be able to afford it,” Haynes said, adding that as his ministry continued, partnerships with people at the North American Mission Board and the International Mission Board ensued.
“I began to realize that all of us, all of these churches that are paying for these people to be in strategic places, are just fueling this ministry,” he said.
Haynes then shared from Paul’s words in Philippians 1, underscoring verse 5: “because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” (ESV).
“Kingdom partnership is powerful,” he said, giving an example from Hurricane Harvey.
“We partnered with the churches of our region to establish the 4B Disaster Response Network to help the people of our area recover [from Harvey], demonstrate the service and love of Jesus, and to share the gospel message of hope,” Haynes said. “Together we outpaced the government in our assistance to the residents of our region—more money, more volunteers, more homes rebuilt. That’s the power and the influence of kingdom partnership.”
He emphasized three current threats to the Cooperative Program and kingdom partnership: self-centeredness, schism and lack of urgency.
The CP is not a church growth strategy for those who are building a kingdom for self, Haynes noted.
He admitted Southern Baptists have important issues to work through: racial reconciliation, immorality, criminality, covered sin and abuse, and the need to love despite disagreement.
“I feel the pain of that. I vehemently disagree with some who are outspoken in our denomination, but I’m not going to cancel or lead my church to kill our commitment to the Cooperative Program so long as CP continues to be about working together to advance the Kingdom in unity,” Haynes said.
Regarding the need for a sense of urgency, he cautioned, “None of us knows exactly when our Lord will return but it certainly seems the earth is groaning for his final return and restoration. Now is the time to act. The Cooperative Program multiplies … [the advance of the kingdom]. It lengthens our reach. It equips the next generation.”
The pastor encouraged the audience that “The Lord is not finished with us,” reading from Philippians 1:6: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (ESV).
Calling the SBC “a stellar mission sending agency,” Haynes said, “God will use us in greater ways if we are faithful,” and ended the message with Paul’s prayer in Philippians 1:9-11.
Top 10 Giving Churches to the Cooperative Program 2020
1. First Baptist Church, Rockwall
2. Houston’s First Baptist Church, Houston
3. Cross City Church, Euless
4. Champion Forest Baptist Church, Houston
5. First Baptist Church, Forney
6. Sagemont Church, Houston
7. West Conroe Baptist Church
8. Calvary Baptist Church, Beaumont
9. Spring Baptist Church, Spring
10. Bay Area Church, League City
