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April 14, 2008
Jerry Mixon on the impact of the Cooperative Program
Jerry W. Mixon is the Director of Stewardship and Cooperative Program for the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board.
Jerry and I were talking about the importance of telling and re-telling the story of the Cooperative Program (CP). It may not be perfect, but it's the best thing on the market. The sad reality is that my generation is two generations removed from the founders of CP, and somewhere along the way we stopped telling the story.
Jerry mentioned an article he recently published on the subject. I wanted to share it with you too. It's an interesting exercise to think of CP as a human being--something much more personable and complex than a pie chart.
Thanks Jerry for sharing this with me. I hope you enjoy it too.
IMAGINE
Let's just suppose an 83-year-old man walked into your office and began telling you that through his efforts last year he was a part of engaging 567,413 new believers and 1.2 million church members in discipleship training and that he had a plan to reach the 3.3 billion people who have never heard the gospel. Would you believe him?
I believe you would have a lot of doubts running through your mind because you see him as a senior adult. You might even think he is not only dated, but obsolete. You can see he does not fit with the culture of today. You notice his suit smells of moth balls and appears old, wrinkled, and worn. The wide suit lapels remind you of your grandfather's suit from 1920.
What if he continued to speak, claiming that last year he started 68 Bible-based churches each day. Would you believe him? I think not. Then, what if he added that last year he saw one person saved and baptized worldwide every minute of every day. Could you believe him? It does not appear to you that he is finished so you invite him to be seated. He takes a seat and speaks of a personal ministry in Mississippi on 33 college and university campuses. He boasts also of helping thousands of children and youth be a part of Bible drills all across our state. He said that he had maintained two camps in the state and planned to develop a new state-of-the-art retreat center for youth and adults. After hearing all of this, would you consider him to be as confused as a termite in a yoyo, or just plain nuts?
Then he stands and walks around the room, observing various books you have on display. He states to you that he personally helped support three schools of higher education in Mississippi last year. He also claims that this year in only seven months he helped restore 57 pastors and staff members to ministry after their sudden termination. This assistance furnished financial aid and counseling. He explains this cost was $22,615.60.
I know by now you are thinking this old fellow has lost it. Then he looks you straight in the eye saying, "That is not all I've done. I could go on, but I came by to say thank you. I could not have done this alone. Thank you for supporting my work financially."
Now you are as confused as the man who bought a new boom-a-rang and could not throw his old one away. The old man continues, "You and your church were a part of all I have done. Together we funded over 10,000 missionaries on the mission field all day, every day and night, last year. You see, I could have done some of this alone and you could have done some alone, but together we have made a huge difference in the world. We did it together." You are about to ask him his name when he says, "Pastor, some call me CP, but my name is Cooperative Program. I was born in 1925. I'm 83 years old, but I'm still young. I wanted you to know that God is not through with me."
You lay your Baptist Record aside and pause to reflect on the article you have been reading. You look up and there is no one in the room. You realize you have just been reminded that your church really did help accomplish all these things this past year through the Cooperative Program. You bow your head and voice a prayer to continue your support of ministry and missions through the Cooperative Program.
This article was printed in the Baptist Record on April 10, 2008, Vol. 132, No. 15., Special Cooperative Program Issue No. 16.
Posted by bstroup at April 14, 2008 1:46 AM
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