Several years ago, my family gathered to celebrate my maternal grandfather’s 100th birthday. It was an incredible milestone, especially for a Kentucky farmer who survived on hard work, biscuits and gravy, and pork sausage. His birthday party was a wonderful celebration of his life and an opportunity to admire his impact. Beginning with their twelve children, over 100 people had descended from him and my grandmother by his 100th birthday.
While not many get to experience a loved one’s 100th birthday party, in 2025, you have an incredible opportunity to celebrate the 100th birthday of the Cooperative Program. Adopted by Southern Baptists in 1925, giving to missions through the Cooperative Program has resulted in millions of people coming to know Christ over the last century. While there will be national and statewide celebrations, here are five reasons why I encourage your church to celebrate the centennial of our cooperative work in 2025:
- Recognizes Your Church’s Kingdom Impact
Giving through the Cooperative Program each year results in hundreds of churches planted, thousands of missionaries on the field, tens of thousands of students receiving theological education and hundreds of thousands of salvations worldwide. Your church’s missional investment helps to make this gospel ministry possible. How great it will be for your church to celebrate the impact they are having across their state and around the world.!
- Communicates Your Church Is Part of a Larger Faith Family
The Cooperative Program is the strategy by which 47,000 Southern Baptist churches voluntarily work together to fund missions and ministry around the globe. In an era where individualism abounds, celebrating this anniversary demonstrates the value your church puts on cooperating with like-minded churches. I recently heard an associational mission strategist say, “I am Baptist because of Scriptural convictions and Southern Baptist because of Scriptural cooperation.” Just as church members are a part of the body of Christ, individual churches are part of a family of churches working together worldwide.
- Encourages the Congregation to Give Faithfully to Your Church
Funding missions through the Cooperative Program begins with church members giving to your church. In the same way that a state convention thanks a church for faithfully giving to support missions, it is incumbent on the church to thank its members for their faithful giving to their local congregation. Members are even more encouraged to give to your church when realizing a portion of their offering will fund Baptist collegiate ministries, foster care, church planters, international missionaries, disaster relief and much more.
- Honors the Devotion of Previous Generations
The Cooperative Program has endured 100 years because many Southern Baptist churches have sacrificed to maintain their commitment despite the Great Depression, World War II, the 2008 Financial Crisis and much more. Had they wavered in their commitment, our missionary force would be smaller, our seminaries would be fewer, and our churches would be weaker. Celebrating this centennial is an opportunity to thank committed church members while challenging younger Christians to adopt the commitment level of previous generations.
- Glorifies God for His Work Through Our Convention of Churches
The only reason a mission funding program reliant on voluntary cooperation has thrived for 100 years is God’s hand upon our work. Celebrating the Cooperative Program’s centennial anniversary provides an opportunity to praise the Lord for His greatness.
So, throw a party to celebrate the Cooperative Program’s 100th birthday in 2025! Consider recognizing this important event by inviting a state convention staff member to preach on Biblical cooperation, asking a CP-funded missionary to give a testimony, or doing a mission fair that highlights the impact of your giving. Check out my upcoming article or email me at Michael.Cabell@kybaptist.org for ideas and resources.
MICHAEL CABELL 
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