We are the Kentucky. Baptist. Convention.

Hanging in our home are custom picture frames for each member of our family that tell when they were born and the meaning of their name. Guests who study the portraits can quickly become acquainted with “Free & Strong”, “Who is like God?”, “Gift of God” and …. “Helmet Head” (Sorry, Kennedy!).

While it may not be true about my family, the names given to many in the Bible are very important. Their names were often significant and indicated key attributes about the person.

As we approach the annual meeting, I pondered, “What does our name say about the Kentucky Baptist Convention?”

KENTUCKY: We are connected geographically.

Our churches share the common bond of being in Kentucky and being called to reach Kentucky. We are the largest religious group in our state, spanning the entire commonwealth from the Appalachian Mountains in the east to the Jackson Purchase in the west. Our geographical connection isn’t just about sharing a state. It means we understand the diverse needs, varied cultures, and unique challenges encountered across Kentucky. Our shared geographic identity enables us to coordinate efforts to reach every corner of our state with the gospel.

BAPTIST: We are connected theologically.

While there are many churches of various mindsets in our state, what differentiates us is our shared theological conviction. We are united by our core beliefs as expressed in the Baptist Faith and Message, including the authority of the Bible as the infallible Word of God, salvation through Christ alone, the autonomy of the local church, and believers’ baptism by immersion. This shared theological DNA ensures that as we work together, we are aligned in our understanding of God, salvation and the Great Commission. Having a consistent theological framework shapes how we do missions, evangelism and education throughout the state.

CONVENTION: We are connected cooperatively.

The term convention refers to the voluntary cooperation among Kentucky Baptist churches. Unlike hierarchical denominations, Kentucky Baptists are autonomous and not directed by any external authority. Rather, we freely associate with one another for the purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission. This is expressed most tangibly by giving to the Cooperative Program and working collaboratively to launch statewide initiatives, support missionaries, care for foster children, fund collegiate ministry and train future church leaders.

Summary

The Kentucky Baptist Convention is a collection of churches in Kentucky that share a similar Baptist theology and are committed to voluntarily cooperating in ministry through a Convention of churches. Names matter… and “Kentucky Baptist Convention” is one name I am proud of.

November 6, 2025 0

Celebrating the Cooperative Program with Children (includes downloadable lessons!)

Sitting in the front row of a recent church service gave me a direct view of a pastor sharing his weekly children’s message. He immediately captured their attention by distributing currency and sharing that every time a dollar is placed into the church’s offering plate, 20 cents is sent to support missionaries through the Cooperative Program. He personally shared how he and his wife benefited from those gifts while serving as International Mission Board missionaries in South Africa.

Funding missions cooperatively is a hallmark of Southern Baptist churches. But here’s a question worth asking: Do the children in your church know that?

Children learn what their church values from where they see its attention focused. When we intentionally emphasize cooperation, missions, and generosity, we’re shaping their understanding of what it means to be a church. The Cooperative Program is a picture of Kingdom teamwork, showing that we can accomplish far more together than we could ever do alone.

When children grow up understanding and appreciating the Cooperative Program, they become adults who lead missionally, laypeople who give generously, pastors who prioritize partnership, and missionaries who know churches stand behind them.

After all, the next generation of missionaries, pastors, and church leaders is already sitting in your Sunday School rooms. Let’s help them grow up understanding the beauty of cooperation.

Downloadable Cooperative Program Children’s Lessons

Teaching children about the Cooperative Program can be woven naturally into what you’re already doing. Below are links to children’s lessons and resources suitable for use in Sunday School, during Kids’ Worship, or for a special missions event.

Free Cooperative Program “Better Together” Children’s Lesson and necessary Lesson Resources

Free Children’s Cooperative Program Activity Books

WMU Children’s Lesson “Cooperative Program: How Southern Baptists Work Together”

October 7, 2025 0

Worthless cards and the worthy Christ

As a 11-year-old boy, there were few things I enjoyed more than opening up a newly minted pack of baseball or football cards. I was eager to celebrate over receiving the cards of players I idolized and quickly determined which cards I could trade to my friends. I knew a guy on the 5^th grade playground that would just about trade his own mother for a certain Will Clark baseball card. I would be tempted to give an equally lucrative deal for a card featuring Barry Larkin. Most of us 11-year-olds were convinced that we would be retired by 40 with houses in Paris, the Bahamas, and Australia based solely on the future value of our baseball card collections. Unfortunately, other than a Jerry Rice rookie card worth about $100, most of the cards in my collection are worth pennies. Not quite the life changing retirement money I expected to have by now.

A deacon at the church I pastored recently showed me a picture of the baseball card he most proudly possessed. It was a 1982 Topps Future Stars card featuring three baseball players. The first was Bob Bonner, a shortstop who played in 61 games where he batted .194 and had zero homeruns. The second player was Jeff Schneider, a pitcher who played just one year in the Major Leagues. He pitched in 24 innings and gave up 13 runs.

The third “Future Star” was voted an All-Star 19 times over his 21-year career. He played 3,001 games for the Baltimore Orioles and holds the record for the most consecutive games played at 2,632. He had 3,184 hits, 431 home runs and 1,695 RBI’s. He is a multiple time MVP and Golden Glove winner who was named the starting shortstop for the MLB All-Century Team. His name is Cal Ripken, Jr.

As a result of Ripken’s accomplishments, the “Future Stars” baseball card is listed for sale on Ebay for as much as $1,200.

Now imagine if you met Jeff Schneider or Bob Bonner and they bragged how their baseball card is worth over $1,000. You would laugh because you know the worth of the card has nothing to do with them. It has everything to do with who they are with.

Similarly, some people point to their good works as their statistics to say, “Look at the great things I have done.” We know that presenting a personal summary of stats to God will prove to be as worthless as my overflowing shoeboxes of baseball cards. But when you put your faith in Christ, His accomplishments are credited to us, and we become worthy. We become worthy not because of who we are but because of who we are with.

In Romans 5:19, Paul reminds us, “For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.” How encouraging is it to know that although we frequently strikeout in our spiritual life we can be counted righteous because of the accomplishments of Christ! When we submit to following Christ, His sinlessness, obedience, death, and resurrection get credited to our righteousness. Ultimately, we are all a bunch of Bob Bonners and Jeff Schneiders who need to be reminded… it is not what we have done, but it is about who we are with!

June 2, 2022 0