CP Connections Fall 2025

C O O P E R A T I V E

P R O G R A M

CONNECTIONS FALL 2025

CP CELEBRATION CP dinners celebrate past, inspire future

CHURCH SPOTLIGHT First Baptist Church, New Albany, utilizes free training resource to strengthen cooperative giving

FROM DR. PARKER

I have been deeply encouraged by the wonderful celebration of cooperation I’ve seen this year as we’ve focused on the 100th anniversary of the Cooperative Program. The spirit of cooperation is strong in Mississippi and the evidence of it is the unwavering support of our churches to the CP. The Mississippi Baptist Convention family of churches continues to give generously to the Cooperative Program to support global and national mission partners as well as mission and ministry efforts in Mississippi.

The key to any cooperative movement is trust. If people trust each other, the foundation is solid to work together toward a common cause with laser focus. When trust breaks down, the focus becomes blurred because energy must be redirected to issues other than the overarching mission. I’m thankful for the trust Mississippi Baptists have placed in the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board over decades of work together. I’m even more thankful for godly leaders who have earned this trust through personal integrity and faithfulness to God’s Word.

While trust is foundational, the mission is the compelling focus of our cooperative work. Our mission is quite simply to equip churches to make disciples in Mississippi and around the world. The issue of the age is making disciples of Jesus Christ. He instructed us to do so, and the Holy Spirit empowers us to do it. The work of this mission begins right here in the cities, towns, and communities that we call home.

However, it stretches far beyond the borders of Mississippi to the far reaches of the globe and darkest spiritual corners of the world.

You’ll read in this issue about our grand celebration this past spring of this milestone CP anniversary, in which we gathered and recommitted ourselves to the mission. You’ll also learn how First Baptist Church, New Albany, utilized a resource our Stewardship Department produced to educate people on the nuts and bolts of the Cooperative Program.

I’m prayerful you’ll be inspired and encouraged to add another layer of trust that undergirds the mission.

I’m indeed thankful for your interest in and commitment to the commission of Christ to share the news of His redemptive work with the world. May our Lord bless your generosity and compel you toward the goal of sharing the Gospel with everyone for His glory.

Your fellow servant, Shawn Parker Executive Director-Treasurer, Mississippi Baptist Convention Board

EDITORS TONY MARTIN MEGAN YOUNG CONTENT ADVISOR RICK BLYTHE DESIGNER MEGAN YOUNG LEAD PHOTOGRAPHER BART LAMBRIGHT COPY EDITORS JUDY CHEN AMY MCKAY MARIA TEEL LINDSEY WILLIAMS

CP Connections is published by the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board and is produced to emphasize the cooperative efforts among Mississippi Baptists. The magazine is distributed by mail to each cooperating church and is available in a digital format at mbcb. org/magazine. Any article without attribution is by CP Connections Staff.

Mississippi Baptist Convention Board P.O. Box 530 Jackson, MS 39205 601.968.3800 www.mbcb.org msbaptist@mbcb.org Volume 3, Number 2 © 2025 Mississippi Baptist Convention Board ON THE COVER: The 100th anniversary of the Cooperative Program was celebrated at a dinner hosted by First Baptist Church, Madison.

CONTENTS CP Celebration 2

CP dinners celebrate past, inspire future

Church Spotlight 8 First Baptist Church, New Albany, utilizes free training resource to strengthen cooperative giving

2

Departments 13 2025 Preaching Conference exhorts from the Gospel of Luke 18

Equipping Leaders Weekend delivers Gospel-centered tools to strengthen church outreach

22 Mississippi bivocational pastor honored at SBC Pastors’ Conference

13

25 ‘Garaywa Galaxy Girls’ shine at Mother-Daughter event

Southern Baptist Convention 29 Mississippi Baptist pastors deepen global mission engagement during IMB headquarters visit

CP Information 32

Who benefits from the Cooperative Program?

34 The Cooperative Program is a collective effort 35 Grand Total of Cooperative Program giving in Mississippi 1925-2024 36 Upcoming Events

29

100 YEARS STRONG

BY TONY MARTIN

CP dinners celebrate past, inspire future The Stewardship Department of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board (MBCB) hosted three dinners celebrating 100 years of the Cooperative Program.

The Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) Cooperative Program is a unified giving system designed to collectively support missions, ministries, and educational initiatives at local, national, and global levels. Through contributions from individual churches, the Cooperative Program funds missionary work, theological education, church planting, disaster relief, and other strategic efforts, maximizing the impact of Southern Baptists’ collaborative generosity to effectively spread the Gospel and serve communities around the world.

CP CELEBRATION

"

AS WE GATHERED TO REFLECT ON THE INCREDIBLE IMPACT OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORTS HAVE HAD OVER THE PAST CENTURY, WE WANTED TO EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO THE MISSISSIPPI CHURCHES THAT HAVE FAITHFULLY CONTRIBUTED TO THIS MISSION.

RICK BLYTHE, MBCB STEWARDSHIP DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR 4 | CP CONNECTIONS

CP CELEBRATION

The three dinners were held at First Baptist Church, Oxford, on March 20; First Baptist Church, Biloxi, on April 3; and First Baptist Church, Madison, on April 4.

Four hundred Mississippi Baptists from every region participated, with 162 churches, 16 Associational Mission Strategists, three agencies, and one institution (Blue Mountain Christian University) represented.

“The Cooperative Program dinners celebrating 100 years of the Cooperative Program serve as a vital reminder of our shared commitment to supporting Gospel ministry through voluntary cooperation,” said Rick Blythe, director of the Stewardship Department. “As we gathered to reflect on the incredible impact our collective efforts have had over the past century, we wanted to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Mississippi churches that have faithfully contributed to this mission.”

Jeff Iorg, President/CEO of the SBC Executive Committee, was the keynote speaker at each of the dinners.

Iorg (who insisted on being called “Jeff”), said “We cooperate because it works. While other denominations have strained to produce top-down loyalty through control, or they have experienced doctrinal drift because power was vested in a heretical few or they have demanded financial support through assessments, or they have struggled to produce leaders loyal to their movement, our cooperative efforts have excelled in these areas because of cooperation for more than 175 years.

“My friends, we cooperate because cooperation works, producing supernatural spiritual results which reflect God’s power and grace and favor on our movement,” Iorg continued. "The examples of this are evident to anyone who will honestly look at the data at hand. Did you know that on a typical Sunday morning, more than 4 million people gather voluntarily in Southern Baptist churches for worship, and about two and a half million of them also come for Sunday school in a church building on a Sunday morning?”

FALL 2025 | 5

" CP CELEBRATION

IF YOU THINK TONIGHT IS ABOUT THE COOPERATIVE PROGRAM, YOU HAVE MISSED THE MESSAGE...

Iorg went on to note: • Six million people participate annually in some kind of regular Bible study using curriculum provided by Lifeway.

• 144,000 children and teenagers attended camps sponsored by Lifeway, with 3,500 conversions and 1500 teenagers saying that they felt God was calling them into ministry leadership.

• 2,500 children received residential care from Baptist children’s homes, facilitating more than 5,000 children into foster care, helping nearly 200,000 mothers in crisis ministry, and facilitating over 600 adoptions.

• In a typical year, more than 200,000 students are enrolled in more than 50 Southern Baptist affiliated colleges and universities.

• Southern Baptist seminaries and the colleges they support enroll more than 22,000 students. Depending on the year, all six of them are ranked one of the 10 or 11 largest seminaries in the nation.

• Baptist collegiate ministries involve more than 400,000 students on more than 600 campuses.

More than 5,000 conversions were reported, with almost 10,000 students participating in shortterm mission projects.

• Guidestone Financial Resources manages more than $20 billion in total assets and has the largest religious retirement program in the world.

• Southern Baptists in 47,000 churches will con-

6 | CP CONNECTIONS

tribute more than $10 billion through tithes and offerings to local churches.

• Out of those resources, about $450 million or more of that will be given to the Cooperative Program. About $190 million of that will end up in Nashville to be distributed to our national ministry entities.

“Because of national Cooperative Program gifts, we have the largest mission sending agency, the largest domestic church planting movement in North America, the largest single seminary and the largest seminary system in the United States and likely the

CP CELEBRATION

world,” Iorg said. “The depth and breadth of these organizations represents the cumulative impact of almost two centuries of cooperation and the direct impact of a hundred years of Cooperative Program giving by Southern Baptists.”

“If you think tonight is about the last 100 years of the Cooperative Program, we have failed in our mission tonight,” said Shawn Parker, Executive Director-Treasurer, MBCB. “Tonight is not about the last 100 years, but tonight is about the next 100 years. If

you think tonight is about the Cooperative Program, you have missed the message. Tonight is not about the Cooperative Program. Tonight is about the Great Commission. If you think tonight is about money, you have missed the message. The message tonight is not about money, it’s about mission. And I’m convinced when we understand these things, there’ll be no doubt that the next 100 years will be as bright as the last and the impact of the ripple will be felt around the world. May it be so for His glory.”

“As we look ahead, the urgency to pass the baton to the next generation of young pastors and leaders becomes increasingly clear,” said Blythe. “The future of our mission rests in equipping and empowering these individuals to carry forward the vision of the Cooperative Program. By investing in their growth and development, we not only honor the past but also ensure that the transformative power of the Gospel reaches even further in the years to come.

Let us remain steadfast in our dedication, fostering an atmosphere that encourages passion among our younger leaders. Together, we can continue to impact lives for Christ, ensuring that our collective mission endures for the next 100 years and beyond.”

...TONIGHT IS NOT ABOUT THE COOPERATIVE PROGRAM. TONIGHT IS ABOUT THE GREAT COMMISSION. SHAWN PARKER, MBCB EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-TREASURER FALL 2025 | 7

Q& CP TRAINING KIT

with Andrew Chesteen

8 | CP CONNECTIONS

CHURCH SPOTLIGHT

First Baptist Church, New Albany, utilizes free training resource to strengthen cooperative giving When First Baptist Church, New Albany, received the Cooperative Program (CP) Training Kit, it wasn’t just another resource — it was a catalyst for deeper engagement, renewed commitment, and an opportunity to connect the congregation to the broader mission of Southern Baptists in a tangible, transformative way. In this interview with Cooperative Program Connections Magazine, pastor Andrew Chesteen shares how the CP Training Kit sparked meaningful conversations and fortified their resolve to give generously and cooperatively for the glory of God.

Chesteen

Cooperative Program Connections Magazine (CPCM): When you first received the CP Training Kit, what stood out to you about its presentation or packaging? How easy was it to understand the content and know where to begin?

Andrew Chesteen (AC): The kit was put together well in its packaging and in its format.

Having the messaging on the cover (Give Locally, Impact Globally) was attractive, informative, and compelling. Seeing the USB drive let me know that all the needed resources were going to be easily accessible. The content was simple and straightforward to understand.

We were encouraged to see faces of people we know and trust contributing to the videos.

CPCM: How did you incorporate the materials into your church’s rhythms, whether on Sundays, in small groups, or leadership settings? What parts of the kit did you find most helpful or pastor-friendly?

AC: We utilized the CP Training Kit during our Sunday evening services in February. In each service, I shared a biblical principle that introduced that particular training video, then we watched the video, and I concluded by connecting the video directly to our congregation.

FALL 2025 | 9

CHURCH SPOTLIGHT

I believe the training kit deepened our church’s resolve to continue giving generously through the Cooperative Program. We currently give 10.5% of our undesignated receipts through CP. While I do not expect that percentage to increase, our congregation is even more fortified in our unwillingness to decrease our commitments to CP giving.

One of the neat aspects of the training kit for FBC New Albany was our connection to Blue Mountain Christian University. Dr. Barbara McMillin, President of BMCU, is an active church member here.

During one of the Sunday night services, I invited her to speak about the ways the CP impacts the mission of BMCU. Having her share her testimony was a powerful way of connecting the impact of the CP to a local ministry near to our hearts.

The discussion questions provided in the training kit were especially helpful for me in guiding how I introduced the training videos and connected the training to our congregation.

CPCM: How did your congregation respond to the CP materials? Have you noticed any shift in their understanding or enthusiasm for the Cooperative Program? Is there a specific "lightbulb" moment or story that stands out from using the kit?

AC: Our congregation responded very well to the training. Congregants appreciated the information that expanded their comprehension of CP, the clear connection of the CP to our local church, and the countless ways our CP giving has impact locally, nationally, and globally. We are a CP church! The training kit encouraged us to continue forward in our cooperative efforts with our sister Southern Baptist and Mississippi Baptist churches. Congregants recognized how our giving is able to contribute to the advancement of God’s Kingdom in the world to exponential heights because we are giving together with sister churches!

CPCM: Some pastors may have a CP Training Kit sitting on their shelf — what would you say to encourage them to open it and use it? How might this resource help churches of all sizes or in different ministry contexts?

AC: I would encourage pastors to utilize the CP

Use the CP Training Kit to lead your church through a study of the Cooperative Program.

1

2

3

ENGAGE

EQUIP

EMPOWER

Gather a variety of diverse age groups within your church family to gain a better understanding of the broad impact of the Cooperative Program.

Utilize the Cooperative Program Training Kit to teach the effectiveness of working together towards a shared mission.

By giving locally, you are partnering with other Mississippi Baptist churches to impact your community, state, nation, and the world with the Gospel.

COOPERATIVE PROGRAM TRAINING KIT

This is where you come in. By utilizing the Cooperative Program Training Kit, your church can play a pivotal role in educating the next generation about the Cooperative Program's significance.

By giving generously, your congregation can be assured that their contributions are instrumental in advancing God's work.

9205

Training Kit in their churches and for their leaders because it will enhance their comprehension, appreciation, and commitment to giving through the CP for the advancement of God’s Kingdom. The testimonies and insights gained through the videos were insightful and impactful to me as a pastor and to our congregation.

Churches of various sizes and contexts will benefit from this resource. Normative churches will be reminded and encouraged to see some of the many ways their giving, no matter how much, is having a local, national, and global impact through the CP! Larger churches that might view cooperative work as unnecessary would be reminded of how their faithful cooperation assists small churches in doing large work as well as enabling larger churches to be a part of even greater Kingdom work! The CP is an invitation to cooperation where the primary benefit belongs to the Kingdom, not to the church. The church will benefit through mutual cooperation in theological education, ministry training and resources, missions connections, and many other means. However, the primary benefit of CP goes beyond our churches to the Kingdom. CP giving is a way churches model and experience the teaching of Jesus: “It is more blessed to give

GIVE LOCALLY IMPACT GLOBALLY

b.org

CHURCH SPOTLIGHT

than to receive” (Acts 20:35). When we give together through the CP, our churches get to be a part of what God is accomplishing close to home, throughout our nation, and around the world that will result in His eternal praise in ways we cannot begin to imagine!

CPCM: In what ways did the CP Training Kit help the next generations better understand and engage with the Cooperative Program and enlighten them as to the impact of CP? Would you use the kit again in the future?

AC: The CP Training Kit gave the next generation in our church a compelling introduction to what God is accomplishing through our work as Southern Baptists. In an age of increasing individualism and isolation, we need fresh reminders of the goodness and the wisdom in cooperative work among our sister Southern Baptist and Mississippi Baptist churches.

The next generation must be introduced, instructed, and inspired to give away our resources with trust in God to use our resources to bring Himself great glory.

In the right avenue and time, we would use the CP Training Kit again in the future.

Cooperative Program Training Kit Contents include: • Leader Guide • Flash Drive – One-session video training – Four-session video training – Accompanying study guides – Other resources • Cooperative Program Brochure For more information about this FREE resource, visit mbcb.org/cp

CHURCH SPOTLIGHT

Higher education with a higher purpose.

Mississippi College has a 200-year legacy of integrating deep Christian faith with the highest academic achievement. Here, you’ll be inspired to reach higher. To push yourself further. To discover the person God created you to be.

Here, you rise.

SCAN FOR MORE INFO.

mc.edu/BaptistConnections

©2025 Mississippi College. All Rights Reserved.

DEPARTMENTS

2025 Preaching Conference exhorts from the Gospel of Luke

BY LINDSEY WILLIAMS

In an upturned world where people rush to addictions, distractions and politicians in a desperate search for peace, the pulpit and the pew must focus on the only source and solution: Jesus.

At the 2025 Preaching Conference — a three-day event held in three locations across Mississippi — presenters from the state’s three Baptist universities led attending pastors through a seminary-level, oneday study of the Gospel of Luke. The conference welcomed about 130 attendees in total, not including the students who visited the on-campus lectures.

Dr. Joseph Bird, dean of the Cooper School of Missions and Ministry Studies at William Carey University, presented on the background and setting of the book, offering necessary context for interpretation. Dr. Wayne VanHorn, professor in the Department of Christian Studies at Mississippi College, addressed theological themes and issues within Luke that help form a broader picture of Christ’s life, death and resurrection. Dr. Thomas Magers, assistant professor of biblical studies at Blue Mountain Christian University, offered 114 FALL 2025 | 13

DEPARTMENTS

sermonic approaches to preaching and teaching the Gospel of Luke.

“What I love about these guys,” said John Pace, director of the Leadership Department at the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, “is that they are not just professors and scholars. All three of them are pastors.

“Dr. Joseph Bird is not only dean at WCU, he is a pastor at Leaf River Baptist Church outside of Collins. For Dr. Magers, his lecture is bittersweet for us because Thomas has been a great professor at BMCU, but recently, he took the call at Ingomar Baptist Church in New Albany. Thomas is already there as their pastor, but he will finish out the semester before serving full time. Then Dr. VanHorn has served as interim pastor at Standing Pine Baptist Church in Leake County for almost five years now. So all three of these guys are not only teaching in our schools, they are also pastoring in our churches.”

“I was always excited to come and participate in the state Preaching Conference,” Bird said. “And now I’m always excited to be able to present the last several years. It has been such a joy. I appreciate Dr. Pace for letting us do this.

“One of the things I love about being Southern Baptist — and we’re not perfect, as you know —

"There is something uniquely precious about the Gospels...

In them we find the life of our Lord: His teachings, His perfectly righteous life, that He died, He resurrected, He ascended, and it never gets old. It is this perfect treasure that never wears down and never gets rusty.”

DR. JOSEPH BIRD, DEAN OF THE COOPER SCHOOL OF MISSIONS AND MINISTRY STUDIES AT WILLIAM CAREY UNIVERSITY

but one thing I love is that we are very clear in the Baptist Faith and Message that the Bible is a perfect treasure. I love that language; that it is truly inspired.

“We believe that everything in Scripture is breathed out by God,” said Bird. “So that means we could do these studies on any book and it would be beneficial. But I will say this: There is something uniquely precious about the Gospels. Again, we love all the Scripture, but I never get far from the Gospels. In them we find the life of our Lord: His teachings, His perfectly righteous life, that He died, He resurrected, He ascended, and it never gets old.

It is this perfect treasure that never wears down and never gets rusty.”

“I love this annual Preaching Conference,” said VanHorn. “I love the fact that we have professors from all three of our Baptist universities, and the message of that is we’re not competing against

“I love this annual Preaching Conference. I love the fact that we have professors from all three of our Baptist universities, and the message of that is we’re not competing against each other. We’re working with each other.

Christ expects us to be one together, even as He and the Father are one."

DR. WAYNE VANHORN, PROFESSOR IN THE DEPARTMENT OF CHRISTIAN STUDIES AT MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE

each other. We’re working with each other. I have been in higher education since 1985, and every year that passes by, I thank God for Christian higher education, but I see the need for it more and more. There are weird ideas coming out of secular universities, but we have to stand for God’s truth.

So I am not going to see my brothers as the enemy or the competition. It’s all hands on deck. Christ expects us to be one together, even as He and the Father are one.

“What is Luke’s theology? It is Christocentric; it focuses on Christ,” VanHorn said. “When you preach through any of the four Gospels, it is Christocentric. I preach through a Gospel every single December through Easter. It keeps us focused on Christ, but it is in service to theocentric theology: Everything is about God, and Jesus keeps doing what? Pointing us to the Father.

“God is glorified and magnified as Jesus is re-

ceived in honor. Jesus says, ‘You have seen Me, you have seen the Father. I don’t do My works; I do the works of Him Who sent Me. The words I speak are the words of the One Who sent Me.’ Jesus is God’s answer to the question: How can sinners approach a holy God? In Colossians 1:18, Paul said that God has made it that in all things, Christ would have the first place in everything.”

Stepping in for Dr. Ronald Meeks, who had a trip scheduled during the conference, Magers not only shared hundreds of sermon notes but also offered a personal testimony that reflected a God-orchestrated change.

Twenty years ago, Magers — a maintenance worker, husband and new father — was hopelessly addicted to a variety of drugs. After his wife left with their infant son to live with her parents, he recognized the gravity of his downward spiral and checked into a rehab clinic. One night, after an argument with his wife over the phone, Magers begged God that he “just needed to hear from Him.” Not knowing where to turn, he opened a Bible to Luke 15, which contains the three parables of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the Prodigal Son. “After reading that story,” Magers said, “I hit my FALL 2025 | 15

DEPARTMENTS

knees and I prayed, ‘Lord, if You will take this away from me, I’ll do whatever You want me to do.’ It was a 911 prayer, and the Lord was good and faithful to me to pick me up out of the mire that I had been in.

“If that was all He had done, it would be worth it. I spent my son’s first birthday in rehab, but from the time I got out of rehab and came back, I have just been trying to live and follow through with the vow I made to the Lord that day. Through the goodness and the graciousness of God, I’m still married to her. What a blessing that this upcoming year we will celebrate 22 years of being married.

That’s what God does: God heals us and then He brings restoration to our life. I’ve gotten to see my son grow up and I’ve not missed a birthday since.

“Back during the fall semester when Dr. Meeks asked me to teach, he said, ‘Thomas, it looks like I’m going to be in Greece when they are giving this preaching conference; would you want to do it?’

My first question was, ‘Well, what book is it? This is a lot of work to do.’ Then he said, ‘It is going to be the Gospel of Luke.’ Immediately, I said, ‘Yes, I’ll be glad to do that.’

“I was more than willing to jump in on this because that’s what the Word of God does: It meets us where we are and then it changes our life. The pow-

"...that’s what the Word of God does: It meets us where we are and then it changes our life.

The power of the Word of God, the power of the Gospel, the foolishness of preaching, all of that comes together, and lives are changed because of the preaching of the Word of God. " DR. THOMAS MAGERS, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF BIBLICAL STUDIES AT BLUE MOUNTAIN CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

er of the Word of God, the power of the Gospel, the foolishness of preaching, all of that comes together, and lives are changed because of the preaching of the Word of God. “To preach the Word of God is not a burden. It is a blessing that God allows us to do. Whether it be behind the pulpit or whether it be in a Bible study or in a Sunday school class or on a Wednesday night, whatever it may be — we get to share the Word of God. I just can’t believe it that the Lord has brought me from where I was 20 years ago to where I am now, that people pay me to study the Word of God and then to talk about the Word of God! I’m living the dream.”

Your gifts to the Cooperative Program help provide resources for Mississippi Bpatist pastors and ministers. For more information contact Elizabeth Lindigrin-Hancock at elindigrin@mbcb.org.

FALL 2025 | 17

Equipping Leaders Weekend delivers Gospel-centered tools to strengthen church outreach

BY LINDSEY WILLIAMS

On Aug. 22–23 at Brandon Baptist Church, the Equipping Leaders Weekend left a lasting mark on many ministries. Leaders came away with practical tools, fresh ideas and Christ-centered encouragement. Sessions covered men’s, women’s, multicultural, children’s and youth ministries, as well as missions and WMU circles. Speakers emphasized that the Gospel provides the foundation for addressing each area of ministry, urging attendees to embrace evangelism and discipleship in daily life.

Discipling to evangelize Former IMB missionaries Greg and Abby Wilton 18 | CP CONNECTIONS

led a session on equipping the local church in evangelism.

“This is important for us to grasp as leaders: ‘Don’t go out of your way to witness. Make witnessing your way,’” said Greg Wilton, dean of Leavell College and pastor of Gentilly Baptist Church in New Orleans.

“You and I have to be the kind of people that see every aspect of our lives as an opportunity to share our faith. We have to be encouraging and helping our members to do the same.”

The Wiltons shared a simple method: move from casual conversations to spiritual ones, then to Gospel conversations.

DEPARTMENTS

“This is important for us to grasp as leaders: ‘Don’t go out of your way to witness. Make witnessing your way.'

You and I have to be the kind of people that see every aspect of our lives as an opportunity to share our faith."

GREG WILTON, DEAN OF LEAVELL COLLEGE AND PASTOR OF GENTILLY BAPTIST CHURCH IN NEW ORLEANS

FALL 2025 | 19

“This annual event accentuates that we’re all in for discipleship together. If we’re going to grow the church, we must influence the next generation of leaders.”

BILLY MOREHEAD, FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, JACKSON

“Some people don’t share the Gospel because they don’t even know where to begin,” Wilton said.

“To go from casual to spiritual conversations, be a spiritual person in your language. Let’s not be ashamed of saying, ‘Praise the Lord’ or ‘Praying for you’ if we mean it.

“Every Gospel conversation is a spiritual conversation, but not every spiritual conversation is a Gospel conversation. A church invitation is good, but only Jesus saves. We should aim for Gospel conversations because we care about people’s eternity.”

Evangelizing to disciple In another session, attendees received two free resources from the national Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU). One was "The Good News According to John," part of a campaign with the publisher of the Reasonable Bible to put copies into as many hands as possible.

Sandy Wisdom-Martin, executive director-treasurer of the national WMU, recalled how God prompted her to distribute 100 copies personally.

“I’m not telling you this to point out what I’m doing, 20 | CP CONNECTIONS

DEPARTMENTS

because I didn’t want to do it,” she said. “I’m pointing it out to tell you a work that God is doing in my life in spite of my reluctance. Now I can’t wait to give out His Word.”

The second resource, "50 Steps with Jesus," is a 50day discipleship tool. “When new believers finish '50 Steps with Jesus,' they will have a solid foundation for the rest of their lives,” Wisdom-Martin said.

Encouraged and equipped Leaders chose six of 28 breakout sessions, and many said they left refreshed.

“Every session I attended was good,” said Ann Stone, Mississippi WMU officer and member of Mantee Baptist Church. “I enjoy coming every year because it gives you a fresh start to think about what you’re going to do with ministry.”

“I picked up a lot of great information from the cross-cultural sessions,” said Roy Callahan of First Baptist Church, Florence. “I learned new things and

was refreshed on what I’d heard before. I give it an A+!”

Heather Knight of The Springs Church in Collins said Alicia Wong’s session on men’s and women’s roles “blew me away. It was like she knew my questions and answered them before I asked.”

Others highlighted ideas for youth ministry, practical WMU resources, and encouragement for Royal Ambassadors leaders.

“This annual event accentuates that we’re all in for discipleship together,” said Billy Morehead of First Baptist Church, Jackson. “If we’re going to grow the church, we must influence the next generation of leaders.”

The Equipping Leaders Weekend is co-sponsored by the MBCB WMU/Women's Ministres and Discipleship/ Sunday School Ministries. Your gifts to the Cooperative Program help support both departments. Learn more by emailing Tammy Anderson at tanderson@mbcb. org or Dwayne Parker at dparker@mbcb.org.

THE BAPTIST CHILDREN’S VILLAGE MISSISSIPPI 2025 TAX CREDIT FOR BUSINESSES, MARRIED COUPLES AND SINGLE INDIVIDUALS Your can help provide homes, food, education, and medical care for at-risk children and families in Mississippi.

This is not a charitable deduction. This is a tax credit.

Who can Apply for an Allocation of Credit: Business Taxpayers (Corporations, Partnerships, Limited Liability Companies, and Sole Proprietorships), married couples, and single individuals.

Tax Credit: Businesses, married couples, and single individuals can receive a dollar-for-dollar reduction in their MS state income taxes, Insurance Premium taxes, Insurance Premium Retaliation tax or ad valorem tax. The amount of the reduction is up to half of your tax bill. If you do not use the tax credit in one year, you do not lose it. You can take the credit over the next five (5) years immediately following your gift.

Limitations: Contributions cannot be used for other state charitable credits and cannot be used as a deduction for state income tax purposes.

Scan for Step-by-Step Instructions

Your Tax Liability . . . Give it to the Government . . . or Give it to Change Children's Lives.

For more information about application deadlines contact Tim McWilliams at tmcwilliams@bcvms.com or 601.952.2422

DEPARTMENTS

Mississippi bivocational pastor honored at SBC Pastors’ Conference

BY MEGAN YOUNG

Mississippi pastor Jonathan Poe was chosen to represent bivocational pastors statewide onstage during the 2025 SBC Pastors’ Conference in Dallas on June 9.

Pastors’ Conference president D.J. Horton, pastor of Church at the Mill in Spartanburg, S.C., asked every state convention to provide the name of one bivocational pastor from their state to be recognized.

“It’s an honor, a true honor,” said Poe, pastor of Bolton Baptist Church. “There’s a lot of good guys serving as bivocational pastors across Mississippi. I really feel unworthy to be the one to stand and represent compared to some of the guys I know. So it is a true honor.”

Poe, who also works full-time running a tree removal company and farm, recognizes that the work of bivocational pastors historically has been undervalued. He notes that bivocational-led churches are commonly perceived as “just not there yet,” but chooses to draw inspiration and encouragement from biblical examples such as Paul, who also 22 | CP CONNECTIONS

DEPARTMENTS

served in bivocational roles.

Far from viewing his bivocational ministry as a challenge, Poe believes that his full-time job outside the church actually bolsters his connection to his congregation.

“When I speak on Wednesday night and I look out over my people, they’re tired from working all day and I’m tired from working all day. And so they can relate to that and I really enjoy it.”

As part of the recognition service, each state convention director joined the men on stage and prayed for them and the other bivocational pastors they represented back home.

“I’m glad Jonathan Poe was among those honored for his service at Bolton Baptist Church,” said Shawn Parker, Mississippi Baptist Convention Board executive director-treasurer. “His recognition is well-deserved and highlights the wonderful slate of bivocational leaders among Mississippi Baptists.

“These men are often overlooked and underappreciated, but they truly are the backbone of Southern Baptist life.”

After the time of prayer, each bivocational pastor was honored with a surprise trip to Israel, courtesy of Signature Tours.

“I wasn’t expecting the gift,” said Poe. “I know it’s amazing to be able to get to go to Israel. I tried to go when I was in college and just wasn’t able to. So it’s really a blessing.”

When asked about his church community, Poe emphasized their efforts to pour into the next generation by ministering to children in the Bolton area.

“I just want to make sure if they’re in my community, that when they leave as an adult, they are prepared biblically to go out into the world,” said Poe. Shawn Parker (second from right) prays for Jonathan Poe (third from right) on stage at the 2025 SBC Pastors' Conference in Dallas.

Your gifts to the Cooperative Program help support bivocational ministry throughout Mississippi. For more information contact Elizabeth Lindigrin-Hancock at elindigrin@mbcb.org.

FALL 2025 | 23

DEPARTMENTS

24 | CP CONNECTIONS

DEPARTMENTS

‘Garaywa Galaxy Girls’ shine at MotherDaughter event

BY LINDSEY WILLIAMS

Every year at Garaywa Camp and Conference Center, mothers and daughters stop and smell the roses together, count blessings, make memories, and, most importantly, know and love the Lord more during Mother-Daughter Weekend. On April 4-5, moms and daughters viewed each other through the “telescope” of God’s love for them.

“Our theme was Psalm 19:1, ‘The Heavens Declare the Glory of God’,” said Tammy Anderson, executive director-treasurer of Women’s Ministries and Woman’s Missionary Union at the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board. “Mother-Daughter Weekend is designed to help moms and daughters create lifelong memories and strengthen communication in a relaxed environment. A lot of spiritual growth takes place when moms and daughters are laughing and having fun together.”

Decorated with shining stars and paper planets, the spacious campsite delighted attendees, as did the ever-bright presence of the Garaywa staff and planning crew. “Everything we did this weekend,” Anderson affirmed, “was to point these girls to the truth that we as humans are not only a part of God’s FALL 2025 | 25

DEPARTMENTS

creation, we are the pinnacle of His creation. If stars and rocks and flowers can glorify God, how much more responsibility and privilege do we have to glorify Him?” Within the first day, daughters earned the title “Garaywa Galaxy Girls” or “G3,” signifying “Girls Glorifying God.” Keynote speaker Catherine Inman, Lifeway Women and Girl’s Ministry specialist, spoke on “Created to Shine: Reflecting God’s Glory in your Life.” The Garaywa Galaxy Girls learned what it meant to reflect God’s glory through true friendships, modesty balanced with personality, and serving others.

After worship Friday, participants enjoyed four activity rotations. At the camp store, galaxy girls bought Garaywa swag. In another rotation, they designed friendship bracelets reflecting on true friendships and the importance of Christian friends. They participated in “Glamor Girls,” applying sugar scrubs and fingernail stickers to consider modesty while having fun. Lastly, mothers and daughters made birthday cards for missionary kids 26 | CP CONNECTIONS

around the world. Friday ended with Moon Pies and stargazing.

Saturday morning began with devotionals for moms and daughters to pray and read Scripture together. Four breakout sessions followed, including a low ropes course that encouraged daughters to overcome barriers while mothers attended a moms-only session led by Inman on raising godly girls amidst cultural obstacles. A third session featured Kay Bennett, former North American Mission Board missionary from Baptist Friendship House in New Orleans, who taught spiritual disciplines and evangelism. The final breakout was a scriptural scavenger hunt exploring God’s creation.

Planning team members Amanda Kilpatrick and her 10-year-old daughter, Addy, exemplified servant-heartedness. Addy shared her missional testimony. Amanda Kilpatrick said, “Addy recently traveled to Canada with a mission team from our home church, Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Brookhaven. I was so excited for her to have the opportunity to go, and then to have this opportunity at Mother-Daughter to

DEPARTMENTS

share with many other young ladies about the mission trip.”

Amanda reflected, “Prior to Mother-Daughter weekend, Addy had never shared in a large group setting before, so to see her willing to speak in front of more than 200 people, that was encouraging for me. I’m thankful the Lord gave her this opportunity and the courage to do it.”

Addy shared, “We went to help International Mission Board missionaries with their ministries to the Persian people in their community. While we were there, we helped with a food pantry ministry, went prayer-walking, and handed out the Gospel of Luke around town.” Addy recalled being nervous but felt calm once on stage.

Mother-Daughter attendees Haylee Robinson and her daughter Whitlee also experienced an impactful weekend. “I watched Whitlee step out of her comfort zone…boldly praise the Lord,” expressed Haylee.

“She told me, ‘Mama, wanna know why I’m crying?

Because this is the best day ever!’”

New Garaywa program director Hannah Counts

reflected, “Mother-Daughter Weekend was my first Garaywa event…It was so special to witness these moms spend intentional quality time with their girls.

This weekend reminded me how sweet camp is!”

At the end of the weekend, mothers and daughters completed a five-part covenant about love, faith, communication, prayer, and encouragement, culminating in mothers praying over their daughters and presenting handwritten letters.

Amanda concluded with gratitude: “A big thankyou to Tammy Anderson, her ministry assistant Amy Massey, Mississippi Baptists who give to Margaret Lackey and the Cooperative Program to fund Camp Garaywa, the planning team, college staffers, Garaywa staff, and all who attended! Soli Deo Gloria!"

Garaywa Camp & Conference Center and its programs are supported in part by your gifts to the Cooperative Program. Mother-Daughter Weekends are scheduled every spring and fall. For more information, visit garaywa.org/events or contact Hannah Counts at hcounts@garaywa.org.

FALL 2025 | 27

DEPARTMENTS

28 | CP CONNECTIONS

SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION

Mississippi Baptist pastors deepen global mission engagement during IMB headquarters visit

BY TANNER CADE

Through the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board’s Missions Mobilization department, nine pastors trekked to Richmond, Virginia, for a Vision Journey at the headquarters of the International Mission Board.

Vision Journeys are regularly planned all over the world through the leadership of Chad McCord, director of the Missions Mobilization department, but this particular trip posed a unique opportunity

to visit the missional sending arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. Though each pastor attending was aware of the task of the IMB, talking face-toface with missionaries currently training, along with multiple question-and-answer moments with IMB staff, led to an invaluable experience that further defined the importance of cooperatively working together to fulfill the Great Commission.

The majority of the three-day journey took place FALL 2025 | 29

at IMB’s International Learning Center (ILC), where IMB staff help to train and send missionary units, to provide care for field personnel, and to conduct meetings with partners.

“I don’t think Southern Baptists realize how much our cooperation means to each other,” said Mark Stevens, who directs new missionary training.

Stevens led a session with the team about his area of responsibility overseeing missionary training and a deeper discussion opened about the “member care” offered by IMB. “Healthy support of missionaries is a triangular effort,” added Chris Derry, the church and campus engagement director. “We are church-centric from the very beginning in sending to planting overseas.

As we send out missionaries from our churches through the IMB there is a healthy responsibility of care from the IMB home office, the team on the ground, and the sending church.”

“You’re only here for a couple of days but we hope you are getting a healthy, missional, mark on your heart that you will never forget,” stated Chris Martin, director of convention strategies.

30 | CP CONNECTIONS

McCord’s goal of allowing the pastors the chance to hear more about the in-depth structure of the IMB was quickly delivered when boots hit the ground on the campus. The IMB staff keyed in on various discussions including our partnership together, global realities and lostness, inspiring church members, and other questions pastors had at the time.

“This was my hope, that we would come into this and let you guys take a deep dive,” said McCord.

“But, also, you can gain a deeper trust with the IMB to know that our missionaries are being well taken care of in the field.”

The Mississippi team ate meals in the dining hall alongside missionaries, stayed in ILC housing, met with several IMB staff, attended affinity committee meetings, and toured the ILC and main office properties.

A highlight of the schedule allowed the team to

SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION

meet two missionary units from Mississippi currently being trained at ILC. Regularly, Mississippians are being called to full-time missions and walking through the orientation process, but rarely are pastors able to pray face-to-face with them in the midst of their sending process.

“One of the most important things I’ve seen," shared Matt Olson, pastor of First Baptist Church, Sharon, "is the importance of teamwork and cooperation — to hear from our missionaries from Mississippi about how important it is for Cooperative Program giving, but also knowing there are individuals praying for them from all over the states.”

“I’ve been a Southern Baptist my whole life and I am learning stuff today that I never knew existed,” expressed Bradley Baker, associational missions strategist for Union County Baptist Association.

Though the trip only allowed the team to be at IMB for less than 48 hours, each hour included helpful knowledge and testimony each pastor could then take home to their congregations. In fact, multiple times within the visit, IMB personnel stressed the need for missionaries in a variety of professional skill sets. Doctors, accountants, coders, educators, designers, farmers, and many other areas of skills can

potentially be an open missionary position overseas.

“So often when we think about the IMB and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering our minds are solely focused on our missionaries all around the world, and rightly so,” noted Jason Perault, pastor at Union Baptist Church in Clarke County. “This trip to the ILC helped me see beyond that to all of those involved in the infrastructure that helps send, support, care for, and sustain our missionaries. It was a privilege to see the work behind the scenes that prepares and keeps our missionaries focused on their calling.”

“This week I was able to see how Southern Baptists through the International Mission Board have been uniquely positioned by the sovereignty of God to train, send, and care for missionaries all over the world,” concluded John Mark Jarrett, senior pastor at Flat Rock Baptist Church in Benton County. “It truly was a blessed week!”

Vision Journeys through Missions Mobilization are funded through the Cooperative Program. Learn more by emailing Mississions Mobilization director Chad McCord at cmccord@mbcb.org.

FALL 2025 | 31

CP INFORMATION

Who benefits from the Cooperative Program?

The Pastor

n Disability and life insurance for pastors of churches who give through the Cooperative Program n Preaching Conferences at Blue Mountain Christian University, Mississippi College, and William Carey University n Ministry Transition assistance when you sense the Lord is calling you to a new position n Church Related Vocation Students at Blue Mountain Christian University, Mississippi College, and William Carey University receive financial assistance n Financial Representative consultant to help navigate retirement and insurance needs

The Church

n Free consultants to help your church with discipleship, Sunday School, worship, children/youth, conflict resolution, men’s ministry, women’s ministry, church leadership, multicultural ministries, stewardship, prayer, disaster relief and much more n Evangelism and Missions strategists n Church Planting assistance n Training events, conferences, and networking opportunities for all church leaders n Pastor Search Committee resources n Missions Mobilization Vision Trips help connect you with missionaries for future partnerships 32 | CP CONNECTIONS

2025

Cooperative Program Budget 2025 Budget

% of Total

MISSISSIPPI BAPTIST CONVENTION BOARD Baptist Record Business Services Capital Needs Church Planting/Revitalization Collegiate Ministries Communication Services Computer Information Services Convention & Convention Comm.

Disaster Relief Discipleship/Sunday School Evangelism Executive Administration Financial Services Human Resources Leadership Missions Mobilization Multicultural Ministries Stewardship/Prayer Ministries Strategy Office WMU/Women’s Ministries of MS Worship Ministries Subtotal

The Kingdom

n 3,500+ International Mission Board missionaries who annually report more than 175,000 decisions for Christ n 1,000+ new congregations planted in the U.S. and Canada through the North American Mission Board n Disaster Relief provides meals, resources, and funding to those affected by natural disasters n Theological education through six seminaries and many Bible colleges n Provides the hope of Jesus to children and families in crisis through the Baptist Children’s Village n Baptist Student Union serves students on 29 Mississippi college campuses n Each summer, 3,600 participants hear the Gospel at Garaywa Camp and Conference Center and Central Hills Baptist Retreat

$275,213 $435,275 $627,567 $406,121 $2,431,897 $442,824 $259,917 $125,850 $318,375 $1,035,754 $396,710 $503,205 $361,207 $304,772 $369,906 $438,269 $236,974 $261,588 $387,951 $549,007 $435,954 $10,604,336

0.89% 1.41% 2.03% 1.31% 7.87% 1.43% 0.84% 0.41% 1.03% 3.35% 1.28% 1.63% 1.17% 0.99% 1.20% 1.42% 0.77% 0.85% 1.26% 1.78% 1.41% 34.33%

MISSISSIPPI AGENCIES AND INSTITUTIONS Mississippi College William Carey University Blue Mountain Christian Univ.

Board of Ministerial Education Education Commission Baptist Children’s Village Mississippi Baptist Foundation Christian Action Commission Historical Commission Subtotal

$2,142,849 $2,474,407 $1,019,687 $380,500 $50,373 $758,306 $392,150 $320,162 $120,839 $7,659,273

6.94% 8.01% 3.30% 1.23% 0.16% 2.45% 1.27% 1.04% 0.39% 24.79%

CHURCH RETIREMENT AND PROTECTION Subtotal

$425,000

1.38%

SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION International Mission Board North American Mission Board Theological Education SBC Operating Ethics & Religious Liberty Comm.

Subtotal

$6,150,869 $2,780,772 $2,703,887 $364,845 $201,343 $12,201,716

19.91% 9.00% 8.75% 1.18% 0.65% 39.50%

Total CP Budget

$30,890,325

100.00%

CP INFORMATION

The Cooperative Program is a collective effort The Cooperative Program enables the 2,100 churches of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board to combine their financial resources, allowing for a more significant impact in disciple-making efforts both in Mississippi and globally. By uniting churches in this collective effort, the Cooperative Program strengthens the overall mission of making disciples and fulfilling the Great Commission.

Every dollar your church gives to the Cooperative Program supports the work of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board and the Southern Baptist Convention, which in turn trains pastors, sends missionaries, plants new churches, and strengthens existing churches. Let’s Work Together to Make Disciples in Mississippi and Around the World!

19 70

65 19

60 19

55 19

50 19

45 19

40 19

35 19

30 19

19

25

LEARN MORE Scan the QR code with your smartphone or go to www.mbcb.org/cp

CP INFORMATION

$35 M

$30 M

$25 M

Grand total of Cooperative Program giving in Mississippi 1925-2024

$20 M

$15 M

$10 M

$1,307,536,282.31 0 20 2

15 20

0 20 1

05 20

00 20

95 19

90 19

85 19

80 19

19 75

$5 M

CP INFORMATION

UPCOMING EVENTS October

January

3-13 Mississippi State Fair Ministry Mississippi State Fairgrounds, Jackson

6 Pathways to Partnership Lauderdale Association, Meridian

5 CP Sunday Emphasis Statewide

8 Small Church Youth Ministry Workshop Chunky Baptist, Chunky

9 Small Church Youth Ministry Workshop Ridglea Heights Baptist, Escatawpa

10 DISCERN Garaywa Camp & Conference Center

12 Mississippi Baptist Symphony Orchestra Main Street Baptist, Hattiesburg

12 Church Renewal Network Summit First Baptist, Jackson

19 Day of Prayer for Associational Missions Emphasis Statewide 25 Hispanic Annual Convention Trace Ridge Baptist, Ridgeland 27 Mississippi Baptist Convention Board Meeting Broadmoor Baptist, Madison 27 African American Meet & Greet Fellowship Broadmoor Baptist, Madison 27 Ministry Wives’ Conference Broadmoor Baptist, Madison 28 Bivocational Ministers’ Breakfast Broadmoor Baptist, Madison 28-29 Mississippi Baptist Convention Annual Meeting Broadmoor Baptist, Madison

November 4-7 Student Ministers’ Retreat Orange Beach, AL 10-12 KidMin Retreat Orange Beach, AL 13 Small Church Youth Ministry Workshop Morrison Chapel Baptist, Cleveland

12-13 Group/Sunday School Essentials Tri-Coutnty Association

19 NextGen Summit Ridgecrest Baptist, Ridgeland 19 Pathways to Partnership DeSoto-Tate Association, Hernando 20-21 Church Financial Leaders Seminar Garaywa Camp & Conference Center 21 Region 4 Disaster Relief Training Location TBA

13 Pathways to Partnership Rankin Association, Pearl

24 Mississippi Worship and Media Conference Morrison Heights Baptist, Clinton

15 Pathways to Partnership Golden Triangle Association, Columbus

24 Pathways to Partnership North Delta Association, Lyon

20 Disciple-Making Roundtable Meridian

March

20 Pathways to Partnership Gulf Coast Association, Gulfport

1 Week of Prayer for North American Missions (Annie Armstrong)

22 Small Church Youth Ministry Workshop Jericho Baptist, Guntown

3 Sunday School Workshop South Louisville Baptist, Louisville

25-26 State Evangelism Conference Northcrest Baptist, Meridian 29 Pathways to Partnership Pine Belt Association, Hattiesburg 29-31 Area Keyboard Festivals Various Locations 30-2/14 Dixie National Ministry Mississippi State Fairgrounds, Jackson

February 4 Legislative Prayer Breakfast Baptist Building, Jackson 7 Region 5 Disaster Relief Training Location TBA

20 Disciple-Making Roundtable Bridgeway Church, Starkville

10 Disciple-Making Roundtable First Baptist, Lucedale

30 Week of Prayer for International Missions (Lottie Moon Offering)

10 Pathways to Partnership Union County Association, New Albany

December

12 Sunday School Workshop Sandhill Baptist, Ellisville

2 Mississippi Baptist Convention Board Meeting Central Hills Baptist Retreat

12 Small Church Youth Ministry Workshop Calvary Baptist, West Point

36 | CP CONNECTIONS

17 Pathways to Partnership Lincoln Association, Brookhaven

5 Small Church Youth Ministry Workshop Clarksdale Baptist, Clarksdale 6-7 Hispanic Pastors and Wives Retreat Lake Tiak-O'Khata, Louisville 7 Region 3 Disaster Relief Training Location TBA 9 Senior Adult Leadership Training Garaywa Camp & Conference Center 16-17 2026 Ministry Assistant’s Conference Garaywa Camp & Conference Center 21 Region 2 Disaster Relief Training Location TBA 20-21 KidMin ToolBin Garaywa Camp & Conference Center 23-24 Mississippi Singing Churchmen Spring Tour Locations TBA

For more information, visit mbcb.org/ events

CP INFORMATION

Dozens of pastors, SBC officers, state Baptist convention leaders, SBC ethnic leaders and others gathered in Memphis on May 13 to commemorate Southern Baptists' adoption of the Cooperative Program 100 years ago.

FALL 2025 | 37

MISSISSIPPI BAPTIST CONVENTION BOARD PO Box 530, Jackson, MS 39205-0530

We equip local churches to make disciples in Mississippi and around the world.

38 | CP CONNECTIONS

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Jackson, MS Permit No. 158