Category Archives: Southern Baptist Convention

Ten things I’ve learned from those who have NOT fallen in ministry

By Dr. Paul Chitwood | Published: May 26, 2018

“Dad, how will people know you haven’t done something like that?” asked my 19-year-old daughter as we discussed the growing list of resignations and terminations in Baptist life. “Because he’s still above the ground,” quipped my wife, Michelle, as only a 20-year veteran middle school teacher can. Later, Michelle took a more serious tone when she […]

Also posted in Churches, Culture, Denominational Life, Family, Health, Pastor, Personal Reflections | Comments closed

10 Reasons to stop giving through the Cooperative Program…and why they’re wrong

By Dr. Paul Chitwood | Published: June 13, 2017

As I near a quarter of a century of ministry in and to churches cooperating with the Southern Baptist Convention, I can reflect upon countless conversations about the cooperative missions offering known as the Cooperative Program. In my role as a pastor, those conversations took place in budget committee meetings, missions committee meetings, in church hallways […]

Also posted in Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Baptist Polity, Christian Education, Church Planting, Churches, Collegiate Ministries, Cooperative Program, Culture, Denominational Life, Disaster Relief, Education, Great Commission, International Mission Board, Kentucky Baptist Convention, Leader Training, Missions, Partnership, Pastoral Resources, Seminary, Stewardship | Comments closed

Great Commission Math

By admin | Published: February 7, 2017

If your church is like the average Southern Baptist church, more than 90 percent of its resources are invested in reaching your community and less than 10 percent goes to reach the rest of the world.  How much should we send to be obedient to the Great Commission? In Acts 1:8, Jesus declares to His […]

Also posted in Great Commission, Kentucky Baptist Convention | Comments closed

The role of cooperative missions and cooperative funding across the SBC

By admin | Published: September 20, 2016

How relevant is the Cooperative Program funding model in fueling SBC missions and ministries? At our dinner table last night, our 13-year-old guest turned to me and asked abruptly, “Do you know why I’m glad my sister is here?” Our guest comes to visit once a week. She is working her way through a residential […]

Also posted in Cooperative Program | Comments closed

Southern Baptist polity & autonomy gets ‘perplexing’ when it comes to resolutions

By admin | Published: June 28, 2016

The annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in St. Louis was a tremendous opportunity to celebrate all God is doing through our Cooperative Program-funded mission work and ministries to reach North America and the world for Christ. It was also a fascinating display of Baptist polity. The autonomy that exists at every level of […]

Also posted in Baptist Polity, Denominational Life, Resolutions | Comments closed