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What is CP?

The Cooperative Program is the plan Southern Baptists use to fund missions causes at the state, national and international levels. The program provides foundational support for international and North American missionaries; state convention mission work; training and other help for local churches; Baptist organizations; and more.

The Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware is a cooperative missions and ministry organization made up of more than 500 autonomous Baptist churches in Maryland and Delaware. A variety of state and worldwide ministries are coordinated through its administrative offices in Columbia, MD including: missions work, disaster relief, ministry training and support, church development, evangelism and more.

Since 1925 Southern Baptists have partnered together to do missions through the Cooperative Program. Today the partnership continues as over 45,000 Baptist churches across the United States channel their mission dollars through 41 state conventions to do missions locally, across the United States, and around the world.

Our staff is available to share the Cooperative Program vision with your church and encourage your members as Baptists partner together to make disciples here and around the world.

Featured Cooperative Program Event

  • Busy Sharpening Iron at the BCM/D Leadership Event with Mike Huckabee

    As Iron Sharpens Iron

    DSC_3923In an ever-changing environment today's leaders must commit to excellence in our various leadership roles, sharpening their skills as leaders. Proverbs 27:17 tells us, "As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend."

    “As Iron Sharpens Iron” (AISI), the BCM/D’s new leadership series, premiered in October. The Leadership Event with Mike Huckabee attracted 350 ministry and lay leaders from across Maryland and Delaware. The conference featured three keynote speakers, who spoke on the major principles of leadership, specifically ethics, integrity, and character.

    Speakers included:
    Mike Huckabee: Former Arkansas Governor and host of “Huckabee” on the Fox News Channel
    Rod Hairston: Chaplain for the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens
    Andy Westmoreland: President of Samford University

    We Had Questions, They Had Answers

    DSC_4106During the question and answer period after each speaker’s presentation, attendees asked tough, real-life questions on leadership, and our keynoters gave honest, down-to-earth answers.

    Between speakers, The Church at Severn Run praise team provided invigorating praise and worship. Gov. Mike Huckabee even joined in, rockin’ the bass during several worship songs.

    Participants also received a pre-autographed copy of Gov. Mike Huckabee’s soon-to-be released book, “A Simple Christmas.” Huckabee personalized each book (or whatever else was on hand for him to sign) and posed for pictures with everyone who asked.

    What Everyone is Saying...

    So far the feedback has been phenomenal. Participants are emailing, Twittering, Facebooking, and calling us because they want to know about the next AISI event. Here's some of the comments we've gotten so far...

    First class all the way guys. Excellent conference!

    I thought it was a great event and I enjoyed all the speakers. As a Women's Missionary Union leader I found it helpful and uplifting. Keep them coming!

    It was excellent!

    You can even listen to what conference attendee Barbara Williams had to say: Listen now!

    Photos from the Conference

    Thank You!

    Thank you for making this possible! Because you gave to the Cooperative Program, the BCM/D can provide high-quality conferences and events for our leaders at a fraction of the cost. Thank you!

    What Did You Think?

    Did you get to attend the Leadership Event with Mike Huckabee? We want to know what you thought! Leave us a note in the comments section!

    Friday, November 13, 2009 (No comments)
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How is all this possible?

Simply put, it begins with you. You give yourself first to God (2 Cor. 5:8). Next, out of gratitude and obedience to God for what He has done for you, you commit to give back to Him, through your church, a portion of what He provides. This is commonly called a tithe and represents ten percent of your income (Lev. 27:30, Mal. 3:10).

Cooperative Program

Your church decides the next step. Every year your church prayerfully decides how much of its undesignated gifts will be committed to reaching people in your state and around the world through Cooperative Program (CP) Missions. This amount is then forwarded to your state Baptist convention.

During the annual meeting of your BCM/D, messengers from your church and other churches across the state decide what percentage of CP Missions gifts contributed by local congregations stays in your state to support state and local missions and ministries and how much is given to the SBC.

More specifically, the Cooperative Program money you give not only supports local initiatives but also supports the International Mission Board, which supports approximately 5,375 missionaries around the world; and the North American Mission Board, which supports nearly 5,200 national missionaries. According to recent research, the two mission groups currently assist in 22,448 new church plants worldwide.

The Cooperative Program also supports the six Southern Baptist seminaries, which are training our next generation of leaders; and the Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission, which gives a “voice” for Southern Baptists in political arenas. 

The bottom line is – people around the world hear the gospel and receive Christ because of your generosity.

Inside the BCM/D Podcast

What is the Baptist Convention anyway?

Listen to the Inside the BCM/D podcast to learn about our exciting events, hear how God is using YOUR Cooperative Program dollars, and find out how YOU can get involved.

BCM/D Featured Events Archive

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