A dozen more fully funded missionaries could be sent to the nations if messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention approve the Executive Committee’s 2026–27 budget recommendation this summer in Orlando, noted Paul Chitwood, International Mission Board president.
The proposal includes a more than half-percent increase for the IMB, amounting to about $1 million, Chitwood said during an interview with Todd Gray, executive director-treasurer of the Kentucky Baptist Convention, on the Leadership Lessons podcast.
On Feb. 17, the Executive Committee voted to raise the IMB’s share of Cooperative Program giving to 51% from 50.46%.
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“That is one of two significant changes to this budget that the Executive Committee has adopted,” Chitwood said. “That will have a significant impact on our work. And we hope and pray that Southern Baptist messengers at the annual meeting will adopt the difference in dollars that will make it roughly a million more CP dollars coming to the IMB through that change in allocation.”
In 2010, messengers approved the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force recommendation directing at least 50% of CP dollars go to the IMB. Since then, the allocation has gradually increased.
“So, it’s inched up along the way over the years. It went first to 50.25% and then to 50.46%. But it’s remained there for many years,” he said. “So here we are, 16 budgets later and the Executive Committee has taken this bold step of getting all the way to 51% allocation to the IMB.”
More than numbers
Chitwood said the seemingly small adjustment carries significant impact.
“It’s not just numbers in terms of million dollars but that’s sufficient funding for about 12 more IMB missionaries fully supported each year,” he said. “So that’s a beautiful thing. It gives us the capacity to grow so see more and more missionaries sent out and supported and sharing the gospel with those who have yet to hear. We’re incredibly grateful at the IMB for every CP dollar we steward.”
A second budget change will remove a one-time $3 million priority allocation approved last year to address the Executive Committee’s financial challenges. Without that expense, overall CP dollars increase, sending roughly another $1.5 million to the IMB in addition to the $1 million generated by the percentage shift.
“So now you’re looking at $2.5 million more CP dollars coming to the IMB,” he said. “And that is critical.”
Over the past 30 years, Chitwood noted, CP giving has largely stagnated while inflation has risen.
“We’ve lost 30% of our buying power with CP dollars at the IMB.”
Backbone of IMB
A former Kentucky Baptist Convention executive director and longtime Kentucky pastor, Chitwood called the Cooperative Program the backbone of the IMB.
“CP has always mattered to the IMB since 1925,” he said. “The IMB wouldn’t be what it is today if it weren’t, not just our part of the CP allocation, but all that CP does to strengthen the work of Southern Baptists.”
He emphasized that CP’s impact extends beyond direct IMB funding, strengthening the broader ministry ecosystem that supports missions.
“Indeed, we’re grateful for the $93 million CP dollars that we received last year and helped us do our work,” he said. “But we were also grateful for each of our IMB missionaries who need theological training to be able to go to six seminaries and having at least half their tuition paid by CP scholarships.”
Beyond theological education, Chitwood said the Cooperative Program fuels church planting and other Great Commission efforts throughout North America and state-by-state.
For more information and to hear the full interview, including, the IMB’s Project 3000 initiative, designed to reach 3,000 unreached people groups worldwide, watch the full Leadership Lessons episode.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Mark Maynard and originally published by Kentucky Today.
