First Baptist Church Hendersonville, Tennessee, announced Sunday (Aug. 11) that it will be the first church in the state to ever give more than $1 million in one year through the Cooperative Program, to support Southern Baptist missions and ministry around the globe.
The special presentation came as the church celebrated the 15th anniversary of their pastor Bruce Chesser. The church presented a check to Randy Davis, executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, during its morning worship services.
“If you don’t know what Cooperative Program means, that’s how we support missions and evangelism and missionaries all across Tennessee and around the world,” noted Chesser, who also has served as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. “It’s what supports thousands of missionaries and their families.”
During Chesser’s years of service at First Baptist, the church has given $8,039,922 through the Cooperative Program. The church has also recorded 2,725 baptisms and increased in attendance by 1,079 people.
How CP boosts ministry
Davis echoed Chesser’s support for CP by sharing specific examples of how the church and fellow Southern Baptists support help make various ministry efforts possible.
“I read a few moments before I got here that a Disaster Relief swift water rescue squad from east Tennessee was deployed to North Carolina during the floods that were caused by Hurricane Debby days ago,” Davis noted. “Your Cooperative Program dollars assisted with that.”
“On behalf of all Tennessee Baptists,” he added, “as well as Southern Baptists and everything we’re doing for the Kingdom, thank you for leading the way in sacrificial consistent giving.”
