Lauren Cumbie

1. Stays true to the original vision. The Cooperative Program is an agreement among churches, state conventions and the Southern Baptist Convention to cooperate to conduct mission ministries in the United States and around the world. It is a channel through which our offerings flow to underwrite missions and ministries performed by more than 6,400 […]

1. Not using the Church Retirement Plan through GuideStone. GuideStone does a very good job with our money. Their investments are competitive with secular companies. The Church Retirement Plan has unique tax treatment for ministers. Due to the dual tax status of ministers, making tax-deferred contributions saves on federal, state and self-employment taxes on the

It was a beautiful late spring day in north Alabama, and I was taking my then four-year-old son fishing with me. He and I would go to a farm area not far from my house. I loved to fish, and my son loved to throw rocks in the water. I’ll grant you that isn’t usually

Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, And my age is as nothing before You; Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them. Psalm 39:5-6

The Cooperative Program (CP) is much more than money or a funding strategy. True, it has been Southern Baptist’s main strategy for nearly 100 years to gather unified funds from autonomous SBC congregations and use them to carry the message of Christ to our neighbors and the nations. The funding journey begins with you and

I am often drawn to Paul’s words in Philippians 1:3-5 (NKJV): “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now” because, like Paul, I find myself being sometimes overcome with