In Component #3 of our GCR report, Penetrating the Lostness, we have introduced a term called Great Commission Giving. The term is engaging and does represent the heart of all we do to support the work of the Great Commission through our Convention. Surprisingly, it has received so much attention that the intent is questioned, the facts are ignored, and the great things in the report about the Great Commission are being overlooked.

Let’s Get the Facts On The Table

Fact #1: The Cooperative Program is affirmed and highlighted nine times in this section and communicated overall as being our central and preferred conduit of Great Commission funding.

Fact #2: Bold challenges are provided in this component related to the Cooperative Program such as, “call upon Southern Baptists to give as never before and support the Cooperative Program as never before.” More challenges to our churches and state conventions about the Cooperative Program are given in the final section of our report called “Challenges.”

Fact #3: Eight of the twenty-three members of our Task Force are employed by Southern Baptist related entities, from local associations to state conventions to national convention entities. There is absolutely no way any one of these people would ever entertain being a part of demeaning or attacking or dismantling the Cooperative Program. By the way, neither would the rest of us.

Fact #4: Great Commission Giving does NOT add another type of giving.

Fact #5: Great Commission Giving is a simple change to the Annual Church Profile Report that on last year’s report was called “Total Mission Expenditures.”

Fact #6: Great Commission Giving tightens the reporting that exists presently. The current method is to report whatever designated mission gifts are given, even if those gifts do not go to Southern Baptist mission causes. Southern Baptist mission gifts should be those that apply to Southern Baptist causes only. This proposal will provide an avenue for reporting designated mission gifts that are given to Southern Baptist causes only and would include gifts given to the causes of the Southern Baptist Convention, state conventions and associations.

Fact #7: We are asking you to adopt the following recommendation:

That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention, meeting in Orlando, Florida, June 15-16, 2010, request the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention to consider recommending to the Southern Baptist Convention the adoption of the language and structure of Great Commission Giving as described in this report in order to enhance and celebrate the Cooperative Program and the generous support of Southern Baptists channeled through their churches. We further request that the boards of trustees of the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board, in consultation with the Woman’s Missionary Union, consider the adoption of the Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong offering goals as outlined in this report.

Can You Not Support This Recommendation?

This recommendation, which is the third recommendation in our report, is all you will be voting on related to Great Commission Giving. It provides an additional year for this to be studied by the Executive Committee of our Convention. This recommendation reflects upon the report when we call upon Southern Baptists to adopt goals of giving no less than $200 million annually through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions and $100 million annually through the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions by 2015.

Do you have any idea what we could do around the world and here in North America in pushing back on lostness if this recommendation is adopted and Southern Baptist churches step up to the call? We believe our churches will step up to follow and finance a compelling vision that calls us to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in the world and to make disciples of all the nations.

What Could This Look Like On The Annual Church Profile?

LifeWay Christian Resources has the responsibility of determining the Annual Church Profile. Our churches are requested to complete the Annual Church Profile. In this profile, there is a section where financial data is requested from our churches.

Dr. Thom Rainer, President of LifeWay, has informed us that they are studying the format for the Annual Church Profile. He and I have been in several conversations about this. He is ready to lead LifeWay in whatever needs to be done concerning the Annual Church Profile.

If the Southern Baptist Convention affirms recommendation three in our report, we are suggesting the Annual Church Profile could reflect what we are calling Great Commission Giving. How? I want to show you how we suggest it could look to reflect our priority of the Cooperative Program and Great Commission Giving in comparison to what was on last year’s Annual Church Profile. We are suggesting that we should place the Cooperative Program as our financial priority. Please see what we are suggesting for the future if this recommendation is adopted in comparison to what exists presently.

Suggested Annual Church Profile

1. Cooperative Program
2. Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions
3. Annie Armstrong Offering for North American Missions
4. SBC Designated Mission Gifts (Local Associations, State Conventions, and National Entities)
5. Total Great Commission Giving (Please add #1 through #4.)
6. Undesignated Receipts
7. Designated Receipts
8. Total Receipts (Please add #6 and #7.)

Present Annual Church Profile

• Total Receipts
• Undesignated
• Designated
• Total Mission Expenditures
• Cooperative Program
• Annie Armstrong
• Lottie Moon
• Congregational Debt
• Value of Congregational Debt

As you see, our proposal emphasizes the Cooperative Program and puts the Southern Baptist Convention in a stronger position to penetrate lostness. It is critical that all communication accurately portrays our proposal to insure each messenger is well informed and educated about it. The future of the Southern Baptist Convention is unlimited if we continue to work together to fulfill the Great Commission.

What is really at stake? What is really at stake is the eternal destiny of billions of people who do not know Jesus as Lord and Savior, most of whom have limited or absolutely no access to God’s message of forgiveness and hope about Him.