Better Together: You, Your Church, and the Cooperative Program

by Robert J. Matz, John M. Yeats

Cooperation -- As kids, we all learned the importance of working together. As adults, we discovered how cooperation can literally change lives. What would happen if your church increased its efforts to make a difference around the world for the Gospel? What if your congregation cooperated with other churches to multiply our capabilities to reach the lost for Christ?Better You, Your Church, and the Cooperative Program is a compelling introduction to the cooperative work of Southern Baptists. Designed as a resource for group or individual study, you can discover why Southern Baptists are passionate about working together to change the world!

128 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2018

Reviews

[Scott Meadows · Rating 3 out of 5]

An effective and quick walkthrough of the Cooperative Program of the Southern Baptist convention. Displays the heart, motives, and prayerful outcomes of the Scriptural calling to work together as the universal church for the sake of the gospel.

Quick notes from each chapter:

Chapter 1 - The gathering of believers is created by God as a gift of grace for community and communion with one another and shared communion with Him which is the purpose that we have been made for. In this chapter Yeats describes how without the gospel and without the church lone wolf Christianity leads to disobedient Christianity. While it is theoretically possible to be a believer without Church participation it is impossible to be an obedient and practicing believer.

Chapter 2 - In the same way that American missionaries train themselves in culture, society, and regional information about the nation they seek to reach so is the cooperative program training up local missionaries who already know and understand their region. *quote* Just as the goal of missions overseas is for training up local believers to plant further churches so it is with the united states. Remaining Ekkliocentric the cooperative program helps actualize and empower local churches, college ministries, and ministry associations to reach the nations of our next door neighbors. “Giving to the state convention matters (because) we are taking the first step to reach the world for Christ.” (49)

Chapter 3 - As we “consider the early church in – Acts” we are able to see how by a shared gospel message, the Spirit’s empowerment, and the agreement to work together as the universal church was vital for the church’s growth within an oppressive Roman empire. “When churches in a nation work together to reach their nation, they pool their resources to meet the needs of those in crisis.” In the same way Yeats describes the cooperative program as assisting funding of NAMB who helps plant new churches and their subsidiary SEND which assists church’s in need of help along with many other regional issues from human trafficking to disaster response.

Chapter 4 - o We accomplish this by building up the kingdom and building up the kingdom. By this I mean to describe how Yeats describes evangelism, discipleship, sending, training, and giving. As we make disciples of our nation of birth so can we then build up believers to go into the nations for the sake of the gospel. In the exact same way we are also able to, once again, actualize and empower those IMBD missionaries to follow their calling through our participation in stewarding our monetary blessings well. “Together we change the nations so that a multitude composed of those from every nation will praise Jesus for all eternity.” (78)

Chapter 5 - • In a chapter on the future Yeats explains the need for generational training in light of the future that we must, “invest together through our state conventions in the colleges – and seminaries training future pastors (and) leaders.”(94) By participating in the cooperative program we are impacting the future of Baptist life in the world.

Chapter 6 - • Giving to the cooperative program also helps fund Christian Ethics organizations such as the ERLC who help engage in contemporary culture through a Scriptural lens. Taking the “voice of the convention reflected” in wall street and the state capital the ERLC represents the Biblical stand of Southern Baptists on many issues in today’s politics. (101)

Chapter 7 - • Through conventions, trustee meetings, committees, and more so are Southern Baptist’s welcomed into partnering together for the gospel in the nation and the world. Summarizing all Matz invites the reader to participate in the cooperative program again exclaiming that we are, “better together.” (122)

[Olivia Litts · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.

[Gabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear, encouraging, and surprising. What struck me most were the stories.

"The doorbell rang. Tammy, a sixteen-year-old girl, could barely stand in the entrance of the Baptist Friendship House. She hadn't eaten or slept in three days and collapsed the minute she was invited in.

Tammy had been experiencing difficulties at home. She felt lonely, unseen, and unheard, until she was befriended on social media. A trafficker had found her and learned about her weaknesses. He pretended to be Tammy's boy- friend. The trafficker in disguise bought Tammy a bus ticket to New Orleans, met her at the station, took her to Bourbon Street, and got her drunk.

The next morning she awoke in an abandoned house, where multiple people were inducing her and others with drugs. They planned on selling the girls during a big event in the city later that day.

But Tammy happened to stumble across the Baptist Friendship House doorstep, looking for a bathroom. She was circling death but was given something to eat and some serious advice. Counselors sat with her and watched over her while she napped because she had been afraid to sleep alone. They arranged for a safe way to get her out of danger and to get her home with resources to start fresh" (Matz, 61).

The Southern Baptist Convention sends millions of dollarsto help people like Tammy in the US, and around the world. The SBC helps sex trafficking victims, natural-disaster victims, the impoverished elderly in the US, missionaries in foreign countries, pastors, and churches across the globe.

I started reading the book with a suspicion of the SBC and the "Cooperative Program." "Cooperative program" sounds fishy, like the initiative of a cult or a communist government. Why would I want to support "Big Brother" and send my independent church's funds to some big organization? But by the time I finished reading Better Together I was encouraged by how much God does through the cooperative program and the SBC.

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Read for school. Only applicable if you are a part of (or considering joining) the SBC.

[robert olson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sales pitch for Cooperative Program.

It was simply an overview of the operations of the CP. I was writing a paper and would have preferred more understanding and depth. Maybe an analysis of current issues. It did neither. From reading this book, I got no sense that there were other views or that there were trends and options for the future. It was simply a promotional piece to promote the CP. I felt that I should have been paid to read it, or that it should have been free. At least it was an easy read and did not cost much.

[Matthew Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some reviewers complained that this is a sales pitch for the Cooperative Program, like that is something bad. I would disagree because the authors are very truthful that this is designed to introduce the reader to the Cooperative Program and why it is worth their consideration. As a SBC pastor of over two decades I learned quite a lot from this easy read. It reminded me that there is something much bigger going on through and in the SBC. This is a good book to simply acquaint yourself and others with just what the SBC does on a large, macro level.

[Julian Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I felt that this was a decent book. It did a solid job explaining what the Cooperative Program is, how it came about, and what it's purpose is.

Outside of that though it felt like a book that was designed specifically to celebrate the Cooperative Program. It was like reading a longer version of an advertisement. I'm not saying that's a horrible thing, it just felt more "buy what we're selling" than purely educational.

Would still share it if someone was interested in the subject.

[Ian Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy and fun read! Incredibly helpful in the way it explains the inner workings of the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program. This is a MUST READ for all Southern Baptist and other denominational Christians seeking to better understand how Southern Baptists work better together to impact the local community, region, nation, culture, and the world!

[Tristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am glad to be apart of the SBC through my local church. However, if you read the title of this book then you don't really need to read the book. It has a little bit of helpful information regarding the Cooperative Program, but for the most part it says, "If you are a Southern Baptist and your local church is in the SBC then we are better together!"

[Jordan Kasiske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gives a nice brief explanation to the pro's of the Cooperative program. Written by my professor.

[Justin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Niche and unhelpful if you are not SBC.

[Benjamin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overview of Cooperative Program of the SBC. Read for school.

[Harrison Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Southern Baptist church member should have this book.

[Alec Holloway · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is not bad, not great. Wasn’t particularly helpful.

[Jordan Litts · Rating 2 out of 5]

...

[Grant Goad · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay.