Delwood Church is so far out in the country, even the pastor is surprised that people find it.

“It sits way out in the woods. The first time I went out there I thought nobody could find that church, but they do. Some people have to come a pretty good ways,” said Doug Hall, bi-vocational pastor of the Mitchell County congregation for the past five months.

Location aside, the church has a reputation of being a generous one.

Last year the 75 or so resident members gave 23 percent of their budget to the Cooperative Program. It’s a long-running trend with the country church.

“They had a pastor in 1983 named Calvin Arnold. He really pushed missions and since then they’ve given well every year. We budget 12 percent and then individual church members give directly to the Cooperative Program. That’s what brings us up to the big percentage,” Hall said.

The decision to give generously to missions isn’t a complicated one for the congregation. “After the resurrection Jesus told them to go out into the world and tell people. If that was important enough for Jesus to tell his disciples, then that’s what the church should do.” Hall said. “They’re a loving congregation and just love to give.”

The missions attitude spills out to other areas of ministry in the church as well. The Brotherhood and WMU groups are active at the church and at the last Tucker Association joint meeting of the two organizations, Delwood had the highest attendance. They’ve also baptized two people since Christmas. “I know it’s only two, but that's two more souls for the Lord.”

Georgia churches with an average worship attendance of 200 or less gave an average of their undesignated funds of 6.92 percent. That works out to almost $76 per person per year given to the Cooperative Program. “We used to just recognize the top 200 churches that gave the most amount of money. But the smaller churches are making a huge impact on giving as well,” said Allen Hill, GBC specialist with CP development.

For more information contact the GBC Cooperative Program office at ahill@gabaptist.org or (770) 936-5240 or at 1 (800) RING-GBC.

Cooperative Program gifts may be sent to: Dr. J. Robert White, Executive Director, Georgia Baptist Convention, 2930 Flowers Road South, Atlanta, GA 30341-5562.