Cooperative Program worthy of our support

SIR: It saddens me to read about lagging support for the Cooperative Program.

In my five churches and over 55 years of preaching we gave more to the CP in the church where I was serving than they had ever given, and I am glad to say they continued to give more when I left. Every church should tithe its income to the Cooperative Program.

Our International Mission Board and our North American Mission Board have had to cut their budgets and reduce their personnel. Even our own Georgia Baptist Convention is recommending a budget for next year that is less than the present year's budget.

It still gladdens my heart that our state convention gives a greater percentage of our budget to go beyond our borders to support our missions boards and seminaries than any other state.

Although the "laborer is worthy of his reward" (Luke 10: 7), I have never known of any preacher who entered the ministry to get rich. Every church should take care of its staff, but we must also take care of our missionaries and our seminary professors. Our missionaries on the field deserve our support, and we must continue to give to the Cooperative Program so that we can spread the gospel to the ends of the earth.

I retired from a wonderful church and they still look after our needs. God promised me that when I answered the call to serve Him. Philippians 4: 19 says: "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." We must demonstrate our faithfulness and trust our Lord to do what He promised.