Gainesville PK's involvement in missions displays importance of Cooperative Program

Joanna Malcom, whose father, Brian, serves as pastor of Oak Grove Church in Gainesville, displays her commitment to missions by being in the midst of several opportunities. Partially through Cooperative Program support, Malcom, middle at left, was part of a recent mission trip to Bolivia.

BEREA, Ky. - Bursting with charisma and enthusiasm, Joanna Malcom, 22, is eager to teach others about the significance of the Cooperative Program (CP).

As a "preacher's kid" and summer and short-term missionary, she has seen firsthand how the Cooperative Program has helped Southern Baptists reach people around the world with the love of Christ.

Malcom is the daughter of Brian and Lisa Malcom, who now serve Oak Grove Baptist Church in Gainesville. Her grandfather, Bob Bagley, serves as associational missionary for North Georgia/Murray County Association.

"At G.A. camp I heard missionaries talk about the CP and when I was in high school my dad invited missionaries to speak at our church," said Lisa Malcom, herself a daughter of a Southern Baptist Minister. "I heard about it all my life."

Malcom is passionate about missions and the need to inform young Southern Baptists about the importance of giving through the CP. A senior music major at Berea College in Kentucky she will have the opportunity to do just that when she serves as the missions chairperson for the Berea Baptist Student Union this fall.

"I want to let them know how important giving is. The offering is not just going to help pay the electricity bill at the church. Some money goes to the CP to help support missionaries and their ministries. It helps students afford to go overseas on mission trips," said Malcom.

Malcom served as a summer missionary in Poland last year and in January served on a mission team to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, for three weeks with Berea's BSU.

She strongly desires to increase awareness of the role the Cooperative Program has in Southern Baptist ministries throughout the world.

"The CP reminds me that I am more blessed financially and otherwise because I am in the United States. I'm giving to help other people," said Malcom.