Investing in the Future

CP Beach Reach 2016 from Texas Baptists on Vimeo.

     Calvary Baptist Church supports missions in primarily two approaches.  One approach is what we call direct CBC missions, which are CBC-specific initiatives in which we lead, support and participate.  The other approach is Cooperative Missions.  Cooperative Missions joins with thousands of other churches to support mission initiatives that are coordinated by our denomination at the RGV, Texas, North America and International levels.  It is doing together with others what we could never do alone.  This week CBC is recognized as one of the top giving churches through the Texas Baptists Cooperative Program.  The video above tells about one of the many ministries we support through the Texas Baptists Cooperative Program. (If you’d like to watch other stories of what our offerings through the Texas Baptists CP support, you can go here and scroll down to the video thumbnails: http://texasbaptists.org/ministries/other-ministries/office-of-cooperative-program-ministry/resources)

     This week's text for discussion in your group is Luke 12:13-21.  (I hope you have received the session outline cards by now).  We are calling the session and message "Investing in the Future."  As you move toward the application and goals for the session, share with the group that investing in the future through Calvary includes our regular financial support of the CBC budget, as well as additional opportunities.

      As the year 2018 has begun we are thankful for everyone in our congregation who is committed to our regular and generous giving through the CBC budget, which supports local and global ministries.  We pray that those who are not doing so will consider discovering the joy of investing in the future by regular giving through the CBC budget.

      Beyond our regular support of the church budget, which we call the tithe and which is continuous, we will ask individuals and families to consider special above-and-beyond sacrificial giving toward two causes, which are short-term:

1. A capital campaign to remodel the Student Ministry area (more information about this forthcoming); and/or
2. Sponsoring a child through Food for the Hungry in the Philippines (FVR, Bulacán)

     While we believe that systematic, proportionate and continuous support of God's work through the church is expected of every believer (Malachi 3:10; Matthew 23:23), we understand that above-and-beyond giving is a free-will offering, for a short-term, where each person needs to be led by God as to where and how much to give (Exodus 35:29; Psalm 54:6; 2 Corinthians 9:7).  The former simply requires faithful obedience.  The second requires prayerful discernment.

     It all begins with commitment based on biblical truth.  Obedient faith then results in blessings for God's work and blessing to the giver.  Encourage your group in this.  Yours and their investment will go a long way.  Let us invest in the future for His sake!