How does the Cooperative Program work?

Each congregation determines what percentage of their budget should be allocated to the Cooperative Program. That percentage is sent to the Florida Baptist Convention, which retains a portion and sends the remainder to the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee in Nashville for distribution. 

The 40.5 percent sent by Florida Baptists to the Southern Baptist Convention is divided primarily among the International Mission Board, 50.2 percent; North American Mission Board, 22.79 percent; and six SBC seminaries, 21.92 percent. A little less than five percent is distributed among SBC Historical Archives, Ethic and Religious Liberty Commission and the SBC operating budget.

It is through this money that Florida Southern Baptists support 5,300 international missionaries among nearly 2,000 people groups; 5,271 North American missionaries; and educate more than 15,500 future missionaries, pastors and church leaders through the work of six seminaries.

Without Cooperative Program giving, missionaries would be spending time enlisting financial support instead of on the mission field sharing the gospel. Others would be forced to work secular jobs for support.