Cooperative Ministries 2008

We North Americans are infatuated with the idea of the rugged individual, that man or woman who can do it all and do it alone. But God calls us to radical interdependence, to putting we above me. In choosing to follow Jesus, we say goodbye to my way and open ourselves up to kingdom ways.

Our desire as Brethren in Christ in North America is to be a cohesive, adaptive, and outward-focused community of Christ-followers who earnestly worship and obey God and cross boundaries to other communities, cultures and countries to reach lost people for Christ. This commitment to unity is at the heart of Cooperative Ministries. It shows in the way funds are distributed among our three ministry priority areas. As a denomination, we are committed to:

The world may glorify individualism, but we Brethren in Christ know that cooperation is the better way. God intends our witness to be corporate. What we do together in relationship is a powerful witness to the greatness of God, and that includes our giving through Cooperative Ministries.

Balancing priorities

The three ministry priority areas that shape our work together as a community of churches are interrelated. The priorities build on each other, and each one is critical to the kingdom impact of the Brethren in Christ Church.

As we call and train pastors, church planters, and missionaries, we are better able to start new churches, advance the health of congregations, and effectively evangelize the least-reached peoples of the world.
As we invest in the health and mission of congregations—both church plants and existing congregations—we are able to reach lost people in our communities, disciple converts to maturity, and raise up workers, some of whom will become pastors, church planters, and missionaries to advance the cause of Christ in other places.
As we join together in global outreach, we are able to extend Christ’s kingdom into the least-reached areas of the world. A strong global focus, in turn, infuses an outward focus into our congregations, regional conferences, and North American church. The same principle applies to congregations with a passion to start new churches.

As BIC congregations contribute to Cooperative Ministries and as the funds are allocated, it is important that we maintain a healthy balance among the three ministry priorities. There is no hierarchy of importance among the three foci. All are important to our ongoing health and mission as a church, and all are worthy of our significant financial investment.

Resources for promoting Cooperative Ministries within your congregation