Together on God's Mission: How Southern Baptists Cooperate to Fulfill the Great Commission

Together on God?s Mission investigates Southern Baptist history, showing how and why the Southern Baptist Convention came to embrace the vision of a cooperative denomination. It also explores how this vision has shaped denominational identity and structure. This historical study is followed by a discussion of the biblical description of how the mission of God determines the mission of the church. This study shows that God?s mission is not simply furthered by churches working together, but rather that cooperation between churches makes up a key component of God?s mission. Finally, the study concludes that the Southern Baptist Convention is uniquely positioned to enable churches to fully participate in God?s mission to redeem the nations and restore creation from the effects of the Fall. Review ?When Southern Baptists voluntarily work in partnership through the Cooperative ministries of the SBC, we are following a pattern found in Scripture. It is a pattern that allows us truly to do more together than we could ever do apart. It is pattern that is biblically justified, theologically sound and practically wise. It involves the sacrificial giving of our financial resources to be sure, but it is so much more than this. This is the argument my colleague and friend Scott Hildreth makes in Together on God?s Mission: How Southern Baptists Cooperate to Fulfill the Great Commission. He is quite successful in his assignment.?-Daniel L. Akin, president, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary ?The cooperative partnership of Southern Baptists may not be perfect but it is proven and profound. In Together on God?s Mission, Scott Hildreth provides a timely resource that not only advocates for the financial wisdom of the Southern Baptists? Cooperative Program but also advances the theological foundation of this cooperative partnership for a new generation. As an experienced missionary and seminary professor, Hildreth provides a concise and helpful orientation of how churches unite to form a mighty Great Commission coalition as they join together on God?s mission.?-Brian Autry, executive director, SBC of Virginia   ?From their earliest days, Baptist churches have cooperated together for the sake of kingdom priorities such as missions, education, and public engagement. As Southern Baptists, we cooperate through our structures and strategy, which are linked together in the Cooperative Program. Every generation brings new challenges and fresh opportunities, and as this happens, pastors and other leaders need to be reminded anew of the importance of gospel-centered cooperation among churches of ?like faith and order? (as old-fashioned Baptists used to say). To that end, Scott Hildreth has written a book for such a time as this. Together on God?s Mission gives us the perfect combination of Baptist history, sound biblical exegesis, missional theology, and constructive application.?-Nathan A. Finn, dean, School of Theology and Missions, and professor of Christian thought and tradition, Union University   ?Scott Hildreth has done Southern Baptists a great service by providing this book. Of particular help, in my mind, is his commitment to help the SBC ground their partnership in theology rather than pragmatics. If you are Southern Baptist and care about cooperative mission, you should read this book.?  -Micah Fries, senior pastor, Brainerd Baptist Church, Chattanooga, TN   ?The perfect primer for getting your mind around the Cooperative Program-its unique opportunities, current challenges and the way forward. Dr. Hildreth brings to this book an understanding that comes from years of working ?inside? the system and the passion from having depended on the Cooperative Program while he served on the front lines of global missions.? -J.D. Greear, pastor, The Summit Church, Raleigh-Durham, NC   ?In this informative book, Scott Hildreth shares from the rich knowledge he has gained as an IMB missionary and a professor of mis