ATLANTA (ABP) — The foundation Christ Is Our Salvation has given the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship a $1.5 million grant to transform CBF churches into “missional” congregations.
To be a missional church, according to advocates, means to orient a congregation's entire life around “God's mission in the world,” rather than to treat missions as merely one among many church activities. Congregations exist for God's purposes, not their own, advocates say.
The grant will be spent over the next three years. Half of the funds will go to congregations who complete the eight-week CBF program “It's Time: A Journey Toward Missional Faithfulness” and meet other requirements.
Rick Bennett, the CBF associate coordinator of congregational life, said the grants provide a much-needed resource for congregations. “The grants [help churches] as they ask the question, 'How is God calling us to be the presence of Christ in this time and place?'” he said.
CBF leaders will also work with Baylor University's Center for Family and Community Ministries to strengthen family life in the church context. The Fellowship will also work with the center to create church-based internships for undergraduate and graduate students.
“We are excited about working with the Baylor School of Social Work and the Search Institute as we deepen our partnership in ministry,” said Bo Prosser, CBF coordinator of congregational life.
Founded in 1952 by Paul and Katy Piper, the Christ is Our Salvation foundation, based in Waco, Texas, has made several large donations to Baylor University and it's seminary. Kent Reynolds, the son of former Baylor president Herb Reynolds, became executive director of the foundation in 1983.
CBF expects to use the grant money to help churches conduct censuses, which will provide data for identifying and developing specific focus areas in congregations. The grant will also provide for four annual retreats focused on developing congregational ministers among laity.
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is a network of moderate and progressive Baptist churches and individuals. About 1,800 churches are connected in some way with the Atlanta-based CBF.
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