The preamble of the original constitution of the Southern Baptist Convention describes the purpose of the SBC as “eliciting, combining, and directing the energies of the whole denomination in one sacred effort, for the propagation of the Gospel.” These words are not only historically significant; they convey the mission and purpose and distill the distinct facets of the Cooperative Program.
One Sacred Effort describes the history and purpose of the Cooperative Program of Southern Baptists. This purpose underlies much of what it means to be a Baptist. Authors Chad Owen Brand and David E. Hankins offer this narrative to help you understand and appreciate the cooperative spirit of the Baptist tradition.
