Weekly Update
Kingdom generosity – past, present and future
May 13, 2026
“In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own” (2 Corinthians 8:2-3 NIV)
As I continue to reflect on the 140th anniversary of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, I am filled with gratitude. The legacy of cooperation has been deep and wide. One of the gifts from God in our history is the formation of the Cooperative Program.
Texas Baptists were influential in the development of the SBC Cooperative Program. In 1925, Southwestern Seminary, founded by B.H. Carroll, transitioned from being a Texas Baptist institution to an entity of the Southern Baptist Convention. The adoption of the Cooperative Program was vital for the seminary.
L.R. Scarborough, the second president of Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, was the south-wide director of this massive seventy-five million campaign. Although the campaign did not raise all pledged funds, it demonstrated the potential of a unified, cooperative financial approach, laying the foundation for the Cooperative Program.
Prominent Texas pastors and leaders, including George W. Truett of First Baptist Dallas, were critical in rallying support for the new united giving approach. The Cooperative Program was formally adopted at the 1925 SBC Annual Meeting in Memphis, Tennessee.
For a century, the Cooperative Program has been the means by which Texas Baptists churches support cooperative ministry and missions in Texas and beyond. God has used the Cooperative Program to bring countless people into the family of God, start thousands of churches, support thousands of missionaries, support Christian and theological education, meet human needs and advance His Kingdom in general.
In the same spirit in which the apostle expressed his gratitude in 2 Corinthians 8:2-3, I pause to say thank you to God for his excellent provision for the sake of his mission through the last fourteen decades. I thank you and your church for your faithfulness and generosity for the sake of the kingdom.
All state conventions, including ours, as well as the Southern Baptist Convention, are having conversations about the future of the Cooperative Program. Everyone has experienced a decline in CP giving over the last couple of decades. While we are thankful for those who continue to give generously and even sacrificially, we need to understand the future of CP.
As you may already know, last February, the Executive Board approved a Cooperative Program task force composed of leaders from around the state. Keith Warren is serving as chair of this group, and members have been corresponding, listening and learning. We hope to hear from them later this year in order to develop a long-term strategy for our cooperative work as Texas Baptists.
I am also excited to share with you that Dr. Jeff Donnell is the new Texas Baptists Cooperative Program director. Jeff transitioned from his prior position with the Adult Ministries Team at Lakepointe Church in Rockwall and assumed the CP director role on April 13. Donnell said he truly believes Texas Baptists are better together.
“My goal [in this role] is to share the story of how God is using Texas Baptists across our great state and beyond,” said Donnell. “As our churches across the state pool resources, we can continue to see lives changed. For instance, I don't know of a single church that helped over 170,500 people through child and human care services last year. But together, Texas Baptists did.”
Jeff has a total of 34 years of pastoral ministry experience, including First Baptist Church, Andrews, Lakeside Baptist Church and Lakepointe Church. Donnell earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Texas A&M University and a Master of Divinity with a concentration in Biblical Languages from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In 2001, he earned his Doctor of Ministry in Evangelistic Church Growth from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
As Jeff Donnell, the CP Task Force, our new Resource Development Team and others work together around the topic of Cooperative Program giving, we are mindful that many churches are also experiencing a decline in giving and often an increase in expenses. We want to help find ways to assist churches so that they have more money for ministry.
That is the reason behind KingsCover Insurance. Texas Baptists have invested in the formation of an insurance company for churches that can save them money so they can invest more in ministry and missions.
As of this weekly update, 262 churches are participating in this insurance program, representing combined premium savings of approximately $2.5 million. That’s $2.5 million that churches can invest in ministry and missions instead of insurance premiums. If your church has not considered this, I encourage you to do so. You can get a quote here.
Leadership of Minnehula Baptist Church shared with us, “Our church is extremely pleased with the KingsCover proposal. The new plan gives us 54% more coverage with a 37% decrease in cost. That's a huge blessing!”
We will continue to find ways to serve churches and to cooperate together for the sake of the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. Thank you for your cooperation!
Dr. Guarneri is the 21st executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He holds degrees from Texas A&M University Kingsville, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Dallas Baptist University. He has more than 39 years of ministerial experience and is passionate about sharing the Gospel with the nations and cross-cultural missions and ministry.