INDIANAPOLIS (BP) — On Tuesday morning, June 11, pastors Eloy Rodriguez, Joe Riviera and moderator Bruno Molina took to the Cooperative Program (CP) stage for a panel on how Cooperative Program giving has benefited their ministry and their churches.

Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Baptist Network and pastor of Idlewild Español Lutz (Florida), and Riviera, pastor of First Baptist Church in Grand Prairie (Texas), answered questions about the Cooperative Program posed by Molina, executive director of the National Hispanic Baptist Network and language and interfaith evangelism associate at the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.

When asked why they thought CP was the best way to collaborate, Rodriguez likened it to a car running on a full tank of gas: “It can go further and run longer.” Riviera said that individual churches’ efforts are multiplied when giving to CP. “No matter how small your church is, when you give to CP you are making a big change.”

Like most Southern Baptist churches and pastors, Riviera and Rodriguez have each seen CP at work in their own ministries. “In my church planting days, I received funds from the Cooperative Program” said Rodriguez and added that thanks to CP giving his son can serve as a fully funded International Mission Board (IMB) missionary.

Riviera said that his church has been able to go on mission and serve its community better thanks to CP funds. The funds have gone to block parties to reach the community and to support a local pregnancy support center.

Finally, Molina asked the pair if there was perhaps something better than CP. “Just look at how the money is spread, most of it goes to missions. That’s the most important thing we can do,” said Rodriguez. Riviera said “There is no need to reinvent the wheel. We tried other things before and none worked. CP works. The Cooperative Program is the best way to come together to reach the lost.”

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Keila Diaz is a digital communications assistant with the Florida Baptist Convention.)