This fall I was able to travel to several state convention annual meetings. I was continually moved by the sacrificial generosity that was shared and celebrated on many fronts.

Over and over, Southern Baptists wanted to know how they could help people affected by Hurricane Helene. Their hearts were broken over the loss of life and devastation the storm left across so much of the United States.

People wanted to pray and give, but they wanted to do more. So many of them wanted to go. They wanted to personally deliver items and provide needed relief. And it’s amazing how many of them are ready to go because they’ve been certified through their state disaster relief training. They know what to do. They’re just waiting for the green light.

This fall we also celebrated record giving for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (LMCO) and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering (AAEO). Giving to the LMCO topped $206 million, and the AAEO was nearly $75 million.

Serving in disaster relief, giving to these special offerings and seeing people trust in Jesus brings joy to Southern Baptists. This is true no matter where you live. Southern Baptists are generous people.

As Jeff Iorg has said throughout the fall, Southern Baptists are a force for good.

We enjoy working together. And that joy is maximized when we can work together to serve and honor Jesus.

This year, Southern Baptists gave more than $191 million through the Cooperative Program. Those dollars fuel our partnership mission. They give each of us an opportunity to share in what God is doing. We love standing together for the sake of the gospel.

This year, our small church in Bowling Green, Kentucky, had the privilege of experiencing this firsthand. For the past couple of years, we’ve helped a young couple get ready to become International Mission Board missionaries.

This summer they were commissioned during the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) annual meeting in Indianapolis. Tears of joy streamed down our faces as folks from our church joined with our cooperating church partners from across the country. We knew our small church alone couldn’t send them. But with the help of our brothers and sisters, we could help this young couple be faithful to the call God placed on their lives.

As I think of the generosity of Southern Baptists, I believe this may be our most generous stewardship. We answer God’s call to the nations. The individuals make sacrifices. Their families make sacrifices. The sending church makes sacrifices. Cooperative Program giving churches make sacrifices.

But these sacrifices are worth the investment. Sharing the hope of the gospel with someone for the first time is a life-changing experience. It’s something I’ve never gotten over.

It is a blessing to be a part of this God-given ministry He makes possible through our local churches and the Cooperative Program. May we never take it for granted.

(EDITOR’S NOTE — Brandon Porter serves as vice president for communications at the SBC Executive Committee.)