Wynndale Baptist gives substantial one-day gift to CP

By Lindsey Carraway
Writing Specialist

As he entered the sanctuary of Wynndale Baptist Church, Terry, on April 12, Dwayne Parker knew the congregation had recently dedicated a special gift to the Cooperative Program. After all, the Director of the Discipleship/Sunday School department of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board had been invited that day to preach and accept the gift on behalf of the Convention.

What Parker didn’t know was just how much the church had given. When the amount was announced as he ascended the stage, he was speechless.

In just one day, Wynndale Baptist had given $36,179.92 through the Cooperative Program.

The primary means by which churches of the Southern Baptist Convention work together to fuel missions and ministries, the Cooperative Program impacts Kingdom work on a local, national, and international level. 

“I could not adequately express what their faithfulness is going to mean to the work of Mississippi Baptists and really to the work of the Kingdom,” admitted Parker. “It was a sweet moment and I’m thankful I got to be there and be a part of it. 

“I want to give a huge thank you to Wynndale Baptist Church for their faithfulness and to Bro. Jerry Smith and Bro. Ken Hall for their leadership. We are so thankful for their work and what they’re doing to impact the Kingdom!”

Past and Present Generosity for Eternity

Smith, Senior Pastor of Wynndale Baptist, shared that the money came from a significant charitable bequest of over half a million dollars left by a member of the church. He presented a plan to the financial committee, and it was decided that 20% of the gift would go immediately to missions and ministries the church already supported. The rest would be reserved for the future growth of the church. Each allocation was given according to the percentage of the monthly giving that Wynndale previously determined. 

“We didn’t have a problem making a check out to the Cooperative Program in that amount,” Smith commented. “Nobody opposed. Everybody thought it made sense… Wynndale has always been a good, strong, mission-minded church.”

Wynndale Baptist partners with missionaries in East Africa, supporting Gospel outreach through digging wells for rural communities. The church also assists the Baptist Student Union on their summer missions trips, fully funding students of their church and partly funding summer missionaries outside of their membership. 

Church members serve the community through a food pantry and work with the Buried Treasures Home, a ministry for women reintegrating into daily life after incarceration. The memorial gifts from Smith’s late wife, who passed from ovarian cancer 10 years ago, were used to furnish a new house for the Buried Treasures Home. 

These are just a few examples of how Wynndale Baptist is locally, globally, and eternally impacting the Kingdom. Their gift through the Cooperative Program will further that impact on ministries in Mississippi and beyond. 

In his 21 years of pastoring Wynndale Baptist, Smith has witnessed multiple members leave generous gifts in their wills to the church. Their continual commitment to entrust these financial gifts affirms Wynndale Baptist’s faithful and prudent stewardship. 

Before Smith became pastor, a substantial bequest of a million dollars allowed Wynndale Baptist to become and remain completely debt-free, even after renovations made over the last few decades. 

“The church has been faithful in the area of stewardship long before I came, and certainly during my time here. They have just been a very faithful church,” said Smith. 

“I’m so thankful for the generous spirit of Wynndale Baptist and Pastor Jerry Smith to bless the Cooperative Program with this gift,” said Shawn Parker, Executive Director-Treasurer of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, as commended the church and its leadership. 

“The Cooperative Program rises and falls on the consistent support of our churches, but when a church makes a special gift on top of consistent support, it strengthens the effort even more. I’m confident the Lord is going to use Wynndale’s generosity to make an eternal difference.”

For more information on the Cooperative Program, click here.