Kitchen Table Theology
Where Coffee, Conversation, and Theology Meet. During my 40 years in ministry, I’ve developed an increasing burden for what I sense to be an increase in biblical illiteracy, not only among those in our churches, but also in the young men and women entering the ministry. Conversely, I am hopeful, because I also sense a hunger from people to learn and know biblical truth and the things of God has revealed to us in Scripture. Our Kitchen Table Theology team has developed a list of over 150 doctrinal topics which I, along with one of my cohosts, Jen Denton or Tiffany Coker, examine weekly. Our goal is to educate and share biblical truth on the same level as if we were sitting at your kitchen table with a Bible and a pot of southern pecan coffee in front of us. Welcome to the table!
Kitchen Table Theology
229 Southern Baptist Convention | Spreading the Gospel, Funding & Evangelism with Jay Hardwick | Pt. 2
Reverend Jay Hardwick, senior pastor of Forest Hills Baptist Church and president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, returns for Part 2 of our discussion on the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).
We discuss how Southern Baptists work together through church planting, missionary efforts, and theological education. The cooperative generosity of SBC churches has fueled missions across North America and around the world, supporting thousands of church planters, seminary students, and global missionaries.
If you missed Part 1 of our conversation, be sure to go back and listen to episode 228.
Here’s What We Discussed
00:00 The North American Mission Board (NAMB)
SBC has long been dedicated to evangelizing the world, supporting missions both locally and globally. Pastor Jeff and Pastor Jay discuss the role of NAMB in supporting church planting, evangelism, and strengthening churches across North America. The SEND Network has helped Southern Baptists focus on major cities, training new church planters and ensuring they have the support they need to succeed.
03:26 The Cooperative Program – Fueling Missions
The Cooperative Program is the financial backbone of SBC missions. Rather than requiring churches to contribute a fixed percentage, churches voluntarily participate, pooling resources to fund seminaries, missionaries, and outreach efforts.
07:12 The International Mission Board (IMB)
The SBC is home to the world’s largest missionary-sending agency, the International Mission Board. With over 3,700 missionaries actively serving and more than 1,200 in training, the IMB ensures that Southern Baptists continue their global outreach, reaching unreached people groups and supporting international church planting.
10:35 The Role of Special Offerings
Two major annual offerings—Lottie Moon (Christmas) and Annie Armstrong (Easter)—provide additional direct-to-field support for missionaries and church planters. Pastor Jay highlights how these offerings have reached record-breaking contributions in recent years.
12:52 Southern Baptist Seminaries and Theological Education
With six world-class seminaries, the SBC provides theological education at a significantly reduced cost for students from SBC churches. Pastor Jay shares how this investment in education is raising up the next generation of pastors, missionaries, and ministry leaders.
16:15 Stewarding the Future of the SBC
From growing up in a Southern Baptist church to serving as a pastor and convention leader, Pastor Jay has had a long history with SBC continuing the mission while also recognizing the SBC’s challenges and opportunities for growth.
Connect with Reverend Jay Hardwick
- Twitter:https://x.com/jayhardwick
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayhardwick/
- Forest Hills Baptist Church - https://www.fhbc.org
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Remember, the real power of theology is not only knowing it but applying it. Thanks for listening!