We are a diverse people representing thirteen different languages groups, with Anglos, African Americans, and Native Americans meeting in more than 150 congregations.  Our fellowship includes large churches, some having attendance exceeding a thousand, and one or two with more than two thousand in attendance.  But, we also minister to churches with attendance of less than thirty.  We are indeed, a diverse people.

The Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma

This convention consists of 1,600 churches that fellowship together with the goal of evangelizing our state.

The Southern Baptist Convention

Since its organization in 1845 in Augusta, Georgia, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has grown to a fellowship of over 16.3 million members in approximately 43,024 churches in all 50 states and Canada. These churches work together through approximately 1,194 associations, 40 state conventions, 1 fellowship, and the Southern Baptist Convention to accomplish through voluntary cooperation far more than they could ever do alone. The Southern Baptist worldwide missions enterprise is funded in large part through the unique, efficient, and equitable Cooperative Program. A portion of the undesignated tithes and offerings of individuals received by SBC churches becomes Cooperative Program dollars. In 2003, these churches sent over $501 million through the Cooperative Program to their state conventions to support work within the state and the Southern Baptist Convention. As determined by messengers to the annual session of each state convention, a percentage of these Cooperative Program receipts is sent to the SBC Executive Committee for distribution to SBC entities. In 2003, an average of 63 percent of total Cooperative Program receipts was used for state convention ministries, and roughly 36 percent was forwarded to the SBC for national and worldwide ministries. Messengers to the 2004 meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention held in Indianapolis, Indiana approved the SBC CP Allocation Budget for 2004-2005 of $183,201,694.

The Southern Baptist Convention is the most diverse association of churches.

SBC churches include every race, nationality, and ethnic group.  Each Sunday, services are held in more than 80 languages in the United States.  One out of every three African-Americans in the U.S. is a Southern Baptist.

Advantages to Being Affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention

Every church associated with the SBC is an independent church. There is no denominational control or hierarchy, as there is in most other denominations. Each church is self-governed and determines its own affairs. For example, every "SBC church" chooses its own pastor. The churches also own their own buildings and assets and determine their own programs.

It allows us to identify with other Christians around the world who are known for their commitment to the Bible. Unlike other groups, the SBC has no man-made "creed." The Bible is our only authority.

It allows our church to choose from a wide variety of support materials that help us fulfill our purpose.

It allows our church to participate in the largest missionary organization in the world. Through the International Mission Board (www.imb.org), Southern Baptists support approximately 5,375 missionaries who are engaging more than 1,371 different people groups around the world. New churches numbering over 1,436 are planted through the efforts of more than 5,176 North American Missionaries, whose efforts are coordinated through your North American Mission Board (www.namb.net) and individual state conventions. Working together, Southern Baptists saw 887,537 new believers baptized in 2003!