For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” Romans 10:13-15
Paul lays out some crucial and penetrating questions here, that as individual believers and as the corporate church we need to consider. Who needs to hear? Who should tell them? How will they be able to go? Who will send them? When Jesus said “go and make disciples of all nations,” he was giving the disciples (and the rest of the church) a mandate to take the Gospel to every people. What is amazing to me is that God has never needed people to accomplish His plans and purposes and yet He continually chooses to use us. What an amazing privilege and opportunity we have to join in with what God is already doing in the world.
So often we think of missions as the role of the few. These missionaries travel overseas to preach the Gospel and to establish mature churches in places that have not heard or are hostile to the Gospel. That’s what comes to mind when we think of missionaries.
But what often is not realized is that this perspective does not take into account how many other people are needed in order for the tribal missionary to be able to do what he/she needs to do in order to plant a church. People who are pilots, supply buyers, linguists, language consultants, and many more. These are the support missionaries who live in the nearby city. If their roles are not filled then it would be extremely difficult for the tribal missionary to be able to live in the tribe let alone plant a church. The biggest drawback to this perspective though is when we fail to understand a basic fact about the Great Commission.
God never intended missions work to be done by individuals. NO! Rather He designed it so that the church as a whole could work together to accomplish His plan in bringing the Gospel to the ends of the earth. We bear the responsibility of this, but are also privileged to take a part in it.
Paul in Corinthians gives us a great picture of what it looks like to work together. There are many parts to the body and each part is vital for the body to be able to function properly. This is a great representation of what partnership looks like. For Hannah and myself we will not be able to serve and equip future missionaries at the MTC (Missionary Training Center) without the Body of Christ behind us. Like every believer we will continue to need the accountability, encouragement and prayers as well as the finances in order for us to remain and to work out our part in taking the Gospel around the world.
Of course finances isn’t the ultimate goal in partnership. When we think of partnering we firmly believe that this means surrounding ourselves with brothers and sisters who are of the same mind in working together to accomplish what God has given us to do. We crave partnership with people who will pray for us continually, give cheerfully and generously to the Lord through our ministry, and encourage us when we’re struggling or facing opposition. These partners are just as integral to the missionary work: though in different roles, equally included in the blessings that come from sharing Christ with others!
Finally, as those who are partnering with us minister to us, we delight in ministering to them as well. When we are able to pray over or encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ, it is a beautiful thing to us and we are privileged to pray over those requests.
This is what partnership means to us. It’s the fulfillment of the Great Commission and it is an outflow of living fully and completely for Christ. I truly believe that in the midst of disagreements in the church, this is one way that we all can unify as one to continue reaching people with the Gospel of Christ.