 Around the world, millions of people are dying without ever having heard the good news that simple trust in Jesus will guarantee them a home in heaven. The task seems overwhelming. Obviously, no one person can do it all, nor should they even try. In 3 John there are some verses that give a hint to how God wants the work to be done. The Apostle John writes, Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore, we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth. (Vv. 5-8 ESV) The work is meant to be shared. We share in the ministry when we share in the burden of living and ministry expenses. If we share in the responsibilities of the work, we will also share in the reward at the end. The “good and faithful servant” commendation will be our reward as we support those who go out. I read somewhere that in the military, it takes about 37 people in support roles for every person in the battlefield. Just like there are many ways this support staff works to support those on the front lines, there are many ways to support global partners. An entire book, Serving as Senders, by Neal Pirolo, has been written that could be used as a handbook for the support ministries of the church. Sharing in the financial aspect of the work is not the only way to share in the ministry. Prayer also plays a big part in sharing the burdens. As we encourage global partners through prayer, we also encourage global partners through communication. We share the burden of the work as we communicate with them. The Apostle Paul often commends the people he is writing to for their generosity in making his ministry possible. He commends them for giving, for their hospitality, for their prayers and for their encouragement. All of these things make the one sent stronger and more energetic in their work. God promises that the people who do these things will share in the work and share in the reward. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. – Proverbs 11:25 ESV You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. – 2 Corinthians 1:11 ESV The final chapters in many of Paul’s epistles are rich in the simple things people have done for him which encouraged him in the ministry, encouraged him to continue on. These people shared in his ministry and will be rewarded.
The people in the featured image are sharing in the joy of a ministry as they receive word from their partners abroad. They share in this joy because they have contributed in some meaningful way to that ministry, whether it was financial support, prayers, letters of encouragement, just showing an interest in the work and keeping up with what is going on. Then, when they hear news from that partner, they share in the joy of progress and would share equally in sadness of setbacks or trials the partner is enduring. Becoming meaningfully involved with a global partner greatly increases a person's interest in the ministry and provides the conduit to share in the rewards of the ministry. Tags:
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We're a Team2/5/2025  My beloved friend, I commend you for your demonstration of faithful love by all that you have done for the brothers on their journey, even though they were strangers at the time. They have shared publicly with the congregation about the beautiful acts of love you have shown them. Now, if you would be so kind, send them on their way with a generous gift in a manner that would honor God. You see, it was their passion for the glory of the name of Christ that launched them out, and they’ve not accepted financial support from unbelievers. They are deserving of all the support we can give them because through our giving, we can partner with them for the truth. – 3 John 5-8 TPT The Lord’s work can be challenging and discouraging. The enemy wants to discourage any ministry that is effective. These people come to us as strangers but leave as partners when we support them through finances, prayer, and communication, providing moral and spiritual support. The “sender” is the basis of global partnerships. Neal Pirolo, in his book Serving as Senders, quotes a statement made at an Urbana Conference, “In secular war, for every one person on the battlefront, there are nine others backing him up in what is called the ‘line of communication.’” (p. 9) And so it is with global ministries. Pirolo claims there are two levels of involvement: “Those who go and those who serve as senders.” (p. 14) According to https://nationsoutreach.org/blog/christian-missionary-statistics/#71-leave-for-preventable-reasons, thousands of missionaries leave the field each year—many for preventable reasons. Missionaries tell Nations Outreach, “They struggle to stay connected to their home church and supporter base.” In 1886 a movement was started that was heard around the world. At the Mount Hermon Meeting, the Student Volunteer Movement started with sending 100 students to foreign missions which mushroomed to over 20,000 men and women being sent over the next 100 years to spread the Gospel worldwide. But, more than that, over the years, they enlisted more than 80,000 to stay at home and support those who went. God’s hand was in this movement, providing a firm foundation for those sent. In Mind the Gaps: Engaging the Church in Missionary Care, David J. Wilson provides thoughtful and practical advice on organizing a “sending team” in your church. That team must…
Churches can be an effective support base for missionaries. Read David Wilson’s book and also Neal Pirolo’s book to see how we can be a more effective support team partnering with those who have left home to serve the Lord in other places.
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What is the CoGP Doing?2/5/2025  As stated in the CoGP Handbook, “FEBC’s Commission on Global Partnerships exists to glorify God by encouraging global partners and assisting FEBC churches in promoting global partnerships”. Supporting Our Global PartnersSpecifically, we serve our global partners while they are on the field in several ways. We pray for them at each of our meetings, send an annual monetary gift to purchase a book they have always wanted to read, and encourage them by reading their letters and responding to their needs. We also serve our global partners when they retire from ministry by honoring them with a letter of commendation for their faithful work. Recently, several of our global partners have retired, including Dan and Carrie Ritzman and Joe and Denise Goossen. You will see commendations for these latest retirees in an upcoming issue of Fellowship Focus. Others who have recently retired include Dennis and Cindy Wiens and Darrel Heide—commendations for them can be found in previous issues of Fellowship Focus. We are thrilled to honor these individuals who have dedicated a significant portion of their lives to serving Jesus. Confronting the Challenge of Recruitment While we rejoice in the faithful service of our retiring global partners, we are also concerned that more are retiring than new ones are stepping into global ministry. In the past, our fellowship was known for having the highest number of foreign missionaries per capita compared to other fellowships. We take seriously the responsibility of encouraging our local churches to recruit new global partners who will continue carrying forward the vision of serving Christ in His global mission. One way to inspire and equip the next generation is by encouraging young adults to attend the biannual Urbana conference. This event challenges young people to consider global ministry opportunities. Representatives from various sending agencies across the United States and Canada are available to answer questions about specific fields and careers in missions. To support this effort, our Commission offers scholarships to help defray the cost of attending Urbana. Watch for more information about Urbana 25 on our website: www.febcmissions.com. Encouraging and Equipping ChurchesTo further support both our churches and global partners, we have developed a website at www.febcmissions.com. This platform serves as a hub for informing and encouraging churches in developing their own global outreach programs. Several retired and active global partners, including Roger Reimer, Gary Williams, and Rob Quiring, contribute blog articles to educate and inspire churches about missions.  This website also serves as a space to honor retiring global partners, highlight current global partners and their work, and provide updates on God’s mission around the world. Additionally, we include links to special events—such as Urbana 25—and to sending agencies connected to our many global partners. An upcoming feature on our website will be an article designed to help churches assess whether they would be considered a "Missions Active Church." We encourage you to visit www.febcmissions.com and subscribe to receive notifications about the latest blog posts. Readers can engage with us by adding comments, submitting questions about missions, or sharing ideas for additional content. For further updates, follow our Facebook page, FEBCMissions, where we post news from various sending agencies to keep you informed on global missions. Building Connections for the Kingdom At the heart of our work is a desire to connect local churches, global partners, and God’s mission worldwide. Through prayer, encouragement, recruitment, and digital outreach, we strive to strengthen the bonds between churches and global partners so that together we may fulfill Christ’s Great Commission. Your CoGP: Doyle & Marilynn Lester, Rob Quiring, Roger Reimer, Amanda Tuller, Gary Williams
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4/11/2025
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