missional partnership

“Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others” ~ Philippians 2:4

(this is a challenge to my pastoral colleagues in the Church of God)

Let me just say at the top that I think the Project Link initiative is a great vision. But great vision is only a reality with great execution of the strategy. Project Link, as I understand it, calls for each church to get involved relationally with a mission, missionary, and/or international work. Now that project link has been launched, it is up to all of our churches to get involved somewhere.

Our church’s vision before I arrived as pastor was “Touching the World for Christ,” but we were not currently touching any part of the world relationally. We have recently set a future goal for that vision: to be relationally involved with some work or missionary on every continent. That’s a big goal and a bigger vision for a little congregation of 75. But as it has been said, “the way you eat an elephant is one bite at a time.”

Our first “bite,” was making contact with the national leaders in Guyana. We were warmly greeted by Rev. Colin and Carla Edghill at the North American Convention, as they were excited about our interest. We were invited to come, and come quickly – God was in it and he made the way for us. As I’ve just written in Alison’s testimony entitled “Risk & Reward,” God also was faithful to get her involved as well, as one of our lay-leaders.

This initial trip is what all of our churches need to be planning to do in the next 6 months. God can make the way for each pastor or lay-leader to visit the country, the missionary, the work that God lays on your heart. I believe that such initial trips are critical for the success of the Project Link vision.

Through the initial trip, each church becomes accountable. Whoever you visit has now seen you face to face. You have seen their part of the harvest field and other believers have seen you. They’re going to be counting on you to pray for them, support them, and return.

Through the initial trip, you receive a burden. You know the people, you know the obstacles, you realize what you and your church could do. You begin to hurt for what hurts them, and you begin to pray for God to use you and your church as part of the answer to their prayers.

Through the initial trip, your church becomes invested. Many of your congregation will give to make the initial trip happen. They will be sowing financial seeds and seeds of prayer, and they’re going to be looking for their return on their investment--not only what happened on the initial trip, but what’s next? When are you going back? What can we do until we get back? You’re able to bring back pictures, video, and other items to help communicate the culture and needs to your own congregation.

Finally, through the initial trip, new vision is born. During our time and prayer with the churches in Guyana, we not only talked about current vision which included the creation of a Ministry Training School (a discussion begun with Bishop Milton Grannum), helping the newest congregation build a building, and repairs to existing congregations. We also talked about future visits from Guyana to Alabama to help us in our part of the Harvest field, as well as partnering together to go and bless another work in another nation together.

Pastors, Project Link falls to each of us to lead our churches to get involved in the lives and ministries abroad. I know there is so much need here in the wake of Hurricaine Katrina, but our partnerships abroad are not just a one-way street. As we gave to the churches in Guyana, they continually sought to comfort us in prayer and some even gave financially to support the victims of Katrina. We all are blessed as we bless through missional partnerships—that can be the beauty of Project Link.