What are partners in ministry?
A friend sought partners in her ministry when she returned to the mission field several years ago.
She focused on finding folks to pray for her, because, as Oswald Chambers said, “Prayer does not equip us for greater works— prayer is the greater work.”
Once she filled a calendar of people commited to pray for her 1/2 hour once a month, she felt more comfortable seeking other types of partners in ministry.
Partner, of course, means “a person who takes part in an undertaking with another or others, especially in a business or company with shared risks and profits.”
Ministry is “a person or thing through which something is accomplished.”
Preparation before she needed partners in ministry
My friend works with a Christian ministry overseas.
She talks about the Gospel with people who don’t know anything about Christianity.
To go there required years of training.
She’s always led Bible studies and holds a degree in Bible from Multnomah College. For several years she worked at a Christian camp.
Naturally, she learned the foreign language and visited the country before moving. One of her ancestors emigrated to the US from that nation; my friend already loved the food!
Most impressive to me, she freed herself from entanglements before leaving.
Given she could not take much, she pared down her possessions to several boxes, two suitcases, and a guitar.
(Now that she’s lived abroad for almost ten years, she has more possessions!)
Before my friend went the first time, she had her prayer partners in place. We were people who knew her from years of working with her or observations.
The home church which supports her knew her character. They trusted her judgement, training, and willingness to be held accountable.
An international missionary organization careful vetted her. A mission in her country oversees her work as necessary. Fellow believers, both American and national, know her well. She’s not a “lone eagle,” on her own.
What else does a missionary need?
When God binds your heart to a person, place, or people, your heart yearns to be with them. It wants to serve, love, car, and be present for the needs.
During initial country closings during COVID in 2020, two missionary friends happened to be in the US.
John Wesley preaching to people who need to know (Wikimedia Commons)
Stays intended for six weeks and six months, extended far beyond their expectations.
Both desperately wanted to return to their country to serve.
I didn’t understand. Life was easier in the United States with their families. Why did they so much want to be back in Papua New Guinea or another country?
They both knew those places were their callings. They wanted to be “home” with their people.
Both returned as soon as they could. One flew the day after her country opened–36 hours of travel. The other had to fly even greater distances–which included three overnight flights.
But they got back to their jobs, their pets, and their friends.
God called them in the first place and they knew that’s where they belonged.
It had nothing to do with their circumstances. It had everything to do with serving their God.
What motivates a missionary?
Love and thankfulness for Jesus: the way, the truth and the light.
Praying for her, that greater work, is what she needs most.
But as the time draws near for her to return, she also needs more financial backing for that international missions organization to feel comfortable authorizing her return.
The New Testament reminds us of of a key fact, “a workman is worthy of his/her hire,
Father Damien of Molokai’i. (Wikimedia Commons)
1Timothy 5:18.” People who work in ministry, should be provided for by those whom God has called to a different service.
It’s an Old Testatment concept as well.
The Levites, the priests, were supported by the community so they could devote themselves to the spiritual welfare of the temple. They didn’t own land. The people who benefited from their spiritual counsel met their needs.
That’s not true for missionaries in foreign countries, though it can become true if they plant a church and live their long enough.
On supporting a missionary
I’m not called to move to another country and present the Gospel. I am called, however, to support my sister in Christ. I, therefore, am a partner in ministry.
It’s not just about money and prayer. I asked several people to define missionary partner for me. One long-time servant wrote:
“To be a partner in ministry involves giving, of my time and my prayers, and my finances. It also involves looking for ways to be involved or to support them.
I will be having someone to dinner next week here that I support. I want to hear and listen to what they have been doing and ask questions.
The same is true of my supporters. They ask questions and want to know [about the ministry]. They go out of their way to greet me when I am home.
I appreciate those who send a brief response when they get my email newsletter. It shows that they care and that they are interested, and even, that they read it!”
Partners in ministry include folks on prayer chains, or through eprayers via email.
My missionary friend knows people will pray if she asks. Those prayers are important to the need, but also to her peace of mind.
A local friend used a similar definition:
Ministry partner for me means supporting in prayer, with financial gifts, volunteering to help out the ministry with one’s areas of gifting. [It includes] promoting the ministry to others who may choose someday to become partners, too, and making an effort, if feasible, to visit the ministry to help.
I’ve known people who visited children they’ve sponsored through World Vision or Save the Children .
While they may have traveled for the fun trip, they’ve returned humbled. They’re awed by how little money impacted children in such an enormous way.
How hard is it to help?
Which takes me back to those original definitions.
Mary Slessor of Calabar (Wikimedia Commons)
Partner implies I feel a responsibility for the work–emotional, spiritual, financial. I’m willing to share the risks and the profits.
For a Christian ministry the profits are clear.We hope for new brothers and sisters freed by Jesus’ death on the cross and the power of the Holy Spirit to worship God. Our friends share the how and nurturing of freedom from sin and death.
Sitting in my comfortable English-speaking home in safe, clean-watered, America, what risks are involved for me?
None in the physical.
But in the spiritual?
“Well done good and faithful servant, enter into your rest.” (Matthew 25:21)
Asa ministry partner, that means supporting, helping, aiding, providing resources and, most importantly, praying for my missionary friends.
How about you?
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