OAC Publications
Borderlines
April 1998

TOGETHER - IN MISSION

by Mark Detzler

Partnership lies at the heart of Kingdom work. Paul tells the Corinthians that the Macedonian Christians, "urgently pleaded ... for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints".

We often imagine the missionary as a solitary figure, preaching the gospel to people who have had no prior contact with Christianity. But Southern Europe is a nominally Christian culture, where evangelical churches have been present for a long time. A missionary's ministry therefore involves relating to others who are serving God in the same situation.

God saves and sends individuals and leads into many different forms of service. However, whatever the ministry, the watchword must be 'investment'.

The aim of the missionary must be to pour his or her life into others: unsaved parents at the school gates; onlookers in an open-air meeting; young leaders; children in a club; even other missionaries.

Forgetting self is crucial, not only for spiritual growth, but also for effective service. People who are determined to make themselves indispensible are a liability. But, if our desire is to see others become whole in Christ, grow in grace and then become leaders, we can expect God to use us.

Wherever we live, whatever our gifting, each one of us can be a partner in the work of the Kingdom and know the joy of doing God's will, in God's Kingdom, God's way. Whose life are you investing in?