FEBC Global

“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.”   (3 John 1:5-8)

Introduction

A “Partnership” is a link between people working together for a common cause. The previously used term, “Mission”, is a task-oriented term with the idea that one person, or a group of persons, are sent out for a specific job, in this case, spreading the Gospel. With partnerships, all people are involved by sharing some portion of work, the goers and the senders. They are our partners on the frontlines; we are their partners behind the scenes.

Step 1 – Recognize the need

Our global partners are sent where Satan has had a strong hold for years, and he does not want to give it up. When we send soldiers out to battle, there is a strong support team backing them up who are considered a “line of communication”.  Paul lists a variety of spiritual gifts and not one is above the other. Everyone is needed for edification and support in this battlefield.

Our global partners are going into areas completely foreign to them. They need support and encouragement from the people at home. Satan is active at home, also, to keep us from encouraging our partners.

Global partners go through stages as they encounter and adjust to their new reality.

• Affirmation from God – When they get the nudge toward missions, they look for the approval and encouragement from God, Himself. When Moses was called, he needed to know that God was behind him providing everything he needed for his “mission”.
• Preparation for departure – They get affirmation from the local church body, after which they prepare to go. They gather support, they get shots, they get their passports, they get their plane tickets. A lot needs to be done in preparation to go overseas or head off to training with their organization.
• Arrival in their new location – They board the plane restless and wide-eyed. When they land, they emerge into a whole new world. The language, the weather, the buildings, even the smells present new experiences. All the inconveniences of a new place are considered an exciting adventure.
• Culture shock – Soon they realize that these inconveniences will never be fixed here. They are in a new world of reality. The excitement turns to dread with “What’s next?”
• Ministry of love – It is the love of Christ that motivates our global partner to continue. They can do this because of the prayers of the partners at home. There will be challenges, but they can make it through because of this love.
• Anticipation of return – The time comes for the global partner to return to home base to give reports. They have made strong friendships with people in their new field, but they are also anxious to see old friends and family again.
• Reverse culture shock – After being in a different culture for a number of years, they come back to home. Things (churches, communities) have changed; people have changed; they’ve changed. This requires another type of adjustment.
• Full integration – Finally, our global partners recognize their new self and how they can assimilate into their home environment. They make themselves available to serve in their home community and, when the time comes, be ready to go out again.

“No cross-cultural worker should leave home without a strong, integrated, educated, knowledgeable, excited-as-he-is, active team of people who have committed themselves to the work of serving as senders.” (Pirolo, p. 21)

There are many specific things you can do to be a part of your global partner’s ministry. Look for Steps 3-9 in future Letters to the Churches. We will send them to each church, and they will be available on our website – www.febcmissions.com.

What to do now –

1. Pray for your global partners. Let them know you are praying.
2. Look for practical ways to help them.
3. Read Serving as Senders by Neal Pirolo
4. Review Global Partner Preparation Manual available through the FEBC office.

Citation:

Pirolo, Neal, Serving as Senders, Emmaus Road, International, 1991.