“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 5-8
Beloved,
The summer is a wonderful opportunity to serve. One of the greatest seasons of growth in my life was when I spent two months as a missionary in Venezuela before my senior year of college. I woke up every day with the mindset of a missionary traveling to a college campus with the aim of sharing the gospel. Our team led many to the Lord Jesus and strengthen the disciples of the church. Our impact would not have been possible if it was not for Osmar and Mireya Barreto. They opened their home for our team and cooked us dinner every evening. It was their generosity and support to us, who had gone out for the sake of the Name, that empowered and fueled the mission of the gospel.
There are always two components of gospel missions. There are the sent and the senders. Both sacrifice. Both serve. Both share. We are fellow workers in the truth when we give to those who go. We are fellow workers in the truth when we go by those who give. I will forever be indebted to Osmar and Mireya and their children for how they supported the work of the gospel. We entered their home as strangers and left as dear friends. My indebtedness is also extended to those who supported the mission. It took over 30 prayer and financial supporters to get me to Venezuela. The sent and the senders are necessary for gospel missions.
We have several missionaries going out from us this summer to the nations. We will be having a gospel impact in Bulgaria, Mexico, Honduras, and North Africa. As they go with the gospel, we go with them. As Paul reminded the church at Philippi that as he defended and proclaimed the gospel in Rome the saints were, “all partakers of grace” with him. Can I encourage you to be partakers of grace as we send our people to the nations?
We will not only be sending missionaries, but we will be receiving missionaries this summer. We will have some of our own young people serve with us through Generation Link. We also will be hosting missionaries from other churches to come and serve our city.
Let us join together this summer with all those who go out and come in for the sake of the name that we may be fellow workers in the truth. Whether you are sent, or a sender, we all desire the name of Christ to be exalted among the nations! Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” Let us be a sent people who send for the glory of Christ!
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