"Togetherness"

“Togetherness”

 

Over the past 30 years or so short-term missions trips have given many of God’s people opportunities to view cross-cultural ministry up close and personal. These ventures can vary from one week to two year commitments and usually have a specific purpose in assisting in the advancement of God’s work in areas of need. Members of our New Hampshire congregation traveled to more than 15 countries doing projects like construction, medical clinics, children’s work, training church leaders, and evangelism. As we worked with missionaries and national believers we were reminded again and again that “…we are God’s fellow workers….” (1 Corinthians 3:9).

Our church in Lakeland, Victory, sponsors several trips each year. In 2015 one group traveled to a country which isn’t friendly towards Christianity. The purpose of this effort was constructing a church building, but government red tape caused delays in obtaining permits and materials making it impossible to complete the project in the allotted time. However, God had arranged for a team from another church to finish the job. To apply the principle of 1 Corinthians 3:6: “Victory built the forms and dug the trenches for the footers, another church poured the concrete and put up the structure, but God got it done.”

The Book of Nehemiah describes the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem after the Jewish people returned from exile. As did Victory’s group, Governor Nehemiah and his workers faced intense opposition from those hostile to the project. But they each did what they could (“Half {the} men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows, and armor.”—Nehemiah 4:16) and the massive task was completed in 52 days (Nehemiah 6:15) because “…the people had worked very hard.” (Nehemiah 4:6, NLT).

We as God’s people need each other because much more can be accomplished by teamwork than by individual effort (“How could one {person} chase a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight….?”—Deuteronomy 32:30). So let’s be praying and striving for togetherness wherever God’s call takes us.

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan