September 6, 2020 "Honoring Epaphroditus – Developing Deep Relational Connections to Our Missionaries" Philippians 2:25-30

In our series on Gospel Friendships, we are going to look at the crucial importance of developing deep friendships with our missionaries.

Waterbrooke has made it one of its priorities to make a difference to the ends of the earth. To do that, we are praying that we might equip and send people to partner and to disciple indigenous Christian leaders around the world. Doing that well takes careful prayerful effort. We want to develop deep relationships rather than wide shallow ones. Andy Johnson writes, “Partnerships shouldn’t be based on projects but on personal relationships. Often we’re tempted to think that we need to have our fingers in many places around the world in order to be faithful to the Great Commission. But keeping up with many contacts in many places often results in shallow and ineffectual relationships".

In most cases, churches would do better to pick a few workers and go deep in their relationship with their work.” In Philippians 2:25-29, we see a powerful example of a deeply loving relationship between the missionary Paul and the church at Philippi through their servant – Epaphroditus.

Would you pray this week that God would foster within us genuine and deep personal relationships with the missionaries we send and support? Would you ask God to give you a deep love for these brothers and sisters in Christ rather than just a distant one? What a difference Waterbrooke can make if we go deep in love and service together!