Partnership as an Evangelistic Signpost 

Evangelism is an exercise in partnership. As ambassadors for Christ, God is “making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20, CSB). In ministry, we are “working together” with God (2 Corinthians 6:1). We also partner with each other. Few start following Christ because of a single interaction with a single follower of Christ. Most interact with several (if not many) followers of Christ in their journey to faith. Some plant, some water, but God gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6). Even when someone starts following Christ from an experience with a single follower of Christ, their decision is the result of the spiritual partnership of the church in prayer. And when the church partners in unity, God is answering the prayer of Jesus in John 17:20–21: “I pray not only for these, but also for those who believe in me through their word. May they all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe you sent me.” Incredible: partnership is an evangelistic signpost of our unity with each other and with God. 

I think of my friend Lawrence, who is Hausa from Niger. As a young Muslim, he became friends with a follower of Christ in his community who began sharing the gospel with him. That follower of Christ introduced Lawrence to his pastor, who started meeting with him and sharing the gospel. When Lawrence eventually professed faith in Christ, his father denounced him as his son and kicked him out of the house. Lawrence then fled to Europe, via a lengthy stay in the UAE, where he learned Urdu in a community of Pakistanis. I met him in Barcelona through a connection with a short-term church group from Tennessee. Lawrence then shared his testimony with me in Urdu, translated by my Pakistani ministry partner. I called a Hausa friend in Nigeria who met with Lawrence by phone and taught him from the Bible. Locally, I discipled Lawrence in the faith and eventually baptized him in the community of our local church. Although his story is quite exceptional, his spiritual journey is normal: growing up in Christ through the partnership of believers who partner with God himself. 

Global evangelism should be an exercise in global partnerships. If God partners with us, shouldn’t we partner with each other? How do we partner in fresh ways as individuals, organizations, and networks, using all the means that God has given us, for the sake of the faithful evangelization of all peoples? 

Joey Shaw is executive vice president of the Global Alliance for Church Multiplication (gacx.io). 

This article was contributed by GACX, a Missio Nexus member.  Member organizations are welcome to contribute content to the Missio Nexus website. Learn how by clicking here.