By Kathy Davis | Holistic Care
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ and a mighty man of faith, encountered affliction that left him so utterly burdened beyond his strength that there were times he despaired of life itself.
2 Corinthians 1: 9-11 reminds us that there is purpose even in hardship:
“This was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessings granted us through the prayers of many.”
River Oaks Community Church in Maryville, Tennessee is preparing for their third annual partnership trip where a team of eleven will be going to serve alongside Fountain of Hope Church in Nairobi, Kenya. After three years in partnership together through World Orphans, these two churches have become far more than partners; they are a family who love one another deeply from the heart. This partnership takes seriously the privilege of praying and relying on God, as Fountain of Hope continues to provide and care for 24 orphans, plant new churches, and share the hope of the Gospel in their community.
Christ has mobilized the church to be the means of sharing resources for those in need. One of the most fruitful ways for two churches from across the globe to partner well together and to stay connected is through an ongoing commitment to uphold one another in prayer. With each partnership trip, River Oaks and Fountain of Hope anticipate the joys of spending time with the children, partaking in the ministry of the church, and sharing the hope of Christ in the community.
Partnership trips are full of opportunities to minister together with a common goal of seeing people find their hope and help in Jesus Christ. Whether preaching God’s Word, feeding the hungry, or encouraging those making a difference in the lives of orphaned and vulnerable children, one of the greatest blessings of Church-to-Church partnerships is to uphold one another in prayer whereby people are helped, Christ alone is seen as sufficient, and God is glorified. What an inexpressible joy!