Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Romans 12:10
“Friendship is one of the greatest gifts a human being can receive. It is a bond beyond common goals, common interests, or common histories. It is a bond stronger than sexual union can create, deeper than a shared fate can solidify, and it can be even more intimate than the bonds of marriage or community. Friendship is being with the other in joy and sorrow, even when we cannot increase the joy or decrease the sorrow. It is a unity of souls that gives nobility and sincerity to love. Friendship makes all of life shine brightly. Blessed are those who lay down their lives for their friends.”
Henri Nouwen in Bread for the Journey: A Daybook of Wisdom and Faith (New York: HarperCollins, 1997) reading for 7 January.
Today I will meet up with a friend, Peter Fiorello, executive director of Black Rock Retreat. We’ve collaborated in the Kingdom for more than a decade. We enjoy the mutually beneficial gift of friendship. We are devoted to each other.
We have talked for a couple years about traveling to Chile to serve Christian workers crying out for help like the Macedonian man in the vision Paul saw in Acts 16:9. They want assistance in biblical governance, ministry administration, and Christian fundraising.
Recently Peter had an idea. He reached out to me and shared it. “The camp has some resources. What if we fly these influential workers from Chile to USA and GTP helps train them in governance, administration, and partnership work?”
We prayed. They loved the idea. The rest is history. This is a beautiful picture of collaborative giving. We are combining the facilities, knowledge, and resources that we have to multiply stewards who will impact thousands through their service.
That’s the work of GTP. It’s going to be a long, complex, and rewarding week. Pray for me and my translator, Carla Archila of Guatemala, to help them understand and use a series of templates to build organizational capacity for fruitful ministry.
What about you? Do you have a friend with whom you share common interests? What if you teamed up to serve others generously so that your giving did not create dependency but built them up as disciples?
Ask the Spirit to guide you and call the person that comes to mind like Peter called me.