georgia

Casting for Fellow Workers in Georgia

Draper, UT – Scripture reminds us that there is a time for everything and that our times are in God’s hand. This is portrayed by Jesus when He instructed Peter and the others to go back out and cast their nets again and the catch was great. In January, my daughter (Heather Smith) and I travelled to Georgia to do some net casting.

We had the opportunity to meet with groups of 8-10 pastors and association leaders in northern rural Georgia, with the largest church having 60 members. They were all excited and wanted to hear about church-to-church partnerships with churches in Utah and Idaho; with your church. The question we addressed was “Why should a church in Georgia partner with a church in Utah or Idaho?”

Paul often wrote of “for we are God’s fellow workers” and that is what we shared. Small churches, whether in Utah, Idaho, or Georgia, are God’s fellow workers. We have much in common and have the same mission, issues, problems, needs, and successes. We have much to offer each other. We can be helping hands together.

Partnerships are all about two-way relationships; churches getting to know each other, working together for the harvest, praying for one another, doing missions together, being on the journey together, and so much more. Michael Card once wrote a song entitled “There is Joy in the Journey.” The first verse speaks volumes about what it means to be in partnership.

There is a joy in the journey,
There’s a light we can love on the way.
There is a wonder and wildness to life,
And freedom for those who obey.
All those who seek it shall find it,
A pardon for all who believe.
Hope for the hopeless and sight for the blind
To all who’ve been born of the Spirit

Utah and Idaho Pastors and church leaders, a church-to-church partnership will include pastors talking and supporting each other and, at some point in the future, can lead to in person visits. Good partnerships can have a ministry impact and blessings that last years into the future. Partnerships mean we are not alone.

In September, a vision team of 12 pastors came to Utah for the purpose of pursuing church-to-church partnerships. Out of that trip, several churches are developing relationships with Georgia churches. Other vision trips are being planned for the Eastern Idaho and Silver Lakes Associations. Georgia is excited and so are we and we hope you are too.

Do you want to know more about connecting your church in a Georgia partnership? Let us know!

-Gary McKean serves as Utah Idaho SBC’s Partnership Missions and Legal Consultant. Gary has provided helpful legal advice and general information on our website at www.uisbc.org/legal