Jesus’ prayer for unity in his church
Alan Purser has a careful look at what Jesus was actually saying
John 17 is holy ground: Jesus prays for unity, that his church may be one. For this is the key to effective mission.
Partnership
Ray Porter’s recent article on Missionary Funding (EN, November 2009) raises important issues.
But it leaves the reader with more questions than answers. How then should long-term, international cross-cultural gospel work be funded? What is the responsibility of those who set their hearts on doing this kind of work? What is the proper role and function of a mission society, and how ought such organisations to be funded today? What is the biblical model for the relationship between churches and would-be mission partners? Ray’s concerns arise out of his long and distinguished personal experience of global mission and his undoubted passion to see proper provision made. However, a statement like ‘there is no biblical justification for burdening missionaries with fundraising’ frames the argument in a way that does not help any of the parties to grasp the biblical model of gospel partnership, which is an essential piece of the biblical picture.