The Fellowship of the Gospel

Next week begins our church's annual Missionary Conference. We set aside part of the last week of September each year to focus on our responsibilities and commitments to global missions. Jesus Christ has commanded us to "go into all the world and preach the gospel" (Mark 16:15). Obviously, we as individuals cannot go into every part of the world to share the gospel. However, we still have the responsibility to be a part of that huge endeavor.
We can obey our Lord's command by partnering with those who are going to the ends of the earth. In Philippians 1:3-5, Paul thanks God for the Philippian church, and specifically for their "fellowship in the Gospel." He prays, "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now."
The Philippians had partnered with Paul in the fellowship of the gospel. When we studied the book of 1 John, we discussed what the word fellowship means. It is a partnership, something we have in common. Paul and the Philippians shared a desire to see the gospel go out to those who had not heard it. Because the Philippian church wanted this to happen, they actually helped Paul financially in his missionary efforts (cf. Phil 4:14-18).
This is what it means to be a part of the "fellowship of the Gospel." Not only are we giving the Gospel to our friends at school, people in our neighborhoods, and relatives, we also are supporting others who are doing the same thing across the globe. We can support them by giving money, by encouraging them with letters, cards, or even our personal contact, or by helping them in many more ways.
When our missionary Stuart Waugh spoke here in May, he made this statement:

"To publish the Gospel, and to strengthen the publishers— that is our work in the fellowship of the Gospel."

This week we will have a special opportunity to strengthen those who have made it their life's work to publish the Gospel. You can have a part in that fellowship: you can be a part of the Faith Promise program, you can talk to and encourage the missionaries, and you can consider how God might use you in the future on a missions trip. You can be a partner in the work of the Gospel.