How often has a missionary come to your church and said, "I welcome your financial support, but what I really need are your prayers"? Although the missionary is sincere, I wonder if financial support and prayers can be separated.

The apostle Paul explained that he always prayed for the Philippians with joy "because of your partnership in the gospel" (1:5). The word "partnership" interprets the familiar Greek word "koinonia." which is usually rendered "fellowship" or "communion.”

The use of partnership here is appropriate because it captures Paul's relationship with the church. While thanking them for their recent gift (4:17), he told them that he had not been looking for a gift but "for what may be credited to your account." Through their investment in Paul's ministry over the years (4:14-16), the Philippians were shareholders in his work. Therefore, the fruit of his ministry was a dividend that belonged to them as well. This, of course, was not a formal business arrangement but a beautiful sharing (koinonia) in the cause of the gospel, expressed in terms of partnership.

In his letter, Paul outlines three elements of partnership: financial commitment, prayer commitment and personal commitment.

1. Financial Commitment⤒🔗

Paul refers to the early days of the Philippian church's acquaintance with the gospel (4:14ff.). Already they were supporting him financially. Again and again they sent aid while he was in Thessalonica, the next stop after Philippi. They were the only church to support him as he set out for Macedonia. The infant church loved Paul and his work and demonstrated that love in tangible ways.

I think we may reasonably assume that "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21) applies to churches as well as to individuals. When a church is miserly in its mission’s budget and makes it the first item to cut if there is a shortfall, there can hardly be an effective partnership. Books have been written about great churches with massive mission budgets, but here in the Book is the story of a small mission church that started giving generously to missions and never stopped. Although there are numerous ways to raise funds for missions, I try to point to the percentage of the budget allotted for such causes. I have encouraged this principle in the church I serve and in the mission churches with which I have been involved.

Several years ago we completed a building project which was accompanied by a significant increase in our budget. That increase included some additions to our missions giving, but before we could pat ourselves on the back we realized that the proportion of our missions giving in relationship to the rest of the budget had actually declined. The session then presented to the congregation a plan to increase the missions’ budget by 2 percent until we reached 25 percent of the entire budget.

The congregation swallowed hard but followed the recommendation. We achieved that goal in four years. We then proposed an increase of 1 percent annually and in five years saw it grow to 30 percent of our total budget. While it would be too much to say that our continued growth is a result of our giving to missions, the two are not unrelated.

2. Prayer Commitment←⤒🔗

I am convinced that prayer will follow fast on the heels of financial commitment. Some may protest that this position overlooks the prayer ministry of elderly or disabled saints whose income is severely limited. However, my experience has shown that these dedicated prayer warriors periodically send small sums to the missions for which they so fervently pray. The same is true for the smaller church which is not growing because of the demographics in the community but is still giving faithfully and sacrificially to missions. Such a church can still be a partner whose influence through prayer will make a far greater impact than the dollar amount it is able to give.

Prayer commitment does not follow financial commitment automatically. We need to renew our commitment to pray for the advance of the gospel.

Paul places the prayers of the Philippian church alongside the help given by the Holy Spirit as the factors that would bring about his deliverance (1:19). This is only one instance of the value the apostle placed on intercessory prayer for him (see Romans 15:30, 31; Ephesians 6:18-20).

3. Personal Support←⤒🔗

The occasion for the Philippian letter was the return of Epaphroditus, one of the church's members, who had visited Paul to bring gifts and expressions of love from the church (2:25-30; 4:18). Much of the joy in this letter is rooted in Paul's gratitude for their thoughtfulness. Investing in Epaphroditus’ expenses so he could visit with Paul was important to effective partnership.

Some churches send their pastors for such a ministry. This is important for the missionary vision of both the pastor and church, as well as for the encouragement of the missionary. Others in the congregation should be involved as well, perhaps as short-term missionaries. The Philippian church sent someone who was equipped to minister directly to Paul's needs.

We should not expect to have this kind of partnership with every one of our missionaries. However, our churches ought to commit themselves to this idea of partnership in the gospel. In so doing, we may pray for one or more with whom we may develop the closeness which Paul and the Philippians enjoyed. This kind of relationship frequently develops when a missionary has grown up in the church or when he has served as a pastor or intern, but there are ways it can be cultivated later on.

If I were a missionary, I would be concerned about leaving for the field if I could not identify at least one church as a true partner in the gospel. Veteran missionaries agree that one critical element in "staying power" is having partners at home.

Paul refers to the gifts of Epaphroditus and the entire Philippian church as "a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God" (4:18). The partnership between our local congregations and missionaries is crucial to the advancement of the gospel. Partnership is glorifying to God, and we who are called to stay at home must not underestimate the importance of our role.