Page 20 - Voice of the Persecuted Christians Jan-Mar-2024-125

20
BOB: the (partnership) builder
When you read the New
Testament letter of
Philippians you cannot
help but observe the strength of
relationship that exists between
the apostle Paul and the church at
Philippi. In 1:8 Paul writes, ‘God can
testify how I long for all of you with
the affection of Christ Jesus.’ And in
4:1 he describes them as those ‘whom
I love and long for, my joy and crown’.
Their mutual relationship was
centred on a ‘partnership in the
gospel’ (1:5). The Philippians had
come to faith in Christ through
Paul’s work in their region (Acts
16) and since then, through their
prayers and financial support, they
had invested in his ongoing work in
other areas (4:14-16). Paul describes
their partnership as ‘sharing in his
troubles’ (4:14) and something that
caused him to ‘greatly rejoice’ (4:10.)
At Release International we have
always invested in developing close
relationships with our international
ministry partners and through our
Building One Body church partnership
programme we want to offer you the
opportunity to participate.
The Building One Body programme
enables local churches in the UK to
develop a deeper relationship with
one particular international project –
to support and strengthen the body of
Christ in a very direct way.
There are a range of projects to
choose from and when you join
you will receive regular updates
from our project partner, an annual
project report visit from a Release
Peter, pictured right, with minister William (centre) and fellow missions team member Eddie of Ellon
Baptist Church, which partners in the Building One Body programme
RELEASE
INTERNATIONAL
AND YOUR
CHURCH
Connect directly with a Release International
project through Building One Body
International representative, and the
opportunity to meet our partner in
person or online. In turn we ask you
to promote awareness of the project
throughout your congregation,
commit to praying together
regularly for the work, and commit
to supporting the project through
regular financial giving.
Several churches across the UK have
already joined the Building One
Body programme and have really
appreciated developing a deep
connection with their chosen project.
They know the people they are
praying for, they are ‘sharing in their
troubles’ and rejoicing with them,
and they are seeing the important
difference their support is making.
Ellon Baptist Church in Aberdeenshire
is one of those congregations. Peter,
a member of the missions team,
said: ‘Ellon Baptist Church has been
privileged to partner with a Building
One Body project over the past few
years. It has been great for us to have
this focus and the regular updates are
really helpful in allowing us to pray
for specific needs. We recently had
a visit from Release International’s
partners who run the project. This was
such a blessing and inspiration for our
church. Meeting folks in person makes
our links and support much more
meaningful and has encouraged more
people in our own fellowship to be
more committed to this support.’
Chris Taylor, pastor at Hope Church in
Goldthorpe, South Yorkshire, which
recently joined the programme,
said: ‘As a church, we want to have
the closest possible relationship
with our mission partners. Release
International’s Building One Body
programme is enabling us to begin
a direct partnership with those
ministering to persecuted Christians
in Nigeria. These are people we are
hoping to take into our hearts and
prayers, not simply through a one-off
appeal (valuable though those are),
but through regular contact and long-
term partnership.’
Contact James Fraser at jfraser@
woocommerce-1195296-4229685.cloudwaysapps.com to find
out how your church can be part of
Building One Body.