Our Global Partners 2021
By Wayne Williams--
I am always inspired, motivated, encouraged, and convicted when I hear the stories of what God is doing around the world through our Global Partners (GPs). Stories about how one of them has led relief efforts in the Philippines after the islands were hit with a trio of devastating typhoons within a month; about how whole villages in a Muslim dominated region became open to hear about Jesus through the love and sacrifice of another; about how yet another is training hundreds of evangelists in countries all around the world; and another is seeing many people come to faith in Jesus in the remote villages of Panama. Those are just a few of the stories your GP Ministry Team at Greater Portland is privileged to hear.
Over the next three Sundays, you will all get to hear stories like these from our GPs and guest speakers during our annual Global Partners Emphasis. In the next three weeks, you will get to hear from over half of our 16 Global Partners during the worship services, in the adult classes, on social media, and in our newsletter.
The purpose of the emphasis, and in fact, the purpose of the GP Ministry Team year-round, is to keep our church aware of our GPs, to meet their needs as they arise, and to provide prayer and financial support for them.
Greater Portland has a remarkable history of generous financial support for our Global Partners, far above what a church of our size would normally be able to do. Thank you and our Lord Jesus for that! Financial support for these sacrificial servants is managed through a GP budget that is separate from the church’s general operating budget. Each year, during the GP Emphasis, we ask each of you who are part of our church family, to participate in our global ministry by pledging some amount to support our GPs for the next fiscal year (July 1, 2021 – June 30, 2022). Based on the total amount pledged, the GP team then will set the support budget for the coming year.
I hope you’ll take advantage of every opportunity over the next three Sundays to learn about our Global Partners and their ministries and be as inspired, motivated, encouraged, and convicted as I am.