Across the Miles

Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me. After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you—for I will be going through Macedonia. Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.                             I Corinthians 16:1-9

 

If you have attended church for very long you have undoubtedly witnessed the visit of a visiting pastor or missionary requesting support from your congregation. Often the visit includes opportunities to hear stories of the work they are doing and the people they are ministering to. Sometimes the visitor is in need of financial support for their work, but often the need goes deeper than that.

 

As Paul says in this passage, they often just need our time. God uses these opportunities to not only give the home congregation a chance to contribute in something beyond their city, but He also uses the folks at home to encourage, refresh and recharge the visitor so they can return to their work with new energy.

 

God also uses visits to sow vision in the hearts of future global workers. When I was a young girl I remember our pastor’s son coming home from his missionary work in Africa and how much that influenced my heart for mission work. This influence continued in my life for the next 30 years and affected my choice of college, career and church ministry involvement.

 

Visiting pastors and missionaries also give a focus to the offerings of the church. Often churches in the West want to help, but don’t know who needs help the most or what the money will be used for once it’s sent. A visitor can often talk about the areas of greatest needs and explain how the money will be spent. This is God’s way of providing the home church with guidance for planning their financial giving oversees.

 

Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.                                                  Ecclesiastes 11:1