When Paul wrote to the church in Philippi, he said, “I thank my God every time I remember you… because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” His words reveal something more than appreciation for financial support. They express deep affection for a church that had joined him in heart and mission–a true partnership in the gospel.

The Gospel Is Our Motivation

A partnership is “associating together for a common purpose.”  What is our common purpose in the BMA? It is not a project or a program; it is a Person. Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, is the reason we go, give, pray, and serve. The gospel changes everything. It reconciles people to God and brings hope where there was none. This is why Paul could rejoice even in hardship, because every sacrifice advanced something eternal.

In our churches, we need that same gospel-driven motivation. The gospel doesn’t just save us; it shapes us. It compels us to join hands with others who share the same vision of seeing Christ proclaimed among all peoples. When the gospel becomes our shared passion, partnership becomes the natural expression of our faith.

A Gospel-based Partnership 

Partnership in the gospel is not just affiliation–it’s a shared vision, a shared investment, and a shared burden.

• A shared vision: We long to see God’s glory among all nations. Our aim is not to build one church’s name or one organization’s brand, but to see Jesus exalted among every nation, tribe, and tongue.
• A shared investment: Partnership involves bringing what God has given us–our prayers, people, and resources–to advance His mission. We do this not out of duty or obligation but as Paul said in Philippians 4 “a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.”
• A shared burden: True partnership carries the weight of the mission together. The Philippians shared in Paul’s suffering and struggle for the gospel. We, too, are called to stand with others in the work, even when it costs us.

Paul’s gratitude to the Philippians was not only for their support–it was for their shared heart in the mission. 

The Gospel is costly but worth it

A gospel partnership is costly. It requires a sacrifice of serving and a sacrifice of giving. We don’t go or give purely based on duty or guilt, but out of a burden and love for God and the people to whom he willingly sacrificed himself. We share in the cost knowing that our sacrifice is an investment in eternity. And as Paul told the church in Philippians 4, our giving then becomes as a “fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God”. 

The gospel is costly but it is worth it. Nothing else, and no one else, has the power to truly transform a life or redeem a soul. When a church chooses to engage in gospel partnership, it declares: “We believe this good news is the hope of the world.” Every prayer, every gift, every act of faith becomes an act of worship and a part of God’s unfolding story of redemption.

World Missions Day – Partners in the Gospel

This same invitation is open to us: to become true partners in the gospel. This is our request for World Missions Day. That we would be churches motivated by the gospel– praying and giving for the advancement of the gospel and the glory of God. 

World Missions Day – February 22, 2025 – Let’s link arms for the sake of Christ and the world He loves. The gospel has changed us…now let it change the world through us.