Paul’s practice of maintaining strong connections with supporting churches provides a model for modern mission partnerships. Regular communication, periodic visits, and mutual accountability can help create a sense of shared ministry between the local church and missionaries in the field.

While looking through an old notebook, I ran across these helpful thoughts.  I’m not sure if they were original at the time or copied from somewhere else, but they provide a helpful template to guide our missionary philosophy. I’ve taken the liberty to enlarge upon these ideas, drawing from our personal experience over the last 30 years here in Central Africa.

The Apostle Paul’s approach to mission work provides an instructive template for modern missionary strategy. Paul’s method was both systematic and adaptable, beginning with those who were most receptive to the gospel message. He often started his ministry in new cities by visiting the local synagogue, where he could engage with Jews and God-fearing Gentiles who already had a foundation in the Scriptures (Acts 17:1-3). From this starting point, he would expand his reach to the broader community.

A key aspect of Paul’s strategy was his active engagement in daily life. He didn’t isolate himself but rather immersed himself in the local culture and economy. The book of Acts describes Paul reasoning in the marketplace daily (Acts 17:17), indicating his willingness to interact with people in their normal spheres of life. This approach allowed him to build relationships, understand the local context, and find natural opportunities to share the gospel.

Paul’s missionary journeys often followed a network of believers. He revisited churches he had planted, sent letters to encourage and instruct them, and utilized connections he had made to further his ministry.

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