Partnering with Missionaries: Locally and Globally
by Hank Albrycht

As a church body, SLPC supports eight local and eight global missionary efforts. The local missionaries have their operations within a twenty-five mile radius of the church. For example, Amnion Pregnancy Center, under the direction of Melanie Parks, serves Upper Darby and Norristown. City Team, run by Kwinn Tucker, is centered in Chester. Globally, the missionaries we support serve in Europe, Africa, and the Asian Crescent, which stretches from Indonesia to Pakistan.

In most cases missionary work is a family affair.  Many of our missionaries are also parents raising families. Before their mission field duties and responsibilities, they are charged by the Lord to train up their children in such a way that they too, would become followers of Christ. As these family dynamics are taking place in European, Asian, and African countries, there is the added burden of cultural adjustment and assimilation.

In the same way, every member of SLPC is a missionary or a “missionary in training”. For instance, a mom and dad are missionaries to their children. As parents, we all desire that our children grow up in “the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Eph. 6:4, KJV). The ESV renders nurture and admonition as discipline and instruction. Fathers and mothers are called to disciple and instruct their children. In a real sense, we are training our children to become missionaries.

There are then perhaps more similarities than differences among families at SLPC and families serving the Lord both locally and around the world. Because of these similarities, we might be drawn closer to—and be encouraged to—partner with our church missionary families. As a body then—and individually—we may become involved as partners with them in spreading the gospel.

Families interested in a “pen pal” friendship with one of our missionary families please contact Hank Albrycht at h.j.albrycht@gmail.com.

This, then, is more than a partnership. It is love in action.

 

COMMON THREADS winter 2022