“To the church of God, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 1:2) – oh how I love you, and care for you, and hold you deep in my heart. For we are ONE family, held together in Christ Jesus, called to the work of the gospel – the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:20).
My heart is overflowing with joy + thankfulness that I “may strive alongside you for the faith of the gospel” (Phil 1:27) Truly, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now... It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.“
I write to you to share my gratitude for the Church as one, but especially the ones ‘who have labored side by side with me in the gospel‘ (Phil 4:3) Whether in the past, the present or the future, know I am rejoicing in the Lord over you with a heart of thanksgiving and praise, even if we are no longer side by side.
I love you, I am praying for you, I support you and I will forever – for we are forever partners in the work of the gospel!
Truly, I thank God for each one of you.
to Him be the glory + honor + praise forever and ever!
with love & thankfulness,
Annie
Since I have begun this season of fundraising, paired with reading through Paul’s letters to the NT churches, the Lord has cultivated in my heart a deep well of love + gratitude + admiration for the Church. I can’t really begin to describe my thankfulness, which is why you could see I stole quite a bit of Paul’s good words. But truly, I love the Body of Christ more than I ever have & have come to see the utter beauty of being a part of a global body, fervently working to foster in the Kingdom of God, on earth as it is in heaven. For we have all been called & each get to play our own part with the set of gifts + talents + abilities + experiences + passions the Lord has given us!
“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (Eph 4:11-16)
I love this so much. And this is my heart going into the Race- to partner with the local church around the world in the work of the gospel the Lord has called them to, encourage them, serve them, share their story, fight for them & with them in prayer and build relationships that will cultivate eternal partnerships in the gospel.
And the same is true for each one of you too! I am so thankful for you and always want to love + support + pray for you! Please let me know how I can best do that! I would love to grab coffee + call/facetime + write letters to keep up and know what the Lord is doing in & through you!!
I also thank you for partnering with me as the Lord is sending me out with the World Race! I am overwhelmed with all of the love + support + encouragement that has come my way since beginning this journey! THANK YOU!
I love & cherish each one of you as my brothers + sisters!!
Annie
