Partnering Together in the Gospel
By Kelley Faler

Deep in the heart of every man and woman is the desire to share an adventure together. I believe that we all long for excitement and fulfillment in our life, and in our marriage (if you've read the books Captivating and Wild at Heart, you know what I mean!). God has given us that someone to share the adventure with --- our husbands. And He has given every married couple the adventure, the gospel --- the Great Commission, the mission of taking the good news of Jesus Christ into the entire world. I believe God wants every Christian couple to be in this venture together, as a team.

This month, my husband, Mike, and I are doing our sixth international mission trip together, this time to Berlin, Germany. Each trip is unique as God does something different every time! Mike and I have fond memories of each trip. There is something about working side by side in the Great Commission that brings you closer and makes your heart beat faster. It does for us! For those of you who have been on an international mission trip, remember the close bond you experienced with the other team members as you labored together in the gospel? How much more special when it's with your husband!

Our mission team has been meeting together over the last several months to prepare, plan, and pray. With each meeting, we experience more unity and a unique closeness as Mike leads us through Bible studies, various strategies on sharing the gospel, how to answer tough questions, prayer, memorizing, and reviewing gospel verses. Mike quizzes the team regularly. They know now to be ready to quote them at a minute's notice! It's stimulating to partner together in prayer for our team, the church we're going over to serve and encourage, the evangelism outreaches, and for the divine appointments with people who need to hear the gospel. As we get to know each other, our team has deepened and become like a family. Developing new relationships with each trip is a highlight for me…especially with the college students.

I enjoy supporting my husband as he prepares and leads the teams beforehand, and assisting him while we're there. God has put us together to complement one another with our different gifts and abilities. I help with the administrative duties. These include everything from passports and plane tickets, to scheduling meetings and reminding the members of the "next thing that needs to be done before we go." Last, but definitely not least, if you're a college student --- I feed them every time we meet (usually in our home), whether it's breakfast, lunch, or dinner. For this trip, we've covered all three!

When I think of Europe, I'm reminded of what Jesus said: "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few." There are so few Christian witnesses, in such a spiritually dark place, with so many people who have never heard a clear presentation of the gospel. I am always in awe of God's faithfulness and how He wants to use us as His ambassadors. God's love does encircle the globe!

In the New Testament, two married couples stand out in my mind. One couple is Ananias and Sapphira, but they were "partners in crime." Not a godly example! The other, Aquila and Priscilla, is an encouraging husband and wife team. We learn that they were a united team, always mentioned together in the Scriptures. They show us that a married couple can have an effective ministry.

In Acts 18:3, it says that Paul came to them and because he was of the same trade (tent-making), he stayed with them. In I Corinthians 16:19 and Romans 16:3-5, both mention that a church met in their home. Paul referred to them as fellow workers in Christ Jesus. He and all the churches of the Gentiles were thankful to them. As we look again in Acts 18:24-26, we find Apollos, a man mighty in the Scriptures, being taken aside by both Aquila and Priscilla when they heard him boldly speaking in the synagogue. Apollos didn't fully understand the gospel, so they gave him the rest of the story! Apollos became a great man of God in the early Church.

As a married couple, we also learn that they shared an adventure together. More than one, I bet! Remember, they were partners in the gospel with Paul. Imagine having Paul on a mission trip with you! According to Acts 18:18, Paul took leave of the brethren and put out to sea, and with him were Aquila and Priscilla. They traveled with him. Paul says they risked their own necks for his life.

As a Christian couple, I do not believe you can be truly fulfilled in your marriage unless you are somehow involved together in the gospel. If not, I think there will always be something missing. Even when our two children were young and I stayed home while Mike went on international trips, I prayed for him daily. Back then, the trips were two weeks with little or no communication. I couldn't wait to hear from him! I shared in his enthusiasm when he returned home with so many exciting stories and answers to prayer.

"God was faithful, Kelley," he would always tell me when he called after arriving back in the States. And I knew what he meant because of all the praying we did together for specific requests beforehand. When we reminisce now about these three trips to our married children, they can not imagine not being able to talk to their spouses. No cell phones then! As our children grew older, we were all able to go together to Central America. Another time, one of them joined us on a Europe trip.

When a husband and wife partner together, the world (secular & Christian) will notice. It's a testimony and light as it brings glory to God. It's a great model of what marriage should look like…a team! The Great Commission is an exciting and fulfilling adventure with my husband. I believe it to be the "sparkplug" of the Christian life and in marriage as well. It is one of the greatest joys we share together.

Kelley Faler

Linworth Road Church, Ohio

Prayer Request

Ladies, please begin to pray for this year's Faithwalkers Conference (December 27-30, Missouri and North Carolina). At the conference, couples and families, college and high school students will be challenged to be Totally Committed.