The following introduction remarks were written by my wife Karen some years ago as we were team teaching in a conference on partnership in marriage and ministry. In April of this year we celebrated 50 years of ministry together and last week 48 years of marriage together.  I want to share this to boast in Jesus and thank Karen for all the years TOGETHER! 

DISCOVERING THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIP

ECCLESIASTES 4:9, 10 “TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE; BECAUSE THEY HAVE A GOOD REWARD FOR THEIR LABOUR. FOR IF THEY FALL, THE ONE WILL LIFT UP HIS FELLOW: BUT WOE TO HIM THAT IS ALONE WHEN HE FALLETH; FOR HE HATH NOT ANOTHER TO HELP HIM UP.”

We have been a “team” for many years together. Our paths crossed in a rather miraculous way and our subsequent dating, engagement, and marriage was God ordained as well. Terry first laid eyes on me when we were in the 8th grade. At first sight, he was impressed by “something” that this, indeed, was the girl he was going to marry. For this to happen, a direct intervention from God would absolutely have to occur. That intervention did occur in the form of a life-changing gift of salvation that was received as Terry approached his twentieth birthday. Our paths in life, to this point, were polar opposites. We did casually date in high school, and then in college, our friendship resurfaced. I invited him to church with me. On the second Sunday that he attended our little country church, the Holy Spirit brought great conviction to him and Terry gladly repented from his sin and turned to Christ.

Our relationship deepened and led us to a place of total commitment to one another in marriage. Even before this event, we served in our local church together. Terry’s idea of working on a Sunday School bus route together was for him to drive the car, pull up in front of a house with children who were potential riders, and suggest that I knock on the front door to invite these children to church. I was happy to oblige and we built a great route that way. As the years wore on, our roles, responsibilities, ministries, passions, and opportunities were constantly growing, changing, and adapting. Sometimes we served shoulder to shoulder and sometimes we used our giftedness in very unique and individual ways. WE FOUND THAT WE ALSO MINISTERED TO EACH OTHER BY FREEING THEM TO SERVE OTHERS WITH THEIR INDIVIDUAL GIFTEDNESS. THE RESULT BEING THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE GOOD OF MAN.

We have found that all of life is sacred. We may serve our Savior in visible ways that are geared toward ministries in our church. But we also serve Him together as we have reared our children and now help to inMluence our grandchildren for God’s kingdom. As we grow closer to God in our individual lives, we ultimately grow closer to one another.

There is great satisfaction in serving together. Spiritual growth is a very welcome added benefit. This, of course, does not happen automatically. Hebrews 10:24-25 states “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Another by product is that the two of us have become best of friends. Don’t friends enjoy doing things together, sharing the achievement of common goals? Aren’t hearts knit together in intimate oneness that happens in no other way? This often causes two to partner in even more ways. The potential result is that our churches are strengthened, our neighborhoods are strengthened, and our communities are blessed with changed lives.

Synergy is achieved when two or more people work together to create a better solution than either could alone. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. This is a beautiful picture of what happens when two individuals determine to combine their God-given talents and work together for the glory of His kingdom. Helen Keller said, “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” Sometime do a study of geese flying in a flock. It is astounding how God has equipped them to be so much more efficient and productive when they function in formation TOGETHER.

Though not deserved, Terry and I have been blessed in untold ways by our Father. Many of these blessings are a result of living life together with the same focus and purpose. We are able to provide for one another a sounding board and support. Proverbs 27:17 – “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Our goal as a team that our loving Father orchestrated is found in Romans 15:5-6. “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”