“they have been wonderful encouragements” 1 Cor 16:18
“he came close to death for the work of Christ” Phil 2:30
“fellow workers for the kingdom of God” Col 4:11
“bond slaves of Jesus Christ” Col 4:12
“he often refreshed me” 2 Tim 1:16
“he is doing the Lords work” 1 Cor 16:10

The above statements were spoken by the apostle Paul in reference to certain people that preformed a ministry to the churches which in turn encouraged Paul.   Many of the people of whom Paul spoke have no other accomplishments to their name, save being an encouragement and a servant to the churches.

Looking at Paul’s journeys in the midst of his church planting ministry he spent significant time going back to encourage and strengthen those churches.  From his pattern we see that both those who plant and those who water are one in the same, not separate ministries 1 Cor 3:8.  In Paul’s final season of ministry it seems that his thoughts went out to the state of the churches he planted and the encouragement of those believers.

As we look back over this past year of ministry here in Indonesia we see that same thread of encouragement, strengthening the churches, and strengthening those in ministry, woven through all we have been doing. Too often I minimize this aspect of ministry because it doesn’t fit the exact view that I have of church planting.  On a recent trip to a village we had the opportunity to visit some believers who were sick and pray with them and their family.  On another night we got together with the believers and shared some testimonies of how God had worked through different circumstances in our life.  We walked through the village a couple times and chatted with people, some believers, some not.  On Sunday morning we met with the believers and entered into their discussion about the ministry of the Spirit and how it affects every aspect of life from cooking to working in the rice field to serving in the church.  After that I spoke with one of the local believers who has a ministry of selling basic medicines and encouraged him to be faithful and upright and use the opportunities he has to be a witness in the village.  Interspersed with these things we spent time talking and praying with the missionary couple serving in that village.  Of course the encouragement and strengthening we did was not only for others , we were built up and refreshed just as they were.

I hope this doesn’t strike you as boasting in ourselves, because we have completely the opposite idea in mind.  I’m more aware now than ever what Paul meant in 1 Corinthians 3:7 (GNT) “The one who sows and the one who waters really do not matter. It is God who matters, because he makes the plant grow.”[1]  We are still very aware of the fact that there are scores of places around us that remain outside the reach of the gospel.  That keeps us regularly praying that the Lord of the harvest would raise up laborers for His harvest.  Whenever I pray that prayer I always offer myself anew to the Lord to be a part of His harvest work wherever He would be pleased to use us. 

Thanks for the diligence with which you have and continue to send us on our way.  Titus 3:15 

After His Glory,

Tim & Andrea Ullum

[1] American Bible Society: The Holy Bible : The Good News Translation. 2nd ed. New York : American Bible Society, 1992