By Ian Ashby

 
I’m sitting in an airport in St Louis, drinking my Starbucks after three days of meetings with John Lanferman and the Newfrontiers USA apostolic team. I hate traveling. I hate leaving my wife and family and being away from home. But the people I work with make it worthwhile. I feel profoundly grateful to be on a mission with such great individuals, not only working hard together, but at the same enjoying fun, friendship and food. I am so grateful that I am not only privileged to work in a team like that nationally, but also with a team of leaders in New England, and at my home church in Portsmouth. What a blessing to be in partnership with those who share the same values and passion and yet at the same time who I can be honest with, debate with and even be free to disagree with, because of the love and respect we have for one another.

This is what Newfrontiers is about. Newfrontiers is just a name given to a growing family of churches working together for mission in an increasing number of apostolic spheres around the world. We work on the basis that we can accomplish more together than apart. But our ‘working together’ is more than just a pooling of gifts and resources to serve a common cause. In the New Testament, the apostle Paul expresses great love for the churches that he was a ‘father’ to, even speaking of an ‘intense longing’ to be with them in person. He also writes with deep affection about his many co-workers who he refers to variously as, ‘brothers’, ‘sisters’ and ‘sons.’ This is our language. It's the language of the early church. It’s how our heavenly father intends us to relate to one another within the local church and as a ‘family’ of churches. This is biblical Christianity.

Sadly it is not the language and practice of many churches and denominations today. I am saddened when I listen to the loneliness of so many pastors and ministers in the USA who have been taught that they should have no friends within their congregations; who have no team to pray with or to help shoulder the pastoral burden; who speak more like CEO’s running a business, with staff that might be hired or fired depending on their performance; who have no one who cares enough to ask them, ‘how are you doing, how’s your family, is there anything I can do to help?’ Tragically, a corporate company like Starbucks seems to have a friendlier and more caring environment than many churches today

That’s why, as I sit here with my grande filtered coffee, served with a smile from someone who’s been paid to make me feel cared for, I feel very grateful for my friends at Harbor Church and for my friends in Newfrontiers. It is a joy to work with you and to be related to you. Thank you.