Sometimes the most encouraging moments don't come from a major event or a significant announcement. They come from noticing how God is connecting people across different stages of His mission.
Recently, two seemingly unrelated conversations came to light within a short space of time.
One involved Sue Hanna, who is faithfully serving in Cambodia through FLAME, investing in the lives of children and families through education. Sue recently received an email from someone asking what it was really like to become a Mission Partner. They wanted to understand the journey and potentially where they might begin. For someone who has been involved in mission work for a long time, that's an inspiring email to receive.
Many years ago, Sue herself was deeply impacted by seeing people living in great need. During a visit to Cambodia, she encountered a young girl whose circumstances profoundly shaped the direction of her life. That experience became the catalyst for a journey that would eventually see Sue return to Cambodia and dedicate herself to serving children and families who had so often been overlooked.
Around the same time, we received a very different enquiry from the team at NZ Rally, NZ Rally is an international organisation that began in New Zealand. It is a club for ALL boys and girls aged between 7-16 years.
As children across the country work towards their Missionary Badge, the Rally team asked whether Rally members could connect with Mission Partners serving overseas. Could children write letters or emails? Could they pray for someone by name? Could they begin to understand God's global mission through a real relationship rather than simply reading about it?
The answer, of course, was yes.
We would love to help make those connections.
These conversations remind us that mission doesn't begin when someone boards a plane.
It often begins much earlier, with a moment that stirs your heart. A conversation. A question. A prayer. A letter written by a child. An opportunity to hear the story of someone faithfully serving God in another part of the world.
For some, those small moments become the beginning of a lifetime of service. For others, they become the first step in understanding that God's mission is something they can be part of wherever they are.
At GC3, we have the incredible privilege of standing somewhere in the middle of many of these stories. Our mission is to Inspire. Connect. Assist.
We are continually looking for ways to strengthen the relationships between Mission Partners, churches, supporters, and those exploring where God may be leading them. Sometimes that means connecting someone considering mission with someone who has faithfully served for many years. Other times it means helping a child write their very first letter/email to a Mission Partner. We simply have the privilege of watching God weave those stories together.
How can You connect with a Mission Partner?
One of the easiest ways to learn more about God's work around the world is to get to know a Mission Partner.
Visit the Mission Partners section of the GC3 website and browse by region or simply explore the stories and profiles. Each profile includes information about their ministry, current prayer points, and, where appropriate, contact details if you would like to send a note of encouragement.
Whether you're an individual, family, church, small group, or children's ministry, why not choose one or two Mission Partners to pray for regularly? Reading their stories and praying for their ministry is a practical way to participate in God's global mission.
Please note that not all of our Mission Partners are listed on the website. Some serve in Restricted Access Countries (RAC) where sharing their identity publicly could place them or those they serve at risk. While you may not know their names or locations, they are faithfully serving God in challenging circumstances and deeply value your prayers.
Whether a Mission Partner is serving publicly or in a Restricted Access Country, each one is faithfully participating in God's work around the world. Your prayers matter. Your encouragement matters. Together, we have the privilege of standing alongside those God has called to serve.
