KOINONIA
God has called us as believers into Koinonia. He has called us into communion and fellowship with Him and with other believers. It is a vital part of our Christian walk.
Yet, it is a part of us that was missing 6 months ago. After being on the mission field for nearly 2 years we were feeling run down and discouraged and greatly in need of Koinonia with the believers.
But, God is faithful and He always gives us just what we need.
God blessed us so abundantly and we were able to spend a few months in the States with family and friends. It was a great time of refreshment. A time that we were able to spend in fellowship, a time that we were able to spend in face-to-face communion with those we love. It was a great gift to have those special times.
We will never take for granted being able to spend fellowship with friends sitting around a table sharing a meal or just enjoying coffee on the couch. Being miles apart means it’s something we rarely get to experience. And so, we are thankful for our time in the states. A time of Koinonia.
Once we returned from the states we were busier than ever with summer camps and events and yet again, fellowship. Each event opened new doors to meet new people throughout Bulgaria. As we met and encountered each person we were encouraged.
To end our summer we went to the Refresh Conference in Austria. This is a conference of fellow missionaries throughout Europe. I believe it’s safe to say that it was a great time of refreshment for our entire family. We met so many wonderful families who are serving the Lord wholeheartedly. Many new relationships were established and because of our like mindedness I believe these relationships will flourish and thrive.
We were so blessed to watch our boys make their own relationships at the conference. They were able to see that they aren’t alone out here. There are other children just like them, serving the Lord in a land that is not their own. That alone was an encouragement for us.
We were also blessed to have our missions Pastor and a good friend visit us on separate occasions simply to encourage us, build us up and commune with us.
And now, we’re here, back in Bulgaria with full hearts. We will not take these past few months of Koinonia for granted. God provided opportunity time and again to build us up and prepare us to pour out into the relationships we have here; the relationships that we can now move forward in, to encourage and build each other up.
We are excited to move forward in our ministries through this upcoming year and we look forward to the times of Koinonia that we will have with the believers here in Bulgaria.
“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.” –Hebrews 10:24-25