together -Jan 2016

Editorial
This was the text we considered during our devotional times at the recent
Many People One Voice Consultation (see report on page 20). In writing
Romans, Paul was seeking to unify the Roman church and ground them
solidly so they could become a base for missionary work into new areas. In
the same way, for us in SIM to move forward together in collaboration, to
develop strategies to focus our mobilisation and communication into new
areas where people are “living and dying without the Gospel,” we too need
to be unified: not “same same” – that’s uniformity – rather “same same but
different” – strengthened through diversity. Not everyone will be doing the
same task. Not everyone will be the focus of the photograph of SIM, but we
will all be in the photo, contributing with our voice to the glory of God.
In Romans 15-16, Paul shares these very practical points:
• as many people, we need to put others first, just like Jesus did (15:1-6)
• as many people, we need to receive one another without any preconditions
(15:7-13)
• we all participate together in God’s mission – there are no second-class
missionaries (15:14-29)
• By Prayer: with one voice we pray together and for each other (15:14-33)
• with one voice we praise together (16: 25-27):
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the
preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was
kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic
writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of
the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God
be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
In this magazine you will hear from some of our mission partners who are
part of the many people singing praise with one voice.
Nigel Webb
3
May the God who gives endurance and
encouragement give you the same attitude
of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus
had, so that with one mind and one voice
you may glorify the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ… It has always been my
ambition to preach the gospel where Christ
was not known…
— Romans 15:5-6, 20 (NIV)