Year End Letter 2024
FELIPE A. CHAMY
President of Neopolis
Gospel Partnerships: that’s the Neopolis mission. In other words, we partner with leaders and churches to spread the growth of the gospel. We desire to walk alongside pastors and churches and unleash global gladness. We, of course, are not the first to pursue partnerships for the gospel's sake. In eighteenth-century Britain, it was the custom that wealthy families paid for preachers to serve in their parishes. The temptation was to fill those positions with those who preached according to their preferences. The result was thousands of churches with lifeless Christianity, lacking passion for Jesus, God’s word, and gospel mission.
Thankfully, new partnerships arose as some prayed for faithful pastors who would serve God’s people well. One such partnership was between John Newton and John Thornton. Many have sung “Amazing Grace” and heard about Newton’s conversion from slave trader to Christian preacher. Most do not know, though, about the beautiful partnership that multiplied the gospel work in England, which had effects even across the pond. After reading Newton’s autobiography, Thornton was convinced he was a man of God and traveled sixty miles north to visit him. After listening to Newton preach, he began to support his ministry generously.
What strikes me the most about this is not that Thornton spared hundreds of British pounds (tens of thousands in today's currency) but that they became like brothers. A host of letters testify to their friendship and fellowship. Among other preachers, Newton enjoyed Thornton’s friendship and they spent vacations together.
This relationship is an extraordinary illustration of Paul’s theology of partnership. In Philippians, Paul thanks the church “because of their partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” (1:5). He ends the letter by rejoicing that they “partner together with him in his troubles” (4:14). As we meditate on this letter, we realize that Paul and the Philippians have a beautiful partnership that goes beyond financial support. What nurtures such a partnership?
First, to nurture beautiful partnerships, we need godly contentment. Twice in chapter 4, Paul says he has learned the secret of contentment in whatever situation, in abundance and need (vv. 11–12). He reveals the secret right there in verse 13: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Perhaps the most overused verse in the NT (think Tim Tebow's Phil 4:13 eye-black sign), yet it holds Paul’s secret for contentment: complete dependence on God’s power in any and every circumstance.
Second, to nurture beautiful partnerships, we need kingdom generosity. Paul commends the Philippians for sharing in the gospel while others did not. By sending financial gifts, the Philippian church enjoyed “the fruit that increased in their credit” (v. 17). In fact, their gift was an act of worship, “acceptable and pleasing to God” (v. 18). Paul assured them that “God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (v. 19). Paul here teaches what in Neopolis we love to call RKI, that is, Return on Kingdom Investment (as opposed to simply ROI). God uses partnership gifts to multiply his kingdom, the gospel, and spiritual blessings, just as he once did in eighteenth-century Britain.
At Neopolis, we have the immense privilege of partnering with godly men and women we joyfully consider friends. We enjoy fellowship with them, sit at their tables, and learn from each other. As Paul writes elsewhere, we are “mutually encouraged by each other’s faith” (Rom 1:12). We invite you to partner with us to spread Global Glaness by nurturing partnerships worldwide. Join us financially and relationally as we look ahead to 2025. Come visit our existing or future partners. There are vibrant opportunities already in Cuba, South Africa, Kenya, France, etc. Who knows, maybe God will initiate new partnerships that will multiply our kingdom investments, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19).
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