Relationships matter. They foster joy and meaningful connection in our lives. We rely on them to get us through hard times, strengthen our faith, and remind us that we are not alone. Relationships are a gift from God, and they are an essential part of the mission of God. 

Jesus intentionally engaged in three kinds of relationships:

• with God (UP),
• with fellow believers (IN),
• and with those who do not yet know God (OUT).

This month, we’re taking a closer look at Jesus’ IN relationships. Let’s pay attention to the important role trusted relationships with other believers play in the lives of ministry leaders.

Jesus’ IN Relationships

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus walked with the disciples, ate with them, talked with them, mourned with them, prayed with them, helped them grow in their faith, and sent them out two by two. Jesus lived in community with the disciples and sent them out in community because He knew they would need each other. When Jesus miraculously filled their nets with fish, the disciples could only haul in their sizable catch when they worked together (Luke 5:6). Sharing life and working together with the disciples was how Jesus lived out the mission of God.  

IN Relationships and the Ministry Leader

Ministry leaders know how important close relationships are to accomplishing the mission of God. But before leaders can foster those kinds of connections among believers in their churches, they need to examine their own relationships.

You see, pastors, spouses, and ministry leaders spend much of their lives investing in others. Yet many quietly carry the joys and burdens of ministry and life alone. Without trusted relationships with people who encourage, challenge, and pray for them, leaders can become discouraged and lose focus on the mission of God.

That’s why PLI’s leadership training begins by inviting leaders to reflect on their IN relationships. Leaders can only multiply what they have experienced for themselves.

They consider questions like:

• How are my relationships with other believers currently?
• Who are the believers who know me well enough to both encourage and challenge me?
• Have I been avoiding them?
• Where might God be inviting me to grow?

As leaders wrestle with these questions in PLI training, they study scripture, learn alongside other ministry leaders, and begin applying what God is teaching them in their own lives. Only then are they ready to begin creating environments that help other believers form close IN relationships.

Seeing It in Action

That’s exactly what happened for Godswill and Florence Chongsi in Cameroon. They asked these big questions: How can we help the people in the church we serve build these same kinds of relationships? How can we create an environment where people encourage one another, pray for one another, and grow together in Christ?

The Chongsis’ PLI experience helped them realize that people in their congregation were serving faithfully—but not serving WITH one another. As they intentionally discipled people, relationships began to grow. Those relationships became the foundation for a church that is increasingly united around God’s mission and connecting more people to Jesus.