On a recent visit David and I made to the First Baptist Church of Charles City, Iowa, someone asked me if any mission trips had come to visit us in India.I explained that in the 4 years of our first term we helped to host one Xtreme Team, but had visits by only 2 other individuals from ABC churches.I recalled what a tremendous encouragement it had been when an American Baptist woman, who had come to India for a family occasion, traveled 2 days to be able to spend an evening with us.Later that weekend, following the service to dedicate the new Partner relationship between us and the congregation in Charles City, another member of the church picked up the International Ministries' brochure on Discovery Teams and said he would like to see a Discovery Team of representatives from our network of partner churches come to visit us in our next term.What a blessing that will be to us!

Missionary Partnerships are an important new initiative of International Ministries, responding to the desire in churches and individuals for a deeper relationship with missionaries and a more authentic sense of participation in world mission.This also meets the need of missionaries for a strong support system for prayer, encouragement, and resources.In Acts 13, Barnabas and Saul discerned their call to mission service in community with the church at Antioch.The Holy Spirit gave them the vision collectively and the church "sent them off."I'm sure that this included not only the spiritual send off, but also a very practical send off with provisions and supplies for the journey and for the work.The practical part of missionary "send off" has been the role of International Ministries for many years – ensuring cultural preparation, establishing communication, offering encouragement, providing salary support, ensuring the care of missionary children – all of this and more using resources given by faithful mission-supporting churches.But in recent years there has been a growing sense that some of these roles should be returned to the local church community.

As a parent, I know that my love and connection with my children was built as much in meeting the daily needs of changing diapers, giving baths and wiping dirty hands, as in the more enchanting moments of the first step, a special vacation and family projects.In this same sense, it is important to the relationship of congregations and mission work for churches to go back to being involved in the practical care and "send off" of missionaries.

When David and I began our US assignment last summer, we were charged with the task of establishing a Missionary Partnership Team and Network over the course of the year.We have been amazed at how God has worked around us, placing in the hearts of congregations and individuals the desire to participate in the ministry to which we feel called.God is building up a network of partners that will play a vital role in our "send off" and be an essential part in our ministry.Our Team (MPT) will coordinate communication within our Partnership Network, particularly highlighting the prayer needs and answers to prayer.The MPT will help maintain the relationships within the Network in ways that we are unable to do from the other side of the world.There will be someone who will focus on the care of our three daughters, particularly as Anna remains in the USA in college when the rest of us return to India.Another member of the team will help gather supplies, such as educational materials, that we might need.Organizing that mission trip for individuals who feel called to come and offer a skill or encouragement in person during our next term is another task.And finally, the goal of ensuring adequate financial resources to sustain our ministry will also be important.Our MPT, together with David and I, are charged with the very practical goal of making sure that the amount of our living allowance and benefits are contributed to International Ministries in our name.This goal is $5000 a month.

So we would like to extend the invitation to all who would like to partner with us in ministry in India and at Kodaikanal International School, to communicate that to us by letter or email, or by sending the commitment portion of our prayer card to International Ministries.We will include you on our email distribution list and in our network communication.If you do not have email, we will also have a mailing list, and one of the members of our team or network will take the responsibility for getting the mission journals to you.Some network members are choosing to make a pledge of monthly financial support as a tangible and committed way of participating in the mission work.Some Partner churches have chosen to budget a monthly or annual amount that will help provide for our on-going support beyond their annual mission offering drive.In another church where they have a smaller budget, they plan to ask individual church members to match the budgeted amount with additional gifts.We have been surprised by the creativity we have seen in communication and giving.So we thank those who have come along side us to "send us off" and encourage others to prayerfully consider participation in a Missionary Partnership – with the words of IM's Mission theme for 2006:

Be Surprised By God.

Pray.Give.Be Amazed.

In His Service,

David and Betsy Perkins