By Nate Adams

Among the most significant times in our lives are those when we face insurmountable obstacles. Circumstances beyond our control. Tasks beyond our strength. Debts beyond our resources. Emotions beyond our ability to cope. During such overwhelming times we often find ourselves fighting to choke back tears, and we panic, realizing there is literally no hope of getting through, or over, or around that obstacle--without someone's help.

Then the help comes. A parent, a friend, a teacher, a pastor, a spouse comes alongside us. Their extra boost puts us over the wall. Their encouraging word or supporting dollar or physical help simply makes the impossible … possible.

It's true that many things in our lives can be handled independently. But somehow the most important, significant things seem to require partners.

On mission Christians absolutely need partners. Driving that point home is the purpose of this issue, as we seek to help you share Christ in the real world. You need other on mission Christians. Other on mission Christians need you. Why? Well, we have a magazine full of answers to that question, but to prime your thinking, consider these:

• On mission partners help me overcome the barrier of generic Christianity. There's no escaping the reality that most faithful, church-going Christians are not active in leading other people to Christ. The unfortunately accepted norm has become a generic Christianity where a majority of believers are content to meet and enjoy Christian fellowship and worship, yet they rarely invite those outside the church to meet God personally through Christ.
  
  Generic Christianity gives me permission to keep Christ within the walls of the church. It's a barrier I need help in overcoming. And other on mission Christians who help me overcome generic Christianity are my most valuable partners in reaching the people right around me for Christ.
  
• On mission partners help me overcome the barrier ofgeneration. I remember helping my mother carefully go through my grandmother's belongings shortly after her funeral. Nestled among her possessions was a "pledge card" from 1923 indicating her own mothersupport of a mission offering. I couldn't 's sacrificial help but be struck with a sense that my own faith was tied to this expression of my great-grandmotherwe were partners in the gospel, even from 's and that somehow generation to generation.
  
  It made me wonder if somehow her mission dollar helped someone I know--or will know--come to Christ. And it makes me wonder how I can help my own great-grandchildren hear the gospel.
  
• On mission partners help me overcome the barrier of geography. An overwhelming number of people in the world do not know God personally through Jesus and stand at the gateway of eternal separation from Him. And it's not just the size of the population, it's the spread of their location that makes the task of taking the gospel to them seem insurmountable. The easiest way for me to deal with this enormous barrier is simply to rationalize that I am too little to deal with it.

But Jesus said that individual Christians would be His witnesses locally, regionally and to the uttermost parts of the world (Acts 1:8). He said that His own physical departure would result in an amazing, multiplied spiritual arrival through the indwelling Holy Spirit in each of His disciples. In effect, He said that Spirit-filled believers who are personal witnesses to His grace are the solution to the geography barrier--if we will go, and help others to go.

Generic Christianity, generation, geography--these are just three of the major barriers that I have no hope of getting past with the gospel, unless I have the partnership and cooperation of other on mission Christians. As you read through the pages of this issue, may you gain a new sense of optimism and empowerment as you consider our powerful partnership in the gospel.

Nate Adams
nadams@namb.net