Global GospelSample

Serving Side-by-Side

Partnership in the gospel is a shared life. To serve side-by-side is to walk with others in mutual respect, recognizing that theHoly Spirit equips all people, regardless of nationality or title, to lead and to serve.

In DR Congo, this truth is lived out through ministries such as the Paul Carlson Partnership’s Medical Ambassadors program. Teams of skilled medical professionals from the U.S. travel to Congo, not to replace local expertise but to learn from Congolese colleagues who know the needs of their communities firsthand. These Congolese leaders—doctors, nurses, and health workers—are already faithfully caring for their people. The role of the Medical Ambassadors is to come alongside them, sharing specialized skills, training trainers, and building relationships. Those local leaders continue the work long after the visitors have returned home.

The Karawa Coffee Project paints a similar picture. Once a thriving industry, coffee farming in the Karawa region had nearly collapsed after market prices fell and bushfires destroyed crops. In 2017, Paul Carlson Partnership, Café Africa, and the Covenant Church of Congo launched the Karawa Coffee Project with a clear commitment that the farmers themselves would own the work. Today, more than 2,000 producers are part of the FUPROCAF cooperative, steadily increasing harvests and building toward the goal of producing 1,000 metric tons by 2026.

The impact is tangible. One farmer, Kelebe Ndiwa, used his earnings to replace his home’s thatched roof with metal—a symbol of God’s provision and a reminder that empowerment allows families to make lasting improvements. For many families, coffee sales have meant education for their children, better access to healthcare, and renewed dignity.

This model of serving together is not limited to Africa. Merge Ministries prepares teams to serve in communities globally with a posture of humility, encouraging them to listen first, follow the lead of local pastors, and share in the work already being done. Teams often find that the greatest fruit comes not from their projects but from the relationships built through shared meals, worship, and prayer.

Serving side-by-side requires more than generosity—it requires humility. It means setting aside the need to be the primary driver of change and becoming a companion in God’s work. Psalm 119:63 reminds us that our unity is rooted in a shared relationship with God, not in shared geography or culture.

Whether in Congo, Latin America, or our own neighborhoods, the most enduring ministry happens when we shift from being helpers to being companions—learning together, growing together, and reflecting the love of Jesus together.

Reflection Question

Where might God be inviting you to move from “doing for” to “serving with” in your ministry, workplace, or community?

Prayer Points

• For missionaries and local leaders to serve as equal partners, valuing each other’s gifts
• For long-term sustainability in partnerships like the Medical Ambassadors and Karawa Coffee Project
• For humility and mutual learning in every cross-cultural ministry
• For local ownership of initiatives to strengthen communities and faith

Prayer

Lord, thank you for the gift of companionship in your mission. Teach us to walk side-by-side with humility, honoring the gifts of others and trusting you to lead us together. May we always seek to empower, encourage, and glorify you. Amen.