Two by Two

Over the past seven months our family has been blessed to have the Paul and Loretta Hitz family here in Rankin Inlet assisting us in our ministry.  They have been a great help to us here, and we have endeavoured to mentor them in preparation for their future ministry in the Eastern Canadian Arctic community of Iqaluit.  Our family has greatly benefited from their encouragement and helpfulness during their time here.
In fact while they have been here we have seen some spiritual and numeric growth in our church-planting work. Though we are years away from having a New Testament church grounded and established in this community, this ministry has profited because of two dedicated families working toward the same goal – starting an independent, Baptist church in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Canada.
The task that a missionary faces is an immense one.  Going out and endeavouring to win the lost to Jesus Christ and plant churches has a multiplicity of challenges associated with it, but we have not been left to our own devices to get the job done.  We have the Holy Spirit as our Comforter, and the Word of God as our guide.  The Bible records for us a practical method which was used many times by Biblical missionaries. This method was to go two by two.  It is often interpreted in modern missions to mean that it is not wise for a single man or woman to go to a mission field alone, but rather a husband and wife team.  I believe this is a good practice for missionaries to follow.
Jesus Himself sent out his disciples by twos according to Mark 6:7a, And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two… One of the greatest missionaries that ever lived, the Apostle Paul, used this method in his ministry as well.  Throughout the book of Acts there are a number of references to Paul and Barnabas or Paul and Silas.  These men were there for each other for accountability, camaraderie, encouragement, fellowship, and for the simple fact that with more man-power more can be accomplished for the Lord.  Solomon, the wisest man that ever lived, wrote that Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. (Ecclesiastes 4:9)
In recent months I have come to see the “two by two method” in a different light.  I have observed first hand the benefit of having two missionary families in one locale. Practically speaking, I have seen that with both our family and the Hitz family ministering in this community by witnessing, inviting to church, visiting, counselling etc. our reach has been extended in the community.  Instead of just one family doing those things, we have two families ministering to the lost, and thereby have seen more ground won.
Not only does the ministry benefit, but our families benefit as well.  In remote communities where there are few genuine believers, the encouragement that each family can bring to each other is immense.  The simple fact that you know there will always be someone at the church services, can strengthen the resolve of the missionary to keep striving toward the goal.  The simple fact that there is another man with whom to have a deep spiritual conversation or to pray with in likeminded, earnest faith, can be a great encouragement to be sure.
Unfortunately though our situation is ideal, it cannot last forever.  God has called the Hitz family to pioneer a church-planting work in another needy Arctic community.  As the man from Macedonia in Paul’s vision pleaded, will YOU consider coming over here and help us in this great mission that God has given us?

-Nathan D. Jones, Rankin Inlet, NU, Canada

As a fellow church planter/missionary, I agree wholeheartedly with Bro. Jones.  We also have felt the need and seen the benefits of doing it the Bible way.  Consider it!  YOU could be his answer to prayer!