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While each of us, as believers in Jesus Christ, has an individual call on our lives, we are not expected to fulfill that call alone.
 
The Apostle Paul demonstrates this in his letter to the Colossians. In Colossians 4:7-18, he clearly shows that with all of his gifts, graces and anointing to do the Lord's work, he could not accomplish it alone.

Paul was not a lone ranger. In the power of the Holy Spirit, he relied on a network of supportive friends and partners, a network that helped spread the Gospel rapidly throughout the world.

As Christians, we need to continue to rely on networks, supportive friends and partners in order to spread the Gospel to the world to fulfill the great commission of Jesus. In fact, our friends in the faith can help us grow as it is stated in Proverbs 27:17, 'As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.'
 
Some friendships develop through shared experiences. Some of the best friends we may ever meet are those we meet as we minister together.
 
Several years ago my district superintendent assigned another pastor and me to coordinate a district annual celebration for the Rev. Martin Luther King Day. We did not know each other personally. The celebration went so well that we were asked to plan it the following year.

As a result of doing ministry together we became prayer partners, trusted friends and close ministerial colleagues. Ministry tends to flow along relational rivers.

Reflecting on Paul's description of his friendships, we see they fall in five categories: the faithful, fervent, faltering, fickle and forgiven.

The faithful friend is one who encourages your heart. We all need encouragement. We need to ask ourselves, do we build others up or do our words tear them down?
 
The fervent friend is a fervent intercessory prayer warrior, one who is always wrestling in prayer for you that you may stand firm in the will of God.

The faltering friend is one who has been neglecting the ministry he or she has been given. Paul reminds us, 'See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.' This person may have been burnt out or lost their focus. Perhaps special encouragement is needed to persevere.

The fickle friend is inconsistent and has the capacity to desert you. Be honest and 'fess up, we all have the seeds of a potentially fickle faith because in our humanity we all have issues that we struggle with.

The forgiven friend is one who has sinned and made mistakes. True friendship extends grace and offers forgiveness as Christ does to us all.
 
Are you feeling crushed by your mistakes? Does it feel like someone or something has knocked the wind out of your sails? You don't have to stay that way. Failure happens but it is not fatal. We can make a comeback in Christ.

We are a church full of forgiven failures ? sinners. Are we willing to share our testimonies about our failures and our falls as readily as we share our triumphs?

Most people probably move between these five categories of friendship at one time or another along this faith journey. Stay connected with your network of spiritual friends and supportive partners in ministry. Take courage and be encouraged. 

The Rev. Patricia Pride is pastor of Ames UMC in Baltimore.

Celebrate: During your small group time this week, spend time praying together, celebrating before God those who are a comfort to you, who share with you in ministry, and whose lives are an encouragement to your faith.

Connect: Write a letter this week to a missionary and share your news.

Develop: Paul's instructions in this letter show how he intended for all of the faith communities among whom he worked to be connected. Consider what that meant. What does it mean for us today?  The United Methodist Church is often referred to as 'The Connection.'  What did Wesley mean by that?  If we live that out, what does it mean for the way we relate to other United Methodist churches?

Share: Share with someone how being part of a faith community has helped you.  Tell them of at least one other person whose love, encouragement, prayers or belief in you has helped you do something you never thought you could have done.