Friends,
The Zimbabwe Volunteer in Mission (ZIMVIM) theme for 2026 encourages us: “Let’s not get tired of doing good, because in time we’ll have a harvest if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9
Every marathon has its milestones. Our son invited us to partner with him in one marathon by joining him in the excitement of the starting line, then hustling onto a train to get to mile 20 (where it is easy for runners to give up) with our “You are my sunshine” sign, and then finally commuting over to the end of the race, ready to embrace and feed him. These milestones became part of the story of our partnership in that race, long after it ended.
The ZIMVIM mission is much the same. Whether you are traveling to Zimbabwe or praying faithfully from home, God invites you into a shared journey marked by holy moments that reveal God’s faithfulness over time. The Apostle Paul gives us a beautiful word for this shared calling: koinonia. Often translated “fellowship” or “partnership,” koinonia is far more than friendship or financial support, though it includes both. It is active participation in the gospel. It is the joyful recognition that Christ binds together people from different cultures, languages, and continents into one shared mission. Paul thanked the Philippian church for their koinonia in the gospel “from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:5), because they understood that some were sent, others supported, all prayed, and together, they participated in what God was accomplishing.
This devotional is an invitation to that same partnership. Those traveling to Zimbabwe will work alongside our siblings in Christ, building schools, supporting agricultural initiatives, worshiping together, and learning from one another. Those remaining at home are no less participants in this ministry. Through prayer, encouragement, generosity, and faithful witness, they share in the same mission. The work belongs not to one church or one country but to the whole body of Christ.
As you journey through these pages, may you recognize your own milestones, such as the conversations that deepen your faith, the hands that teach you new ways to serve, the worship that transcends language, the fields that proclaim God’s provision, and the classrooms that testify to hope. Above all, may you discover that Christian mission is never simply about what one group does for another. It is about what Christ does among us, forming us into one people through koinonia, a partnership in the gospel that stretches across oceans, generations, and cultures until, together, we rejoice at the finish line of God’s redeeming work.
Your Brother in Koinonia,
Pastor Doug
