Welcome to this EEA newsletter! I know you will be inspired about what is happening around the EEA family and how so many of us and our ministries are related to one another.

When I think of relationships, I first think about the first one we read about in the Bible. The relationship between the Godhead. “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness…” Genesis 1:26. This relationship is followed quickly by a second relationship in Genesis 2:18, “The LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’ And so human relationships began because God knew it wasn’t good for any of us to be alone. We need one another; as helpers, as friends, as companions, and as partners. Genesis 3 reminds us that our relationships will be difficult because of sin that entered our very nature, causing us to want to dominate our relationships instead of experiencing them in togetherness. All seemed doomed for human relationships as the “battle to be the best” raged on, ending in dominance and death.

During those times of brokenness, a promise had been planted and was growing. A promise of victory, of restoration and of hope. One day, the seed of a woman would break the curse. As people of the New Covenant, we recognize that “Seed” as being Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Saviour. He showed us what relationships were supposed to look like, relationships full of grace, mercy, forgiveness and joy. Real relationship meant being together, enjoying one another, working together in harmony and for the good of others. With Jesus’ death and resurrection, the evil one was defeated, and reconciliation and restoration between humankind and God was possible. Restoration in human relationships also became not only possible, but an expected consequence of our obedience to Christ.

So, how are we living our obedience to Christ through our relationships in the EEA? For me, one of the things I find so special about the EEA is our relationship together. While far from perfect, I have seen more and more disciples of Jesus coming together, laying down their differences and working together in the Name of Jesus. I have had the privilege of watching new Alliances form and make the decision to join the EEA. I have seen a few other alliances who were tired and almost lifeless, come back to life with excitement and joy at the possibilities of working together in their country. And, I have the great joy of working with an amazing staff team, and Board.

These things are not “normal”. People from different cultures, languages, economic backgrounds, faith experiences, and denominations don’t naturally work well together. But indeed, across the EEA we are living out Genesis 2:18 – we have recognized, through the Holy Spirit and the work of Jesus, that it is not good for us to be by ourselves! We are more encouraged, more faithful, more challenged, and more effective when we stand together, pull together, pray together, and minister together. Our newsletter is full of stories of different relationships and how they are flourishing under the Lordship of Jesus.

I end with the challenge of Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bon of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, jut as you were called to one hope when you were called…” (Ephesians 4:2-4)

Connie Main Duarte