“I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own…You know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.” Phil 2:20-22

Through the centuries missionaries have rightly esteemed the Apostle Paul as a torchbearer. His strategies and methods have been exhaustively studied, and the wise among us have diligently sought to apply the principles he had instituted with such shocking success. 

The one thing that is most challenging to emulate is not the “why”, the “how”, or the “what”of Paul’s approach; it is the “who”. For when we consider the rapid expansion of the gospel throughout the Roman Empire in an age when travel was slow and dangerous, there is simply no way he could have managed the work as it grew on his own. Paul needed qualified, fully committed workers. Workers who were skillful and of the highest integrity. People whom Paul could trust implicitly, who knew his heart, and who would act in complex and threatening situations with fortitude and tenacity—ultimately as he himself would act. 

Herein we discover that the raising up of spiritual sons was not simply a feature of Paul’s method, but its core. In the above verse, Paul literally coins a term to describe his relationship with Timothy. The Greek word for “like-minded” (Gr. Isopsychos) means one who is equal or unified in soul or mind. Paul calls him a “true son” (1 Tim 1:2) manifestly because he resembles him, sharing his DNA. His trust in Timothy is such that he knows without a doubt that he will represent Paul fully in whatever place or capacity he is assigned to work. 

In the subsequent verses, Paul similarly commends Epaphroditus. He refers to him as his “brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier” who longed for the Philippians (v. 25-26), just as Paul had. Paul further says that they would be overjoyed at the sight of Epaphroditus, especially considering that he had come close to death, willingly risking his life in order to serve them (2:30). 

And then there is Titus. In 2 Corinthians, Paul actually says although an effectual door opened for the gospel while he was in Troas, “I had no rest in my spirit because I did not find Titus my brother” (2:12-13). So he left. Soon after, Titus helped Paul pioneer the work in Corinth. Then, after the gospel expanded to other cities, he sent Titus back there, testifying God had placed “the same concern for you into the heart of Titus” that he himself had, further adding of him: “Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit? Did we not behave in the same way?” (8:16;12:18 NET)

Titus’ ministry had proven so beloved and effective in Corinth that when the two of them launched a flourishing work expanding to multiple cities in Crete some years later, Paul had complete liberty to press on to other fields, confident that Titus would “set right what was left undone and…appoint elders” in every city where they had labored (Tit 1:5). Now that is real trust! 

As I look back over five decades of missionary service, I have discovered the most important thing that I have done is to equip not just disciples or even good leaders, but sons, or soulmates. You cannot plan for this and yet it must be one’s highest priority. It is not achieved by checking off boxes or graduating from some course of study, but by laying one’s life down. Sons are birthed by travail, not delivered by a stork, or Amazon, or even Fuller.

The impact of Paul’s approach has reverberated for two millennium. I can’t say I was clear-eyed about this when I started my assignment. But part of the richness of this principle is that it cannot be scripted; it has to be organic. Those who were spiritual mothers and fathers to me had modeled this way of ministry for me. I caught it, though it was never specifically something I was taught.  

As I had been freely given to, I freely gave. As this unique set of genes were passed down to me, I passed them to my own “offspring”. Subconsciously I had adopted a ministry posture that had a family resemblance. It turns out it is also the posture of Paul, the wise master builder himself (1 Cor 3:10). And what’s more, I now have the joy of watching my own “sons” carrying on the legacy. My hope and prayer is that it helps to hasten the Day or Jesus’ return for His bride.