I was looking over my library and found a great book that everyone in the body of Christ should read, "In Search of Timothy" by Tony Cooke.

That seems to be the quest of many Pastors and Leaders today, to find their faithful companion in ministry that is like-minded and committed to the vision set before the Leader. As I have talked with many Leaders, the conversation will always turn towards a "Where's my Timothy?" slant, as they pine away for a helper and travel companion through ministry.

Where's Timothy? Where's Timothy? Where's Timothy?

I believe before we can ask that question, we have to ask another question, "Where's Paul?"

There would be more Timothys if there were more Pauls.

Instead, ministry life seems to be filled with more Sauls (King Saul) than Pauls.

The Apostle Paul was a true mentor, a father in the faith to Timothy and their relationship was inter-dependent, which is the true place of dominion. We can only live in true dominion as God has given it, by first being dependent on God and then others.

 Timothy not only served Paul faithfully, Paul served Timothy faithfully.

I do not want to downplay the fact that Paul, in his office, was serving in a capacity that was on a higher level of responsibility, they were not equals in position, but their relationship was one of mutual benefit. Timothy helped relieve the burden of the Apostle and Paul poured his life into Timothy, enabling him to one day be the Pastor of the largest church in Asia minor during very difficult times.

Today there is competition among ministers.

Some are afraid that up and coming ministers (Timothys) may take a piece of their pie, it seems that some Leaders today are consumed with building their kingdom rather than the Kingdom of God.

I recently read a statistic that staggered me, it stated that in our state of Oklahoma only 16% of our population attend a church! Even in wake of the Mega-Church age, 86% are chosing to stay home and not be involved in a local church. My friend, we have a lot of work to do, and the only way it's going to get done is through empowerment relationships like Paul and Timothys. We need to stop being self-serving, insecure and petty and start pouring our lives into other leaders that can reach the demographics that we cannot reach. As Senior Pastors, why do we think that one Church (our church) or one ministry gift can reach the whole world? We are fools if we think that. We might say that we do not ascribe to that belief, but our actions speak louder than our words.

Our goal is disciples not just converts!

I heard a minister say one day that you should not get close to your people, because then you will not be able to correct them, I wanted him to give me chapter and verse on how he got that revelation, but he couldn't, because it's not in the Bible. Jesus never demonstrated it, Paul did not either. It is a corporate lie that has crept in the Church and has seperated Pauls from Timothys.

I don't see how collision clauses are in agreement with the Great Commission.

Jesus is into Dominion.

Paul did not hold anything back from Timothy, he gave him his wisdom, his experience and eventually his anointing. He was a true spiritual father, unlike the posers who cut the strings on their spiritual children the first sign that they feel threatened. I am sure Paul and Timothy had there "ups and downs" as any relationship, but Paul's ministry philosophy to "seek another man's wealth and to spend all and be spent for others" kept the relationship where God wanted it. We should always have one hand up, holding onto a mentor that can take us to new heights and one hand down, to help those coming up.

INTERDEPENDENCY

It is how we are supposed to function as the Body of Christ, it requires all the virtues: Faith, Hope and Love.

Until we realize we need one another, we will never accomplish the Command of Jesus.

Jesus did not state that we would be known as His disciples by the size of our Churches or Ministries, but in how we LOVE one another.