Farewell to Partners International

The staff at our Spokane office have planned a special goodbye party for Anita and me today and we are looking forward to a great time of sharing memories together of the past eight years and celebrating the amazing things God has done through the ministry of Partners International.

It was a day in mid-February, 2003, when former PI president, Chuck Bennett called me on the phone and asked if I would allow him to put my name forward as a candidate for being the next leader of Partners International. Having spent 26 years at Mission Aviation Fellowship, I had never considered serving anywhere else. But Partners was the only other organization I was significantly impressed with because of its commitment to enabling indigenous ministries in the hard places of the world. Following what I considered to be a clear calling of God, a few short months later, I found myself accepting the “baton” of leadership from outgoing PI president Paul-Gordon Chandler and starting into a new learning experience of being a CEO.

The past eight years here at PI have seen amazing results happening through the ministry efforts of our worldwide partners. Every year, we track four key metrics: lives won to Christ, leaders trained, churches planted, and people touched in some way through holistic ministry. As I reviewed the statistics this morning and totaled them up for the years I’ve been here at Partners, here is what I got:

581,255 Lives won to Christ

104,660 Leaders Trained

10,405 Churches Planted

2,350,030 People helped with holistic community service

More than simply reciting statistics and accomplishments, however, what is most on my mind today is the richness of relationships that I have had the privilege of developing over these years at PI. From the dedicated, visionary ministry leaders around the world, to the incredibly committed team of supporters and donors, our great PI affiliate partners, and culminating with PI’s amazing staff, I feel so blessed and honored to be able to call all these people my friends. It has truly been the result of PARTNERSHIP between all of you that we can humbly present the above results to our Lord as our joint contribution in building His Kingdom during these past eight years.

Tomorrow, Anita and I begin a new chapter of our ministry service journey. It will definitely continue to be an adventure as we explore what God might have in store for us. We want to use our gifts and talents for Him and trust that will still allow us to touch and encourage the lives of ministry leaders around the world. We would love to stay in touch with you, so please feel free to contact us at our new email addresses:

Jon: jonlewis23@gmail.com   and   Anita: anitalewis10@comcast.net

This morning, I read these verses in Psalm 40 that so well describe what I feel God has done through the ministry of Partners International during our years of service together:

He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. 

You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.

And, now, for the last time here at PI, let me end by saying…

Under His wings,

Jon Lewis