Two weeks ago, I had the privilege to participate in The Gospel Coalition National Conference in Florida. Over 6,000 people from all over the United States and 50 different countries came together to listen, learn, network, fellowship and worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Global Training Network partners with The Gospel Coalition’s International Outreach (TGCIO) arm by delivering quality biblical and theological books (that TGCIO purchases and has translated) to the pastors that we train around the world.

Since the inception of Global Training Network 11 years ago, we have always been committed to partnering together with other like-minded, gospel-centered ministries to help advance God’s Kingdom to the ends of the earth. Now that we are involved in 68 countries, and with a staff of over 85, partnering has become even more important and necessary, if we want to best steward the resources that God has entrusted to us. I’ve always believed that God smiles when He sees his children working together for His honor and His glory!

Some of you may not know much about The Gospel Coalition. In case you are not aware, I’ve included below an article that Joe Carter, editor at TGC, wrote a couple weeks ago that gives a brief, “30,000 foot” fly-over perspective of who they are, why they exist and what they do. TGC began back in 2005 when Tim Keller (Sr. Pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, NY) and D.A. Carson (Professor of New Testament Studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) got together and planted the seeds that would become The Gospel Coalition.

Click here to read “9 Things You Should Know About TGC” by Joe Carter.

The story is told of an elderly missionary couple that arrived at their home port after years of faithful service. At the dock, an ambassador and his wife who had returned on the ship with them were surrounded by a crowd. Roses were bestowed on his wife as photographers’ flashes exploded, and an attentive, admiring press and public hung on every word as he spoke of the joy of serving his government and coming home.

As the missionary couple walked unnoticed through that crowd, the wife, with hot tears streaking down her face, wondered out loud to her husband, “Why is it that we have given our whole lives to Christ and yet there is no one here to honor us and welcome us home?” Her understanding husband, reaching beyond that lonely moment, said to her, “Honey, we’re not home yet.”

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away… And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” (Revelation 21:1, 3-5a)

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)

“Show me, O Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man’s life is but a breath.” (Psalm 39:4-5)