Greetings in this new month of 2024! Most people around the world just celebrated the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ on the very last day of March. Easter Sunday is one of my favorite holidays of the whole year because of what it commemorates. I even wrote a book called Paid in Full about all Jesus accomplished in His death and resurrection! In churches everywhere, Easter Sunday is one of the most highly attended services by Christians and non-Christians alike. This thrills my heart because for many, it is their only opportunity to hear the Good News of the Gospel that Christ died and rose again for the sins of mankind — to make all who believe and call on His name “a new creature,” completely forgiven and completely reconciled to God (see 2 Corinthians 5:17-19).
      
That really is Good News, isn’t it!!! Before I get into my letter this month, I have some more “good news” to share with you…
 
As you probably know, besides our new international channel (the Good News Channel) that the Lord has blessed us to steward, we have been granted an unprecedented license to have a national channel that can broadcast across Russia in potentially every single home in this nation! And as of last month, it is now officially online — up and running!
 
This is truly a historical event in this ministry and in Russia. But please keep praying for us as we move forward speedily on this project. It is a huge undertaking, but we are confident we are moving at the Lord’s instruction, and that we will keep expanding to reach as many Russian homes as possible!
 
Thank you for all your precious prayers and financial gifts that help us do what we could never do alone. It takes all of us, and YOU are a huge part of what we are doing. I don’t mean to sound redundant, but I can never state enough how thankful we are for your partnership with RENNER Ministries as we take the trusted teaching of God’s Word to people who are literally crying out for it!
 
I’ve been writing to you this year from the prophetic word the Holy Spirit gave to me for our friends and partners for the year 2024. Here it is again.
 
The year 2024 will be visited with turbulent episodes across the entire globe, especially in the realms of finances and politics and in the nations. These episodes will be of a sort that they will potentially cause those who are not rooted in God’s Word to be deeply disturbed. But for those who stay in faith…stay in peace…stay in love…stay in fellowship…and keep sowing seed for the sake of eternity — they will experience a supernatural power that will cause them to be unmoved, unshaken, well provided for, and to walk in a much-needed divine assurance, divine peace, divine power, and divine and supernatural victory. Yes, those who stay in faith, in peace, in love, in fellowship, and keep sowing seed for the sake of eternity will be blessed, empowered, joy-filled, and sustained, and they will miraculously thrive even if the world around them is tossed with a tempest.

I want to draw to your attention that the Holy Spirit said this blessing belongs to those who:

• stay in faith…
• stay in peace…
• stay in love…
• stay in fellowship…
• keep sowing seed for the sake of eternity…  

Those who maintain their faith, peace, love, fellowship with the saints, and their sowing will experience a supernatural power that will cause them to be unmoved, unshaken, and well provided for — and they will have a much-needed divine assurance, peace, power, and supernatural victory!
 
In my first three monthly teaching letters of the year, I covered what it means to stay in faith, stay in peace, and stay in love. (You can review those teachings on our website at renner.org/article/category/monthly-teaching-letters.) But today I want to focus on the part of this prophetic word that is about the need to stay in “fellowship” during turbulent times.

 
In the New Testament, there is primarily one word that is translated as “fellowship,” and it is the Greek word koinonia. This very important word is derived from koinos, which means to have something in common. But when it becomes koinonia, which is primarily how it is used in the New Testament, it conveys the ideas of fellowship, interaction, mutual participation, or partnership.
 
A great example of koinonia is found in Acts 2:42, where we are told about the early Church: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
 
The word “fellowship” in this verse is translated from the Greek word koinonia, and it tells us that right from the outset of the Early Church, the believers entered into fellowship, interaction, mutual participation, and partnership with one another. This fellowship and partnership became so strong that it carried them through the turbulent episodes of their time. But to discover the level to which they entered into fellowship and partnership, we need to see another verse where the word koinonia is used very prominently.
 
A wonderful example of koinonia conveying the idea of partnership is found in Luke 5:7 after Jesus supplied a miraculous catch of fish. After Peter and the others had fished all night and caught nothing, Jesus told them to cast their nets on the other side. When they obeyed, they caught such a massive amount of fish that the nets began to break!
 
Peter knew he couldn’t handle this miraculous catch by himself, so he called to the other fishermen in a nearby boat to come assist him. Luke 5:7 says, “And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.”
 
The word “partners” in this verse is from a form of koinonia. But in Luke 5:7 it refers to real, legitimate business partners. One scholar says that this word used in this context lets us know that Peter owned an entire fishing enterprise, and those men in the other boat were his business associates or business partners. Whether these other fishermen were co-owners or employees who worked for Peter, they were all working together on the same job and were focused on a joint venture to catch and sell fish.
 
The apostle Paul used the word koinonia in Philippians 1:5 when he explained why he was so passionate about those who had so faithfully supported his ministry. He said, “For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.” The word “fellowship” in this verse is also the Greek word koinonia, which depicts partnership or mutual participation in some project or event and often refers to a partner, a sharer, or a companion.
 
Paul felt about his supporters the same way Denise and I feel about our partners — that they are actual partners with our ministry. By supporting RENNER Ministries with their finances and prayers, these partners enter into the work of the ministry with us and mutually work side-by-side with us on the front lines!
 
When Paul wrote to the Philippians and spoke of their “partnership” in the Gospel, he truly meant that they were his partners. He was doing his part — and they were doing theirs — and, together, they made a great team that was having an eternal impact. Everyone was on the same team, moving toward the same goal; they were simply fulfilling different roles to get the job done!
 
But there is yet another example of this word koinonia found in Philippians 4:14, when Paul wrote to the Philippians and commended them for the generous gift they sent for his ministry. He told them, “Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.” The word “communicate” here is another use of the word koinonia.
 
Over the years, Paul had traveled and preached, raised up churches, worked with leaders, and given his life for the Church. But of all the churches Paul had poured his life into, none of them helped him financially the way they should have. In order to cover his expenses, Paul worked as a tentmaker during the day; then he preached and trained leaders during the evenings. This wasn’t the best plan, but because no one would support him, it was what he had to do. He was pouring his heart and soul into churches that were not financially helping him bear his load.
 
At the time Paul wrote the Philippian letter, he was in prison in Rome. He had received a special delivery letter from the Philippians, and in that package, he found a sizable offering that the Philippian church had sent to support him during his time of difficulty. In other words, the Philippian church didn’t just say, “We’ll pray for your situation, Brother,” and then forget about Paul. Instead, they understood their responsibility to help him, so they took up an offering to support him and communicate their love for him. In other words, they took responsibility for him. Paul used the Greek word koinonia to convey the meaning of responsibility for others.

 

All of these various meanings are very important — especially when we are going through turbulent times. Ecclesiastes 4:9 and 10 says, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.”
 
When you are alone and you run into difficult times, it is harder to get through those turbulent times by yourself. But if you are connected in fellowship and real partnership with other believers who feel a sense of responsibility for your well-being, someone will be there to hold you up, strengthen you, and even pick you up if you fall. But the Bible says, “…Woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.”
 
I experience koinonia in my own life because I have my family around me, and they are a great source of encouragement and real partners in our ministry. But in addition to my family, I have a tight group of friends — men who surround me with care, devotion, love, and responsibility — to help me do what God has called me to do. Because of this, I never feel alone. And when we hit turbulent times, those who are around me are a source of strength that helps me!
      
God did not make any of us to live in isolation, so we need to stay rooted in solid fellowship and partnership with other believers who feel a sense of responsibility for our well-being. It is sad that many Christians who go to church every week feel lonely. My friend, if that is you, I really want you to know that we are here for YOU and that you can reach out to us. We’ll do everything we can to help make sure you are loved and cared for, and you can be assured that someone here is really praying for you!
 
Can you see how important staying in fellowship — or koinonia — really is?

• The Early Church was rooted in fellowship and partnership.
• The apostle Paul cherished those with whom he was in fellowship and partnership.
• Denise and I deeply appreciate and thank God for the relationships of this kind that God has placed in our lives.

If we did everything we have done and faced every challenge we have faced — and did it all alone — it would have been more difficult. But with the power of the Holy Spirit and the strength of others around us — people with whom we are really partnered in the Lord — God has enabled us to do the impossible and to overcome every situation that has ever tried to come against us. I am telling you this because I know that if you have such relationships in your life, they will also help you overcome turbulent times!
 
I remind you again of the word the Lord gave me for 2024. The Holy Spirit told me that those who stay in faith…stay in peace…stay in love…stay in fellowship…and keep sowing seed for the sake of eternity will experience a supernatural power that will cause them to be unmoved…unshaken…well provided for, and they will have a much-needed divine assurance…divine peace…divine power…and divine and supernatural victory.
 
Do not underestimate the importance of staying in fellowship with those you NEED in your life, because God will use them to help you — and He will likewise use you to help them!
 
Next month, I’ll move into the next part of this word, which is about those who keep sowing seed for the sake of eternity! Wow, is that ever important! But for now, I want to ask you:

• Who are the people who give strength to you?
• Who are you giving strength to right now?
• Who are your real, legitimate partners in life who feel a sense of responsibility for your well-being?
• For whose well-being do you feel a sense of responsibility because of your real, legitimate partnership? 

Of course, we all need to be rooted in a good, Bible-believing local church. If you don’t have one, we want to pray with you for the Holy Spirit to lead you to one. If you don’t have anyone to help and strengthen you right now, then let it be US! We are here for you — and you can reach out to us by calling 1-800-742-5593 or by emailing us at prayer@renner.org. I promise that if you reach out to us, you’ll be strengthened and encouraged! Thank you for letting me speak to you from my heart today!
 
As I close, I want to thank you again for being our partner in this work that God has given us. We really mean it when we call you a partner. We do our part, God does His part, and you are doing your part. Together, we are seeing miracles take place as the Gospel goes forth into places where it needs to touch lives that are in darkness!

We are your brother and sister, friends, and partners in Jesus Christ,

Rick and Denise Renner
along with Paul, Philip, and Joel Renner and our entire ministry team