Giving Tuesday: Thirty Years Ago I had an Idea

Getting Older Can Be an Epic of Enrichment

A Giving Tuesday Reflection from Dwight & Patti Smith

Along with all of the physical and mental challenges that come with getting older, aging provides an opportunity to reflect upon life. We easily remember the places where we could have done much better in our decisions. We also rejoice in the faithful people all over the world who have inspired us. For Patti and me, this last experience is especially heart-warming as we have met so many gospel-faithful people across the nations.

This year was no different. Patti has been meeting with women in our hometown and some from our past in South Carolina. We are spiritually blessed to see how God has rebuilt their lives in spite of the sin of earlier years. My time in Ukraine was both challenging and heartbreaking. In spite of the difficulties, so many continue to trust God and evangelize their nation.

Both of us continue to document our journey through blogs, articles, books, and podcasts. We desire to see the completion of the task Jesus gave to His people 2,000 years ago. May we be faithful until our final day!

Thirty Years Ago, I Had an Idea…

Thirty years ago, while traveling from India to Japan with my friend and fellow missiologist Bobby Gupta, an idea came to mind—one I called “the global fellowship.” We were reflecting upon a question that has percolated through the missionary world for hundreds of years:

“How do we complete the task left to us over 2,000 years ago by Jesus?”

This question is at the heart of why I created SCPI three decades ago. The essence of the global fellowship concept is this:

In a day when many Christians and churches populate the earth, what is the best way to do our part in completing this task?

My conclusion then—and even more so today—is that the best way to complete the task is to envision, train, and empower churches and Christians in every nation to reach their own people and the peoples closest to them.

You can read more about this in my article, “Saturation Church Planting: A History,” found on my website.

This trail of history connects the origins of saturation church planting to the Global Fellowship that is now up, growing, and multiplying. Partners from more than 60 nations regularly dialogue about how they can assist one another in completing Jesus’ task in their own parts of the world.

Looking Ahead

As we look forward to continuing our God-given journey, we anticipate more of the same—forming young leaders, documenting important lessons from Scripture, and meeting with and envisioning national leaders. We remain committed to seeing this global fellowship strengthened and multiplied into all the nations of the earth.

A Giving Tuesday Invitation

If you would like to consider a year-end or Giving Tuesday gift to help us continue this work in 2026, it would be greatly appreciated. Your generosity helps equip national leaders, spread the gospel faithfully, and further the global fellowship envisioned so many years ago.

Together, may we be faithful until our final day.

With gratitude,

Dwight & Patti Smith