About us

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We live in an ever connected, technological world with capabilities that the earth has never encountered before. In a mere 150 years, mankind has harnessed the power of solar, hydro, fossil fuels, and wind energies. Technologies like electricity, engines, computers, cell phones, internet, wifi and bluetooth have completely changed the landscape of our world and our abilities to communicate and share the Good News of Jesus Christ with others. It's amazing to think that: 

• A missionary in Ethiopia can contact their family in the United States with a simple click of a smartphone app using wireless technology and begin a conversation in audio and video  - as if they never left home.
• A pastor can share the gospel via social media with shut-ins or church members who are traveling on a cruise in the middle of an ocean with a live-feed on a phone. 
• A crisis youth hotline volunteer can respond to a suicidal teenager with a text and call for help at the same time. 
• A translator can gather new languages of the Bible in the jungle and transmit to a server in the cloud making it possible for uploads or downloads to be shared around the world. 
• A mother in South Africa can listen to an audio Bible in her own language with a solar powered radio while cooking a meal and caring for her children.
• A non-profit ministry can raise millions of dollars in one day using online fundraising tools that unite passionate Christ-followers for a cause. 
• And the list goes on. 

Connections matter. If it weren't true, God would never have designed creatures to live in kinds and humans to live in families, tribes and nations. He knew the power of "one another" connections and how together we're stronger than if isolated.   When we are united in Christ, when we listen to one another, pray with one another, cry with one another, share our joys with one another and  bear our burdens together - we are blessed in Christian fellowship and love.

The Tie That Binds is a site created by Jeff Lander, an associate with the Paraclete Mission Group. He designed the site because of a passion to care, connect, and collaborate with those serving in ministry (pastors, missionaries, para-church leaders, youth pastors, etc.) and to "come alongside" them to encourage, engage and equip them to find success in ministry and, more importantly, their own lives.  

As a child, Jeff remembers singing the hymn, Blest Be The Tie That Binds, at the end of many church services.  While holding hands and standing in a circle, the folks at Faith Baptist Church sang out the song with hearts full of love. It was in this rural, New England town where he developed a an understanding of the love and ties that bind Christian hearts together.

Today, a former associate pastor with 13 years experience working with children, youth, and families and  another 15 years experience as a missionary, Jeff understands the life of a ministry leader - a two-sided street of joy and struggle.  There's wonderful moments filled with celebration and praise... and then there can be lonely, disappointing moments that sap our strength and question our calling.

This site is for hard times in ministry:

• It's a place for the pastor who feels like calling it quits after years of serving and struggling in his own heart.  
• It's  for the missionary serving in a city filled with millions of opportunities, who feels all alone. 
• It's  for the para-church leader who struggles to find enough volunteers to take a group of middle-schoolers to summer camp. 
• It's for the worship pastor who diligently leads people in worship each Sunday, but goes home exhausted, tired, and empty in their own private devotional life. 
• It's for the ministry spouse who hears all about God's love, but sees little evidence of it in the home with the children, or with them.

This site is for sweet moments in ministry:

• It's for sharing stories of God's goodness, love, faithfulness, grace, and more.
• It's for connecting with potential partners, networking to work together. 
• It's for praying with each other, lifting up ministries that are serving around the globe. 
• It's for serving one another, finding creative ways to bless each other in the work we do. 
• It's for strengthening our heart, soul, mind and body - which honors God and brings pleasure to Him. 
• It's for rest, retreat, and renewal so as to stay on track in ministry. 

Nearly 250 years ago when John Fawcett (see right) wrote Blest Be the Tie That Binds he did so because he realized how God had called he and his family to serve in a lonely, hard place, with little resources. The struggles were real, but the fellowship and connectedness they felt with those to whom God called them, was more real and most valuable. It's in that same vein that this site exists... to connect and strengthen you.

Blessed be this tie that binds our hearts in Christian love!