Healthy Missions Partnerships

From Healthy Missions Partnership, an online course created by EFCA CONNECT and EFCA EQUIP. Co-creators: Roger Dorris and Andy Krause.

An important and growing trend in global missions is the formation of cross-cultural partnerships among churches. In a healthy partnership, there is interdependence between partners, each retaining its own identity. Three key points are:

1. Partnership is not a merger or acquisition.
2. Differences in history and culture deserve respect.
3. Each partner has "ownership" through the stages of planning, operation and celebration.

In years past it was tempting for Western churches and organizations to "run the show" with missions initiatives in non-Western nations. Making matters worse, the national bodies often acquiesced to that Western dominance. But now in a different day and age, when capable national leadership is found in many locations, the temptation is sometimes reversed. Western partners may so desire for nationals to take the lead, that their own priorities get lost in the national church/organization's initiatives. Both of these extremes are unhealthy, and care is needed to avoid them.

Put in positive terms, each partner needs to retain its own identity and core values. If an American body connects with, say, a Chinese partner on Chinese soil, the American body is still American and can rightfully rejoice in its culture, heritage and way of doing things just as the Chinese partner can and should do so. True, Paul exhorted us to become all things to all men that we might save some, but that principle applies to situations with non-believers. As we partner with Christian churches and organizations we do not have to give up all of our organizational or cultural identities. God has given us those identities for good reasons and we can celebrate our diversity among partners with differing backgrounds. Mutual submission is one thing, but sacrificing our identity and core values (effectively a merger) is altogether different. Care needs to be exercised so that each partner owns the partnership's vision, goals and objectives throughout the stages of the partnership.

How is your church doing at developing partnerships with national Christians overseas? What advice do you have? What help do you need? Post your comments and questions for Roger, Andy and others.

Register for the next section of Healthy Missions Partnership at www.efca.org/equip/calendar or contact equip@efca.org for more information.