FAQs about Partnerships for Mission
What is it that Partnerships for Mission actually “do?”
Partnerships provide an active, working forum in which ministries can coordinate their plans and resources and develop a common strategy for a geographic region, demographic area, or function. Usually partnerships start with limited but highly strategic projects allow the ministries to actually work together while all other ministries benefit from that cooperation. As the partnership grows in maturity, task forces or working groups of ministries typically begin to form around issues critical to holistic evangelism and church planting. Often these include Scripture translation/distribution, prayer network development, radio/tv/film production and distribution, literature development/distribution, health and educational ministries, local church-planting strategies, etc.
How do the partnerships handle doctrinal differences and approaches?
Partnerships for mission are made up of people who have different cultural backgrounds, experiences and theological perspective; yet each hold a commitment to share the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ. Partnerships work best when they attempt to celebrate their differences, rather than try to eliminate or minimize them. Most do not try to come up with theological statements or agreed upon doctrines. Instead they might adopt already established international covenants such as the Lausanne Covenant.
What tangible things have partnerships been able to accomplish that would not have happened otherwise?
Many specific evangelism-related projects, plans, and relationships would not have occurred without partnering people. Scripture and other literature have been developed and distributed in numbers well beyond any one agency’s ability. Coordination of human rights advocacy has taken place on behalf of national believers who have been discriminated against, harassed, and even tortured for their faith. More effective church-planting strategies and results have occurred when believers have prayed and planned together.
Aren’t Christian ministries already cooperating? What’s the need for a special emphasis on partnership?
Occasionally 2-3 ministries cooperate for specialized projects. In other cases, churches and other ministries have come together for short-term, one-time events like a city-wide evangelistic crusade. However, until recently, there has never been long-term cooperation and coordination of all ministries who are committed to reaching specific unreached language groups or other key population centers.
Where are these partnerships taking place?
Partnership in Mission is a trend all over the world, including Europe and North America. As the Church looks toward specific unreached people groups, most of these groups are in and around the 10/40 Window. Operating partnerships range from Senegal in West Africa to Outer Mongolia, from Bangkok to Beirut.
Are national, indigenous believers involved in the partnerships?
Most definitely. In almost every Strategic Partnership among unreached peoples, nationals are involved in every aspect—from strategizing about needs to exploring innovative ways of working together. In many cases, they are the facilitators of the partnerships.
What’s the role of Interdev Partnership Associates (IPA)?
IPA Regional Partnership Facilitators assist churches and organizations with partnership opportunities globally, especially among the larger unreached people groups. IPA helps increase the effectiveness of those doing ministry by linking potential partners, offering essential partnership skills training, and coaching/mentoring those involved in the facilitation of collaborative initiatives and projects.
Who “controls” the partnerships?
One of the foundational principles of partnership is to build a sense of ownership between participating agencies and/or churches—therefore no single ministry funds, runs, or controls a partnership. Funding is often provided through partner agencies, and private funders for special projects. Priorities are decided upon by the partners, through a process of consensus building, and usually represent key areas of opportunity. Interdev Partnership Associates (IPA) may help design, structure or guide the process to reduce conflict or frustration in reaching those priorities.
Who are some of the agencies involved in existing partnerships? Are they only from American and European countries?
In the many different partnerships that exist, over 450 agencies are involved from dozens of countries. Over 30 percent of these come from outside the West. These range from large organizations like World Vision, Anglicans, the Assemblies of God, Wycliffe, and Baptists, to smaller national and emerging indigenous groups.
Used with permission from Interdev Partnership Associates