Join the conversation on Partnership
The Executive Director of Christian Direction in Montréal, Glenn Smith, wrote recently (1): “In the homes on my street, I can hear several different languages, symbolizing a diverse array of cultures. What was once a former European immigration has now shifted to a truly global movement.” If this global movement can be witnessed in our daily lives, especially in urban areas, it is all the more truly experienced in the Christian churches all around the world. After a few decades of experiences in global partnerships throughout the world, it is time to pause and reflect on the lessons learned from challenging and/or successful global partnerships. The purpose of these reflections is then to stimulate or suggest new creative models of partnerships in our global churches.
The concept of globalization pertains to all areas of the systems presently governing our society. It relates to the world economy, to the market, to world politics and religion.
Thus, how can the church integrate its global and incarnational mission in a world that is both plural and singular, accessible and inaccessible? Readings and research have led us to point out some fundamental principles. First, one can gather from Samuel Escobar (2) that the church needs to renew its faith in a missional Trinity, i.e. in God the Father, a missionary God, in Jesus-Christ, the perfect missionary, and in the Holy Spirit as the agent of Christian missions. Then, the church is called to believe that all Christian mission is a service of social transformation. When the Church will understand those two principles, its local entities will be able to partner freely in spite of linguistic, geographic, or cultural barriers.
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Ghana
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Brazil
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United Kingdom
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Guatemala
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India
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Featured Conversations
- Networks benefit by bringing together practitioners from a variety of approaches
By David Hackett | Article
United States
Topics: Partnership, Personal Witness, Unreached People Groups
- Partnership in Evangelizing Global Hindu Diaspora
By gatheredscattered | Article
Canada
Topics: Partnership, Unreached People Groups, Diaspora
- Cooperación en el cuerpo de Cristo: Hacia un nuevo equilibrio
By Druizwea | Cape Town 2010 Advance Paper
Australia
Topics: Partnership
- Partnering in the Body of Christ toward a New Global Equilibrium
By Patrick Fung | Cape Town 2010 Advance Paper
Australia
Topics: Partnership
- My mistakes
By Jim Thomas | Blog
United States
Topics: Partnership
- Hope for the Christian Church through Global Incarnational Partnerships
By maudeoud | Cape Town 2010 Advance Paper
Australia
Topics: Partnership
- We’re all pieces of God’s puzzle through His overarching plan.
By David | Article
United States
Topics: Partnership, Ethnicity, Integrity & Humility
- Multiple partners is not unfaithfulness
By Jim Thomas | Blog
United States
Topics: Truth & Pluralism, Indigenous Leadership, Partnership
- The Partnership of Males and Females
By Leslie Neal Segraves | Cape Town 2010 Advance Paper
Australia
Topics: Partnership
- So, what have you learned?
By Jim Thomas | Blog
United States
Topics: Partnership
Recent Responses
- Not long ago, large sum of money was sent to a Christian ministry in China. - from a certain church in United States. Later they could not…
mission21 - 03.09.2010 - In Response To:
The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly: Foreign Finances and the Local Church - Dear Katherine,
I did read your husband’s paper on contextualization and appreciate his sincerity and commitment to reaching Hindus. I do think he takes amazingly…
Alex_Araujo - 01.09.2010 - In Response To:
Partnership in Evangelizing Global Hindu Diaspora 
- Excellent comments and questions. I can see from the things you discuss that these issues are very real for you in your context. I look…
Swells in the Middle Kingdom - 31.08.2010 - In Response To:
Less is More: Discipling Chinese Believers In A Cross-Cultural Setting - Swells, Thanks for capturing these hard earned lessons. As one serving in a similar context I daily see new ways that I invent to think…
100WLightbulb - 30.08.2010 - In Response To:
Less is More: Discipling Chinese Believers In A Cross-Cultural Setting 
- Hey Jim,
As one raised in the West now living in the East, I have daily opportunities to consider this question. Unfortunately I too often…
100WLightbulb - 30.08.2010 - In Response To:
So, what have you learned? 
- So we’re debating about the size of partnership. There are lot’s of valid points. THREE - The Triune God is a partnership and community of…
Pete_Houston - 30.08.2010 - In Response To:
A Partnership of Two is Inherently Unstable 
- David,
I love the way you summarized Ephesians.
Paul not only prays for them and calls them to prayer, he also asks the Ephesians to…
Lindsay_Olesberg - 26.08.2010 - In Response To:
Where is the Prayer base? - Dear Patrick,
I affirm that genuine partnership can only happen if we see ourselves as God’s global community in Christ who share the same vision…
Woay Ern Wong - 26.08.2010 - In Response To:
Partnering in the Body of Christ toward a New Global Equilibrium - Alex,
Thank you for this very helpful information. The idea you raise of accountability without control is very attractive. I often wonder how much of…
Swells in the Middle Kingdom - 25.08.2010 - In Response To:
The Good, the Bad, & the Ugly: Foreign Finances and the Local Church 
- I especially appreciatied this statement in the essy: "Jesus’ broken body challenges both males and females to lay down their lives in order to live…
Michelle_L_P - 25.08.2010 - In Response To:
The Partnership of Males and Females
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