Alex Araujo Responds to Kärin Butler Primuth

To facilitate a truly global conversation, we ask Christian leaders from around the world to respond to the Global Conversation’s lead articles. These points of view do not necessarily represent the Lausanne Movement. They are designed to stimulate discussion from all points of the compass and from different segments of the Christian community. Please add your perspective by posting a comment so that we can learn and grow together in the unity of the Spirit.

A response to Kärin Butler Primuth’s article: “Partnership From the Perspective of Younger Leaders”

I am so glad that Karin has invested in listening to younger Middle East believers, and am pleasantly surprised by their insightful answers. Their responses to her questions have identified what I believe to be the core reasons why we do not naturally turn to collaboration with other Christians at every opportunity.

It is sad that the faith founded on love and oneness in Christ has become known as a divided and contentious religious movement. Karin points out the poison of focusing on our differences rather than our similarities. We have become stronger on the things we focus on – our differences, and weaker on the things we neglect – our similarities. As a result, we present an ugly and cut up Body of Christ to the world, disjointed and separated body parts contending with each other for attention, not noticing how ugly we look to a dying world.

How do we begin to change this negative posture before a needy world? Karin calls us back to focus on what we have in common. And there is no better way to begin to change this ugly picture than by looking for ways we can work together. In this context, partnering is not simply a tool to make us more effective in our mission task. It is a powerful process of bringing health and wholeness to a disfigured Body. Partnering needs to be our default response to the needs of the world and the opportunities for service in the name of Christ.

 

Alex Araujo: United World Mission / IPA

 

Connect with others who share your desire for collaboration

www.powerofconnecting.net 

See over 70 short videos from global practitioners about actual partnerships.

Youtube.com/visionSynergy