Christian Leadership Alliance
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Working Together—It's a God Idea
Trends in Christian nonprofit partnership.| Outcomes, Aug/Sep 2008
In a complex world that frequently makes effective ministry complex, there's good news. After centuries of dreaming, trying, and only occasionally seeing any real success, collaboration among kingdom ministries is increasing. This is not just another "strategy of the month" phenomenon. From neighborhoods to cities, local and global kingdom projects, and at points of critical human need that call for compassionate and effective witness and service, ministries are finding new power in actually working together—and staying together to realize otherwise impossible dreams.
Some have said that Jesus' prayer in John 17:23 for the church's unity to become a witness to his own credibility was his only truly unanswered prayer. But both the local and global church are increasingly finding ways to come together and do more and better ministry.
Scripture is full of God's vision for community, for his people to live and work together as they are set free from sin and brokenness by the redemptive, healing power of Christ.
The failure of former ecumenical movements, organizational "turf" issues, personal ministry empires, failed alliances, and the ever-present reality of pride have put many off. "Let's just do it ourselves. It will be a lot simpler." It's that line of thinking that might have been justifiable 20 or 30 years ago. But times have changed.
WHAT WE HAVE SEEN
What we have seen is that the whole world is talking about collaboration: partnerships, strategic alliances, networks, and coalitions. As is often the case, the business community began to lead the way 30 to 40 years ago with the radically changing globalization of the economy. Today, effective business is effective collaboration. No one goes it alone. It was not long until research entities, scientific and technical communities, health initiatives, and educators began to explore and find success in collaboration. The church, as is sadly the case, was slow to "wake up." But she has. And she is making a difference.
Partnership is a word often used and also misused. Too often it means, "We have an idea; who can we get to join us in our idea?" But those who have worked in the field for a long time know that collaboration can take many forms. It may be two organizations in a bilateral partnership of mutuality, respect, and genuine joint benefit that want to do something in their community. It may be 30-plus organizations in a distant land that want to work together more effectively to reach and serve a large, unreached people group.
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