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Partnering in Mission: A Better Way to Change the World

The face of the Church in the world today is very different than at the last major Lausanne meetings in 1976 and 1989. At the heart of the Lausanne Movement is an expression of the universality of the gospel, an open invitation to all humanity so that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9). As the Lausanne meetings in Cape Town demonstrate, there is both great celebration for how God is moving through and in his people today, and enormous concern for the immense task in front of his Church.

This month’s Lausanne World Pulse gives special attention to the role of coalitions, networks, partnerships, alliances, and other forms of collaboration in the mission of the Global Church. To display the richness of the partnership topic, we are including articles written by thinkers from the Eastern world, the Latin American world, and the Southeast Asian world, all reflecting on examples of working partnerships.

In “Using the Wok in the Oven: The Challenge of East-West Partnerships,” Rudolf Mak uses the banquet analogy to share collaboration efforts established between the East and the West—notably between China and the West—along with bringing out issues related to these collaborations and the lessons learned. Mak lists five lessons to be learned from the challenge of East-West partnerships.

1. Platforms for collaboration boost the formation of partnerships. “If there is no platform for exchange and to establish relationship, there will be no partnership.” This speaks to the value of Lausanne congresses and other international gatherings that provide natural platforms for collaboration.
   
   
2. The difficulties of collaboration are worth it. “It takes significant work to set up each partnership. But [in several cases]…the only way to accomplish the goal was to have collaboration.”
   
   
3. Bridge agents are vital. “The importance of the gatekeeper or the bridge agent cannot be overemphasized” in constructing partnerships, and “have a unique role to play.”
   
   
4. Clear goals and objectives enable evaluation. “The partners need to clearly define the goals and objectives.” If not, what is viewed as a failure using certain criteria might be considered a success using other criteria.
   
   
5. Cross-training can bridge cultural divides. “There are different worldviews and values involved among the different partners. East and West do not mix automatically and even if they do, they may not mix well.” People who can understand multiple worldviews become invaluable.

In a second article, Hugo Morales and Douglas Livingston describe “The Story of Cooperación MAYA,” a case study in the formation and growth process of a partnership that grew from one church’s vision into a multiple-church, international partnership that is still going strong sixteen years later. Morales and Livingston draw out lessons learned from this adventure of faith. In summary:

1. Partnership amplifies mission vision. Even churches considered “small” can fulfill the Great Commission because “when there is a willingness to work with others, resources are multiplied.”
   
   
2. Cooperation brings excellent side benefits. “The fruit of relationships between the member churches has led to learning from each other’s experiences, sharing resources in other areas of ministry, and forming close ties of communication and mutual support between the leaders of the various churches.”
   
   
3. Leadership involvement determines alliance growth. “An alliance advances to the degree that the leadership of its members are involved.” With pastors and missions leaders participating, “there is greater ongoing commitment, more fluidity in the work, and better communication with the church body.”
   
   
4. Partnership demands long-term commitment. “Any cooperation, including mission work, is a divine, long-term commitment. A relational process needs time.”

In “God’s Doing in Southeast Asia,” Stanley Ow relates the stories of the rise of a family of partnerships and networks actively linking together mission work in Southeast Asia, including South East Asia Link (SEALINK); the broader Buddhist World-focused SEANET; the SEA Prayer Council (SEAPC); and Transform World South East Asia (TSEA).