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FAQs
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.
What tangible things have partnerships been able to accomplish that
would not have happened otherwise?
Many specific evangelism-related projects, plans, and relationships!
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 now,
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 with populations of over one million, 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?
YES!! In almost every Strategic Partnership among unreached
peoples, nationals are involved in every aspect -- from strategizing about needs
to exploring new and more 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. We help 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 IPA
does not fund, run, or control partnerships. 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. IPA facilitators may help to 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 the Southern Baptists, to
smaller national and emerging indigenous groups.
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