Partnering
It Takes a Partnership to Raise a Ministry
by Vollie Sanders
In John 17, Jesus speaks about partnering with His Father, and the disciples partnering with each other as the bearers of His message. Unity was essential to the success of their mission. Yet even while Jesus was with them, we read of struggles about status, jealousy, envy, and pride among His disciples. Later, when God sent the Holy Spirit to enable them, the disciples still struggled to incarnate Jesus' message of partnership and unity. This is a struggle with which we are all familiar. Although the complexities of partnering may have very different beginnings, there are usually "issues of the heart" (character issues like pride and fear) at work beneath the surface.
Partnership involves different people, with different gifts and functions, all of which are needed to accomplish a purpose. But what does partnership in ministry really look like? Specifically, what does it take for men and women to have healthy ministry partnerships? I believe it takes three qualities:
1. Ask God to teach you humility.
We may be hesitant to partner because it takes time and seems like more work. Even though ministry "results" may not happen as quickly as we'd like when we partner, the results are much more reflective of the Body of Christ than one individual's efforts. Often partnerships fail because we don't appreciate a particular gifting or value another approach to ministry, and we pridefully think we can do it alone.
2. Learn to trust.
"But they won't do it like I would. I want it done right." Although I didn't say these words, they were in my heart as I struggled to trust my ministry partner to help a new believer. Two heart issues were involved: fear and pride. I was afraid that she would fail the new believer, and I was not willing to trust either of them to God's hands. Trust in God must be in place before we can trust others to Him.
3. Demonstrate grace.
Paul describes his partnership with the Philippians as a source of thanksgiving and joy to him. Even while in prison, he demonstrates grace to others in ministry, although they used different methods and were in different places. Paul shows no anger toward others who have it easier than he; instead, he gives thanks that God was using their lives. "But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice" (Philippians 1:18). Paul gave grace, even to the undeserving, because God had given grace to Him.
Demonstrating grace requires forgiveness, unconditional love, and giving mercy to each other for the sake of the Gospel, time and time again. For partnerships to work, there must be recognition of the value of all participants and the necessity of their part in the process. When we take the time to cultivate healthy partnerships, we grow as individuals, as a team, and as men and women working together with God to achieve His purposes.
Used by permission from "Stimulus," a publication of the People Resources Team.