Articles & Publications
Partnerships: Getting StartedThe Power of Partnership: Transformation & Hope
God comes to us in these days as a Father -- bringing His family access to freedom, reconciliation, salvation, and hope. Hope not just for eternity but hope for a changed life, changed relationships, changed communities, changed society, and a changed witness -- now!...
Nehemiah – The Impossible Becomes Possible Through Visionary Collaborative Leadership In A Time of Crises: Two Perspectives
Nehemiah: Chapters 1-8. The story of Nehemiah rebuilding the walls of desolate Jerusalem is the greatest case study of the power of partnership in the Bible. In the time of global crisis we face Nehemiah’s story is highly relevant. In the sectors where our...
Why Not Partnership?
The Standard Excuses Concern over theological differences -- real or imagined. Fear of loss of organizational identity. The "we can do it alone" mentality. Pride/ego. Fear of other agencies intrusion on our turf. Fear of change -- never done it this way before. The...
Just Off the Ground? Consider These Five High Value Action Steps
by Phil Butler with John Becker Imagine that your partnership or network has now been launched. The group of people who came together have agreed to on-going collaboration. They have agreed they are more likely to achieve the primary objective by working...
Lighting the Lights & Paving the Streets
While on my way to the airport very early in the morning recently I was passed by an ambulance, lights flashing -- on its way to a nearby hospital. The incident got me to thinking -- Imagine a city with no streets, no lights, no phone system, no public water supply,...
Exploring & Launching Your Network: A Guide To Essential Steps
Some Preliminary Thoughts If you are just getting started – wanting to identify interested individuals and figure out the basics of the early stages, you might want to review the section below titled “Network Exploration.” Maybe you are already underway – possibly you...
30 Years, 30 Collaboration Insights
For nearly 50 years, along with numerous colleagues I have been developing missional partnerships around the world. At the conclusion of the first 30 years we saw that, while the circumstances were often sharply different, reasons for success were consistent. Here...
The Partnership Vision in 90 Seconds
We all know that outcomes are a whole lot better when people work together – whether it’s families, communities, or nations. The nightly news reminds us every day of the consequences of broken relationships – personally and among nations. It’s particularly...
Launching Your Network- Ten Key Elements For Success
Before We Start: If you have talked with most of the significant people in your field of interest and have a sense that you know the primary issues; that your know how the significant people feel about this topic – its challenges and priorities – then just skip this...
Prayer, Evangelization & Kingdom Cooperation
Background/Context For many years, with colleagues around the world, I have worked to bring God's people into whole, collaborative relationships. These initiatives have consistently sought to empower effective evangelization, development of national church planting...
Forming a Network: Overview of Consultation Process
What is your big ministry dream or vision? Can you do it alone? If you need to work with others these six pages can give you a simple ‘road map’ to plan a working consultation that can really move you forward. The specifics of your dream may require that you add...
Ministry Partnership: Exploration and Formation Guide
Guiding Partnership Principles Ministry partnership is a process, not an event. You can kill a Partnership by just calling a meeting without doing proper advance work. Effective Partnerships are built on relationships of trust. Take time to get to know the potential...