The Principle of Partnership in Global Christian Missions
What’s the real principle behind partnership in global missions?
In this video, we share stories from around the world that reveal how true partnership between the Global North and Global South is changing the way we think about missions. Together, we’re learning that the most effective ministry happens when we go side by side, listening, learning, equipping, and empowering the local church to reach its own community.
When we think back on what has shaped our understanding of missions, one truth stands out: partnership. For decades, missions looked like the Global North sending workers, resources, and strategies into the Global South. But today, that story is changing. The church in the Global South has matured, grown strong, and is ready to take the lead. And we’ve realized, this is what partnership is really about. It’s not one side doing for the other. It’s walking together to see the Kingdom of God revealed.
Partnership Reflects the Heart of God
God’s heart has always been relational. From the beginning, He invited us into His work, not as spectators, but as co-laborers. Partnership is His design. When we go together, North and South, sending and receiving, equipping and learning, we reflect the unity of the body of Christ.
It’s no longer about the Global North leading and the Global South following. The church in Africa, Latin America, and Asia has grown vibrant and strong. Now, it’s about standing shoulder to shoulder. The resources of the North meet the faith and innovation of the South, and together, we see transformation that lasts.
That’s the beauty of God’s Kingdom: everyone has something to bring. When we serve together, we embody His plan for unity and reveal His glory to the world.
Partnership Requires a Shift in Mindset
We’ve had to unlearn some things along the way. For years, we thought mission work meant doing, going, building, fixing, and providing. But we began to ask hard questions. Were we creating dependency? Were we empowering people to thrive long-term, or simply meeting temporary needs?
One story that changed our perspective came from a dental outreach trip. After days of treating patients, we realized there were still dozens of people we couldn’t help; people who had walked for days, only to be turned away. It broke our hearts. That moment forced us to rethink everything.
Instead of going to do dentistry, we decided to teach it. We trained local believers in Ghana to extract teeth safely and share the gospel as they worked. Within a week, they were serving their own communities with excellence. A year later, they were still doing it, better than ever. That’s the power of partnership. When we equip local churches, the work doesn’t end when we leave. It multiplies.
Partnership Builds the Kingdom
This is what Jesus modeled. He didn’t overwhelm us with everything He carried. He came down to our level, spoke in ways we could understand, and empowered ordinary people to carry His message. Partnership is the same; it’s coming alongside others, breaking things down to the basics, and helping them discover how to live and serve in ways that fit their culture and context.
When we empower others, the Kingdom expands. The church grows not because we’re the heroes, but because Christ is at the center, working through His people in every nation.
Partnership isn’t just a strategy. It’s a reflection of the gospel itself: God with us, working through us, for His glory.
Why We Choose Partnership
We choose partnership because it’s sustainable. Because it honors the maturity and strength of the Global South. Because it celebrates the body of Christ, every part doing its role.
Most of all, we choose partnership because it shifts the glory where it belongs: to God. When we partner well, we stop striving for control and start trusting the Spirit to lead. We move from “our project” to “God’s mission.” And that changes everything.
How You Can Join Us in the Greater Work
If this conversation about partnership stirs something in you, we invite you to take the next step with us. Our book, Teach a Man to Fish, dives deeper into how equipping the local church can bring lasting transformation, not dependency, but empowerment.
Get your copy of Teach a Man to Fish today and discover how partnership can transform communities.
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