Partnership Discussion

Happy Thanksgiving! Getting back into focus is a difficult thing, especially with jetlag. I appreciate the prayers for my travel, as it was very productive and enjoyable. I was able to speak at 3 different churches in 4 very different services. Even with a quick survey of the kinds of churches represented at the Georgia Baptist Convention last week, I was able to determine that we have a broad range of potential partners in our own SBC churches, let alone other GCC groups. For the next few weeks, I want us to focus on partnerships, namely, how do you create partnerships, with whom, and what parameters you set. Have you determined your own “theology of Partnership” – Who would you work with? What does IMB allow? How far does a partnership go? What role should we as missionaries play with connecting partners in the states with churches/groups/individuals here in Russia?
Next week, we’ll explore what I’ll call “Partnership for Entry – Utilizing a Person of Influence.” Then the following week, we’ll talk about “Partnership for Salvation – Finding a Person of Peace.” We’ll complete that series with “Partnership for Leadership – Enabling a Person of Confluence.” If you’re like me, you sometimes wonder about your role as missionary in a country that considers itself “already evangelized.” So, we’ll talk about maximizing your potential as a partner/connector in Discipleship, Church Planting, and Equipping Leaders throughout this series. I hope it will be a blessing to you. By the way, if you have any questions about partnership theology in advance, send them to me- I’ll be happy to post them especially if you think it would be beneficial to the larger audience!

I hope you have a very happy Thanksgiving day on Thursday! Although in Russia there will probably be no Macy’s parade or afternoon football game or family hunt (some of my own favorite stateside memories), may the Lord use you greatly to share an attitude of thanksgiving that is the never-ending fuel for missions.