2 minute read
True PARTNERSHIP
from Harvest Force 2021 issue 1
by MMS1
Dr Stanley Ling, Regional Director of SIM East Asia (until end March 2021). He worships at Ang Mo Kio Chinese Methodist Church.
Partnership is a commonly used term nowadays, not only in the church, but also in the marketplace. However, the spirit of partnership is not truly lived out by many.
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What is true partnership?
The word “partnership” in the New Testament Greek is “koinonia”. This word appears 19 times in the New Testament. The most common translation of koinonia is the English word “fellowship”. Koinonia refers to concepts such as communion or joint participation, the share which one has in anything, a gift jointly contributed, a collection, or a contribution. There is a notion of equality of all parties involved in the cause.
Therefore, biblical partnership as indicated by its Greek root, koinonia, must be rooted in and also result in relationships of biblical teaching.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary also defines partnership as “an alliance or association of persons for the prosecution of an undertaking or a business on joint account; a company; a firm; a house; as to form a partnership.”
Example of partnership in the Bible
We can take an example from the Bible on partnership: 2 Corinthians 6:14
New Living Translation (NLT): Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?
Good News Translation (GNT): Do not try to work together as equals with unbelievers, for it cannot be done. How can right and wrong be partners? How can light and darkness live together?
New International Version (NIV): Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
The idea of “working together” and each party “being equal” is clearly shown in this verse. The relationship of partners is so strong that it is described as a “yoke” in the NIV.
Partnership in missions
We can have various partners in missions. Examples: mission agencies, missionaries, sending or supporting churches, individual supporters, receiving fields, local churches in the field (if any).
All too often, the mission agency regards itself as the leader and boss over others, especially the missionaries, when decisions are made. A true partnership calls for consultation and mutual trust. Likewise, the partnering church should be invited to join in the ministry rather than be left out.
Partnership must be strategic and result in synergy with a multiplied effect
My advice to many churches and agencies is: don’t partner merely for the sake of partnership. There must be a strategic reason, and synergy in a partnership must lead to a multiplied impact on the proclamation of the Gospel. If there is no synergy and no strategic reason for the partnership, it is best to go solo because partnership does mean we have to take the other partners’ views seriously. It means we have to slow down and journey with others. It also means we do need to work on the relationship which is time consuming and not always easy!
In conclusion, consider carefully the strategic reasons and commitment required before you undertake any partnerships.
