Forming Successful Partnerships

Lasting, mutually satisfying and God-honouring partnerships are keys to the missions' harvest. Knowing the face and the place are crucial first steps toward establishing a partnership in the missions field. The first impression and careful preliminary observations will give the Missions Director a lot of clues as to the potential success of the relationship that is about to be formed.

Six crucial observations to be made:

1. Are we on the same page in terms of vision and ministry? If not keep looking rather than settling with one that is bound for breakdown along the way.

2. Are we comfortable with their Board, leadership team and structure? Look for transparencies, accountability in their structure and men and women of integrity of serve in it.

3. Are they honouring and taking care of the field workers?

4. Are they just interested in aggressive marketing of their ‘products and services’ without trying to understand our vision and philosophy of ministry? 

5. Take in a big picture of their past history as well as what they have in store for the future. In short check their background and also their outlook of the future. Some are long on past success but short on present projects.

6. And finally, is there a future for the partnership envisioned? Be honest as at times short-term interest overwhelms our philosophy and convictions.

How far we move beyond the initial meetings will depend on the above 6 questions. There is also the consideration of magnitude and depth of the partnership to be built. Some are one-off while others may be short- mid- or long-term. These will be translated into a budget which reflects the potential partnership.

Vetting will takestime. There is an exchange of confidence and friendship. It goes beyond the dollar and cents. So the best way to build up the partnership will be doing a small pilot project together to gauge and build trust and working relationship. We will quickly come to grips and reality of this partnership very quickly when we work together.

By working together on a pilot we allow issues to surface and we determine if this working relationships is workable or due to differences on vision, operational, leadership perspective etc it will not go far. Then finish the pilot on a high note and terminate partnership and move on.