I travel the world and in my community carrying my self-identity in missional living. Back in February 2016 my husband and I returned from Nairobi, Kenya from a business-as-mission themed short-term trip developed between my home church, Northisde Christian (NCC), the local church, Redeemed Gospel Church (RGC), and a non-profit Transformational Ventures (TV). Below is my final journal entry where I shared what God revealed to me in my walk with him during my time in the slums of Nairobi. My Chapter 3 as mentioned below has been written in the documentary Poverty, Inc.* The message hit me upside the head as hard as a two-by-four. After being stunned and finally picking myself up off the floor, I am processing the message in how it continues to break my paradigms about missional living and my role in developmental mission. Stay tuned for my next blog where I unfold my Chapter 3 and response. This entry provides perspective…
* Poverty, Inc. available for viewing on Netflix
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Over the past 10 days I have rejoined my normal world. The re-entry process for every mission journey is unique, because it is a time of reflection and consideration of next steps based on experiences that challenge my thinking. Although I am fairly experienced at international mission journeys, I desire to understand what God wants to show me on any journey. God has a purpose, and I seek to understand his message and what I am to learn and do.
So spending time in my journal and reviewing all the photos and videos we took of our journey together, some of the themes that keep coming to mind are:
- Power of partnership, especially with dignity
- Relationships, not necessarily business
- Transforming lives
As I dig deeper in thought what rises to the surface is the “Power of Partnership to Transform Lives” through dignity and not charity. The words power, partnership, transform, dignity and charity will all have slightly different meanings to the reader depending on the filter by which each word is read. All 6 words by themselves are positioned for misinterpretation, so string them all together into one phrase, and I fear the concept may get messy! What does she mean by the “Power of Partnership to Transform Lives?”
I believe Redeemed Gospel Church (RGC) and Northside Christian Church (NCC) can be partners to transform lives both spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically. When two organizations come together for a common goal, many people refer to the union as a partnership. When I refer to a union, I am careful to delineate the difference between a partnership and a relationship. A partnership brings two entities together that have a long-term vision, are joined through thick and thin, pool resources, hold each other accountable and are each valued by the other in what they can bring to the partnership. Upon closer examination many churches or non-profit partnerships have some of the above elements but not all. When one organization believes it provides more value than the other joining organization, the unspoken word is charity. For lack of a better descriptor, the dominant partner perceives it is giving away some of its value (charity) to combine into one entity. There may be a reasonable driver for this type of union, but I would not call it a partnership under those circumstances. In typical business merger and acquisition, a fair price or equity position is negotiated for the value each company may bring to a joint venture or merger.
Well placed charity is a blessing! Northside financially blesses many initiatives or mission outreaches that align with their vision, mission, and goals. Northside and RGC have a long standing relationship where Northside has brought money and people to help drill a water well on the property, put a new roof on the church, etc. Transformational Ventures has invested time and resources in helping the RGC leadership personally and organizationally. I am sure Northside will continue financial support, because they believe in what the church is trying to accomplish. All this is a blessing for the giver and receiver! As RGC, Northside and Transformational Ventures continue to make progress in its aligned goals, the word partnership seems to be mouthed more frequently. I challenge those who are speaking “partnership” to define and describe what that truly means in action. What does that look, taste and feel like tangibly?
I truly believe that RGC and Northside can be true partners in the way that I have suggested partnership, but first, both churches have to get real with what they each can and will bring to the table in the partnership. No one way contribution—charity, but two way contribution—dignity. I know this is a paradigm shift in thinking. What will RGC contribute? I’m not suggesting material resources that they don’t have? I would suggest they can help our church learn how to culturally embrace what it means to love God (worship), to love others (service and tithing), and to make disciplines of disciplines (how to spread the Gospel). Not sure we do as good a job on these endeavors as RGC. Maybe they can mentor us in a partnership? Share their best practices?
Pastor Brown and Pastor Dave are the men who will eventually decide whether RGC and Northside will truly partner by pooling their talents and resources. God has no boundaries and neither should we. If together NCC and RGC can save a 1,000 souls this year, does it matter whether they are in Africa or America or any combination of the two?
In summary, God has a reason for every mission journey, a message for every individual who chooses to venture into the field and for every person who meets the missionary. As Mohamed so purposefully said, “It wasn’t an accident; God brought us together.” I also believe when you live missionally and live out your purpose, God will reveal a bigger story over your lifetime. One mission journey may only be a chapter in a 1,000-page novel, but it may feel like you just devoured the whole book.
I believe this second trip to Kenya was another chapter in a book God wants me to read. These first chapters of a Pulitzer Prize winning novel are setting my foundation, teaching me, challenging my thoughts, and shaping my views. My first chapter, which was my first trip to Kenya with Woodlands Church, was about understanding and experiencing good developmental mission. I continue to practice developmental mission in my daily life through the Prison Entrepreneurship Program (PEP) to keep me sharpened in this area.
God had me read the second chapter of my novel when he took me to Kenya on this trip. He defined for me what true partnership has to embody for long-term sustainability—dignity! Dignity not just in actions but in heart/mind belief! People can act with dignity, but if the heart/mind is not aligned on dignity the partnership is reduced to a relationship. There is power in partnership to transform lives.
As I finish chapter 2, I am anticipating chapter 3, yet I don’t know where chapter 3 is yet. Where can I get a copy? I don’t know. Is chapter 3 another foundational learning or am I going to get to practice and take action? I have so many unanswered questions for the future. Guess you could call this a cliffhanger. As soon as I find that third chapter I’ll let you know!
Shine Crossings Ministry 