by Phillip Butler

As we consider effective church planting, we might do well to study
more closely that parenthetical passage which, in the middle of the
story of the Samaritan woman in John 4, Jesus instructs his disciples on
the importance of understanding the role of relationships and
partnership in evangelism.

In this passage, Jesus suggests at least two important aspects of
evangelism/church planting. First, that frequently if not most often,
individuals coming into the Kingdom do so as part of a process.
Evangelism is not an event. And, that process typically involves more
than one person. Second, the results that we see today are likely to be
the product of our work and someone else’s faithfulness, someone we
never knew, being faithful at a time before we were involved.

As Jesus suggests, we need to respect others’ roles and respect
God’s work in history, even if we have no first hand, specific knowledge
of how either figured into the results we are now seeing.

This observation is strongly supported by the apostle Paul’s words
to the church in I Corinthians 3: 1-9. (In the Good News translation of
this passage, Paul concludes, "There is no difference between the
man who sows and the man who waters. God will reward each one according
to the work he has done. For we are partners together working together
for God ….")

This understanding of God’s plan for evangelism and church planting
is rooted, of course, in our understanding of the very nature of God
himself as revealed especially in the first eleven chapters of Genesis
where repeatedly we meet God in the plural, the "us" of
creation. God, dwelling in community, outside of time or the created
order. It explains, why when he did create, God created "in his
likeness", that is, beings designed to live in relationship; with
himself, internally with themselves in a self-consciousness (which
separates man from all the other created order), and with others (giving
particular meaning to the Luke 10 passage).

Combine these passages with well-known New Testament sections such
as Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4 where the Spirit-given
diversity of gifts is outlined and we begin to understand why Jesus
never spoke of success but relentlessly about faithfulness. Each
individual has a role to play! This understanding of God’s nature and
plan also sheds further light on well-known passages like Matthew
25:14-30 where the master had different expectations of the servants
abilities but uniform expectations of their faithfulness.

Reality Forces A New Look at Individualism

In the late 20th century, we are being forced to deal once again
with the meaning and significance of these passages. First, initiatives
in which one individual does everything is not only foreign to the true
biblical paradigm, it is a relic of a time in history when
communications was poor, transportation slow, and resources extremely
limited. Second, the failure of the gospel to make significant headway
in community-based, relationally-intensive non-Western cultures (Islam,
Hindu, Buddhist/Tibetan Buddhist), raises serious questions about the
power and credibility of our message when delivered individualistically.
Even more so when the messengers appear to be divided.

Over the last decade, our work in helping ministries develop
strategic partnerships for evangelism and church planting has
demonstrated the practical power and reality of these truths again and
again. We are increasingly convinced that there will be no real blessing
of the Holy Spirit, no real power for breakthroughs in the most
difficult areas of the world, and no credibility for our message without
a genuine partnership approach to the preaching of the good news.

The Power of Partnership is Tangible

A partnership approach brings real credibility (John 17) to our
message. We can actually demonstrate restored relationships. It allows
for the release of the Holy Spirit’s power and refreshment for those
involved in ministry, frequently in the hardest places (Psalm 133).

It welcomes each person as they employ their God-given gifts (I
Corinthians 12). Well diggers, translation specialists, radio
broadcasters, student evangelists, medical personnel, and many others
can each have a conscious sense of being part of God’s redemptive grace.

Major Barriers to a Biblical Approach

Many barriers stand between us and an approach to ministry. Personal
and organizational pride. Demand to have short-term if not
"instant" results. Majoring on perceived minor theological
differences while unwilling to acknowledge agreement on the heart of the
gospel. Tradition, fear and unwillingness to consider new approaches,
especially ministry approaches that call for us to depend on each other
and to share success. And, of course, Satan. He uses division and
discord based on individualism as his primary means of destroying the
power and credibility of Jesus’ life and message. Finally, we have
little history of knowing how to work together. To help us do so, we
need intensive, practical training and on-going coaching and mentoring
that is deeply rooted in prayer and the Scripture.

In nearly every language or people where strategic partnerships are
now seeing major breakthroughs in evangelism and church planting, a
study of not too distant history reveals that someone has previously
paid a terrible personal price as they witnessed in this group for
Christ. These partnerships’ credibility and effectiveness is enhanced
because they are working together today. But, in reality, they are
deeply engaged in the partnership of God’s grace expressed in the lives
of those who have gone before.

Reproduced with permission – http://www.lausanne.org