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Compassion Ministry Partnerships

Obedience to the Gospel must be carried out in the urban context. Fulfillment of the mission of Christ compels every church to involve itself in the issues of the poor, needy, oppressed, alien, widow, and the orphan. The Metro District is made up of several large cities and surrounding suburbs. The District provides the opportunity to link suburban churches with urban and under-resourced churches so that we can fully express the Gospel and see transformation of our region take place.

The following is adopted with permssion from Willow Creek Community Church Multi-Cultural Church Relations Department.

Benefits of Partnerships

Biblical

  • Jesus and His disciples partnered together to heal the broken hearted

  • Partnerships strengthen the unity of believers

  • Partnerships speak to God’s heart of mercy and compassion (Mic 6:8)

  • Partnerships are relational and spiritual models that originate in God’s Word

Societal

  • Partnerships connect our “hands and feet” with our faith

  • Our society changes positively because of Christian partnerships (John 17:20-23)

  • Partnerships transform neighborhoods

Relational .

  • Lives are enriched by partnership relationships
  • Transparency and vulnerability are natural results of growing together in partnerships (it’s more than breaking bread together it’s doing life together)
  • Church to church relationships have a ripple effect on an entire community; cross-cultural barriers weaken under the influence of partnerships

Why We Need Partnerships

Creates Unity…When you partner, you are serving in unity with others. This is exactly where God wants you. Serving with others defeats the enemy’s desire for you to serve in isolation. The enemy does not want to see you counting on others to leverage Kingdom resources for effective ministry.

Increases Ministry Impact…God calls Christians to be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and even to the remotest part of the earth. In any community that you reach, you cannot get involved without having a more comprehensive knowledge of the area. This makes partnership a wise strategy to work alongside ministries that are already serving their neighbors in need because they know their community. Partnering organizations have strengths and resources that can be leveraged.

“The challenges of being and doing ministry in the inner-city appear to be insurmountable and they are…when we are working alone. Most ministries lack the infrastructure, human and financial resources, the technology, and capacity to see their transformed communities and experience sustainable change in the lives of families being served. But through God-inspired partnerships, all things are possible”

- Yeathus Johnson, Urban Missionary

Maximizes Resources…Partnerships maximize resources and decreases duplication of effort. People and organizations can impact communities more effectively working together. A successful partnership is contagious. It can lead to an alliance of like-minded partners that together better serve the needs of all. The best hope for individuals whose lives are gripped by poverty, prejudice, crime and broken homes is the supernatural, transforming power of God. No single ministry serves everyone in need, but the Holy Spirit guides believers to serve alongside those who share a common ministry vision. When organizations decide to develop a partnership, they maximize impact as together they join God in something He is already doing.

Decreases Duplication…Every local church and/or Christian organization has God-given strengths and resources in an Urban or Suburban context and is meant to function as part of the whole body of Christ. Christians are meant to serve one another according to Christ’s law of love. When we bring our best to the table and partners bring their best, together we eliminate duplication. “Don’t Reinvent the Wheel” is an expression we hear repeatedly. It’s a simple point, but for some strange reason these words often get overlooked. As a church or ministry leader you have the influence to support and benefit from other credible and worthy causes.

Fosters Spiritual Growth…When you establish healthy partnerships, you see people as Jesus see them. You engage them as He would. Partnerships are probably one of the best environments for people to become more like Christ. When people reach out to others through compassionate acts, there is more happening than the impact they are having on someone else’s life. Their own life is affected as well.

Partnership Covenant Sample Form

Are you seeking to connect with an under-resourced church and community? A list of churches is provided below. Click on the church you are interested in partnering with, this will lead you to the church’s website or help you obtain contact information.

Christ Community Church, Brooklyn, NY

42 E 5th Street, Brooklyn, NY11218 (Between Greenwood and Vanderbilt Ave.); Worship Time - 10:30 AM on Sundays; Church Phone: (718) 435-1958 Pastor John Saldanha john_saldanha@yahoo.com

New Hope Community Church, Staten Island, NY

Paterson Gospel Church, Paterson, NJ

New Life Life in the Bronx C&MA

2525 Williamsbridge Road Bronx, New York 10469 Pastor Robert Cole rojo221@msn.com Church Phone: 718-519-1930, Cell 917-545-6851