Over the past week, I (Doug) have been here in Togo to take part in a church multiplication conference sponsored by Coalition of the Willing. One thing I’ve noticed: Africans are motivated by the prospect of serving side by side in the work. They love the thought of reducing duplication, cheering each other along, and adding to one another’s accountability. And it worked! Each and every country was stirred to action by seeing what others are doing. Aren’t we all? I remember back in the 1970s, missionaries often served independently. Churches robbed members from one another. Mission agencies felt as if they were competing with each other. So my question is – what do *you* think has turned the tide? Why are so many of us so interested in collaboration today? What’s your theory. Please click comment and let us know what you think and why. Thank you!
10) Collaboration Rocks
My theory is that there are many more SERVANT Leaders these days who serve from the front, and by their amazing example, catalyze their followers to achieve great things together towards multiplicative growth… servant leaders like Dr. Doug Lucas!
A large part of that is because of one of the most overlooked mission efforts begin in the mid 80s by Phil Butler (https://kingdom-resource.org) to push collaboration to the forefront rooted in a missional understanding of John 17. The work of Interdev in pioneering an understanding of collaborative dynamics for mission efforts, then building on their learning into best practice principles that were continually assessed and evaluated led to significant networks and alliances globally especially on behalf of UPGs/LPGs. Today the follow on to Interdev, VisionSynergy ( https://visionsynergy.net) continues to build on the successes by discovering and equipping catalytic network leaders throughout the mission effort, all led locally from the nations and regions where network training is envisioned and taught. The impacts of this quiet small missions lever organization are truly beyond measure which is probably why Lausanne has made it their Lead around collaboration training and mobilizing.