beyond partnership - short term missions

About Us | Our Principles


Since 1991, Steve Reed (founder) along with several third world church leaders have developed principles for success in cross cultural ministry. These principles are based on two convictions. First, the third world leaders are able to direct their own ministries without outside control from first world churches. Secondly, the first world church needs to learn from the third world church rather than teach them.

Principles of Short Term Missions beyond partnership

  1. Where there is a national church, nationals are more effective in ministry than people from the first world. They know the language, culture and customs of the people where first world churches do not. That is why Beyond Partnership does not plant churches but assists the nationals who are already doing it in their respective countries.

  2. We work with ministries that are under the control of, and developed by national leaders. We minister in agreement with the local leaders’ agenda. We do not take our agenda to their ministry. They know what is best for their people.

  3. National church leaders are in the forefront of the ministry; team members are in the background. National church leaders will remain in their local communities long after the teams have left. Therefore, they need a strong presence in their own ministry outreach, not to be overshadowed by us when we are there to help them.

  4. Teams will do nothing that the third world churches cannot follow up. Often when teams and their resources leave, so too does the big spectacle. The national church cannot match it on their own, and many visitors and new converts would not return without all the excitement. A fancy show with a big response does more for the first world ego than for the national ministry.

  5. Both the national church and the short term teams serve together under national leadership as volunteers. The nationals have the same opportunities to serve their local church as the short term team members. We don't take away from them the dignity of serving God by paying them.

  6. Children and young people will not do ministry, such as preaching, that they are not allowed to do in their own church. Working with the poor should not be looked at as an opportunity for our youth or novices to practice on. They deserve as much dignity and respect as we would give our own congregations.

  7. Everything is given through the national leadership. No team members can give personal items to individuals. This can cause anger, jealousy, and spite among local church members that could escalate to division.

  8. Dependency is not to be avoided; rather it is our call as the body of Christ. God calls us to be one in service, resources and love in an interdependent relationship with ALL our brothers and sisters in Christ. The poor church is helped by our resources while the first world believers are built up by experiencing the faith and commitment of the poor believers. We are incomplete without each other.

  9. The team goes with an attitude of what they can learn from the national church not what they have to teach the national church. The Bible says, “God has chosen the poor to be rich in faith.” Many of the national leaders have developed incredible ministries while leading lives of suffering and hardship. They have learned to depend on God for everything. They have much to teach us, if we will just listen.

beyond partnership