Network/Partnership Support Groups

MISSION NETWORKS Definitionsnetwork n. a gathering of independent entities engaging in a shared purpose.partnership n. 1 : an intentional working relationship with clear objectives, with the desire to achieve together what neither could do alone. 2 : One partners with those you know and trust.

NetworksIn the highly interconnected global reali-ty of today, networks are becoming the best platform from which leadership takes place and the best space for global engagement.

Networks are the nodes that connect the Body of Christ in areas of common inter-est. Well run networks intentionally birth partnerships. An effective network empowers its clients by curating relevant information and facilitating connections with potential partners.

Some networks are broad in nature while others are very focused. The more focused, especially in high security con-texts, the more the network will run like a partnership.

PartnershipsTrust is essential for effective partner-ships. Trust builds from communication to cooperation and finally into collabora-tion.

Network LeadershipA network leader creates an environment where leadership takes place. He/she will give space to experts to contribute their expertise. This leader is knowledgeable on the focus of the network but often not the expert. The best way to kill a network is for network leaders to use the net-work to promote themselves.

Country Level Networks Examples: National Association of Evangelicals (NAE); Aliança Evangelica Brasileira (AE); Alle-anza Evangelica Italiana (AEI).

Most country level alliances are also members of the regional alliances.

Regional Level NetworksExamples: Association of Evan-gelicals in Africa (AEA); European Evangelical Alliance (EEA); Asia Evangelical Alliance (AEA).

Almost all evangelical alliances are also associated with the World Evangelical Alliance network.

Mission Movement NetworksExamples: Missio Nexus; COMIB-AM (Ibero America); COMHINA (Hispanic North America); India Missions Association (IMA)

Mission Focus NetworksThese networks focus on work within unreached areas and high security contexts such as North Africa, the Middle East, the Arabi-an Peninsula, Central Asia, and Indomalaya.

There are a number of global networks that combine both geography together with issues.

World Evangelical Alliance (both national and regional alliances as well as commissions and initiatives)

The Lausanne Movement (includes issue focus networks and regional net-works)

Transform World (catalyzing and con-necting the nations through prayer and collaborative action)

Support groups for networks and part-nerships may provide a variety of resources.

For example, a support group may pro-vide: advisory services or tools and training (visionSynergy); a global learn-ing community (Synergy Commons); coaching services (Linking Global Voic-es); for equipping, encouraging, and catalyzing the partnering movement globally (International Partnering Asso-ciates [IPA]).

Unique Network TypeAn association or grouping of individual ministries.

A concept based network revolves around those seeking to understand and apply a specific concept in ministry. Examples: International Orality Network (ION); Honor-Shame Network.

Missiological societies comprising of pro-fessionals in a specific field. Examples: Evangelical Missiological Society (EMS); Asian Society of Missiology (ASM).

Accreditation is used to pull independent ministries into a network. These would be in the area of finances and theological education.

Types of IssuesSome examples of issues around which multiple networks have developed:

• Advocacy / Justice• Ethnomusicology / Ethno-art• Church Planting• Business For Missions• Human Trafficking• Media• Refugees / Orphans• Ministry Methodology• Diaspora• Member Care• Mobilization• International Churches• Communications Technology• Buddhism Focus• Muslim Focus

Geographically Defined Networks Global NetworksIssue Focus

NetworksGeneral Principles

There are

127country level evangelical

alliances.

There are

7regional

evangelical alliances.

There are about

73mission

movement networks

focused on a country or region.

There are over

380issue

focused networks identified.

Find a list of more issues by visiting

the Linking Global Voices

website.

There are about

28networks of ministries seeking to plant

churches in regions where there are none

established.

What are the Next Steps?

Interactive Missiographic �

InvestigateVisit the Linking Global Voices website (linkingglobalvoices.com) for an exhaus-tive list of networks plus additional information and resources. Also check out MissioNexus.org/networks for addi-tional articles on networking.

Research network’s websites (find them at the links above) and interact with lead-ers. Utilize broad networks and events to identify specific areas, topics, and affini-ties of interest. Also, find unique ways to participate and collaborate.

InvestBuild relationships to see long-term transformation. Join a network as a learn-er and as a contributor, then become an advocate for the network.

Each network name links to the network website. Be sure to click the names to find more details about each network.

More missiographics can be found online at Missiographics.com.

© 2018