Establishing Partners In Mission: Finding ourselves transformed by God as well

Noel Santiago, Executive Ministernsantiago@franconiaconference.orgEstablishing Partners In Mission: Finding ourselves transformed by God as well“…that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself…” 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, NASVThis text shapes a critical piece of the heart of the work we as God’s people are called to – joining Christ in reconciling the world to God!Franconia Conference is called to participate in making disciples of all nations so that one day, as described in Revelation 7:9-10, “a great multitude that no one can count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, will be standing before the throne crying: ‘Salvation belongs to our God…’” There are many ways and practices that we as a people have used and continue to use in fulfilling this work.Presently this work is shaped around the mission of “equipping leaders to empower others to embrace God’s mission” in the world. A critical piece of this work are the Partner in Mission relationships, church-to-church relationships that span counties as well as countries and creative missional initiatives.The intention of Partners in Mission has been to link hands with congregations, related ministries, agencies and networks of churches near and far with whom we have a spiritual and missional affinity and with whom we will experience a synergy that will mutually benefit us in carrying out God’s mission. The Partner in Mission initiative, as a valuable expression of our conference mission, was affirmed by Franconia Conference delegates in 2005 after an initial trial period.What has been the transformational impact of these relationships so far?“These relationships,” notes Nelson Shenk, Pastor of Boyertown Mennonite Church and Conference Board Ministerial Committee Chair, “have:• Helped us to think more globally;• Done a lot to help us realize how much churches in the global south have to offer us in the U.S.;• Humbled us to understand how limiting it is that most of us speak only one language;• Been invigorating to expand our friendships into more multi-cultural avenues.”As you can read about in recent issues of Intersections as well as in the 2008 Vision and Financial Plan Recommendations Progress Update, available on our website, numerous Partners in Mission and congregational missional initiatives have led to significant engagement and relationships around the world and right here at home. A sample list of these partnerships and initiatives include:• Tabernacle of Christ Church in Viña del Mar, Chile, partnered with Whitehall, Boyertown and Perkiomenville congregations• La Paz Church and RIMA Network in Mexico partnered with Blooming Glen and Good Shepherd congregations• The Grace Assembly Network in Haiti partnered with Souderton, Rockhill and Hopewell (Telford) congregations• The Anabaptist Network in the United Kingdom partnered with Perkasie and half a dozen other congregations• Maranatha in Puebla, Mexico, partnered with Franconia and Good Shepherd congregations• Ripple Effects in Lehigh Valley, Pa. – Whitehall Mennonite Church• Alpha Program, Souderton, Pa. – Souderton Mennonite Church• Rock Community Church partnered with Franconia Conference Prayer Ministries• A new church plant in Gaithersburg, Maryland, partnered through Bob and Bonnie Stevenson at Monte Maria, MexicoWhile it is clear that many are already working at “reconciling the world to Christ” in ways that move beyond a Partner in Mission relationship – whether through service in a conference related ministry or a local community organization, volunteering in outreach events, providing services to hurting people, and many other ways that teach and model a lifestyle that reflects Kingdom values – these relationships are indeed leading us to become even more open to Christ in others and call us to embrace God in the other.The invitation to Partner in Mission relationships provides an opporunity to cultivate relationships with others in such a way that enables embracing the other. In the midst of that we are transformed and find ourselves embraced and transformed by God as well.