Biblical partnership is close and relational. It’s two or more parties working together toward a Godly mission and vision they believe in.
Partnership at Compassion means two parties joining in a Christ-centered, collaborative mission — doing together what neither could accomplish alone to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name.
Healthy partnership is marked by mutual respect, shared responsibility and visible kingdom impact, with relationships prioritized over tasks or power dynamics.
What Does Partnership Mean?
At Compassion, partnership is a key part of how we serve children living in poverty around the world. But what does partnership mean?
The word “partnership” is derived from the Latin word partitio, which means “portion.” In its simplest form, partnership means sharing a portion with someone, like a portion of a project. But the Biblical definition goes much deeper.
Partnership in the Bible
In the Bible, partnership is often translated as koinonia, a Greek word meaning communion and fellowship. Communion means sharing, but with intimacy and a sense of closeness. And fellowship means to spend time with those who are like-minded and share your interests.
Put simply, Biblical partnership is close and relational. It’s two or more parties working together, despite disagreements and differences, for a mutual Godly mission and vision they all believe in.
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. — Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, NIVF
What Is Partnership at Compassion?
True partnership works to achieve a vision that is mutually desired and that can’t be achieved by one partner alone. It’s not simply having tea together — it’s having tea to work together on something that you both care about and can’t do alone.
With that and the Biblical definition in mind, this is how we define partnership within Compassion:
A Compassion partnership is a collaborative and mutually beneficial relationship between Compassion and another entity for the purpose of releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name beyond the capacity of either partner individually.
This definition is based on three key elements:
A common mission to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. This is the only purpose for which we will enter partnerships.
A collaborative relationship. Both parties must actively build relationship with each other and cooperate willingly on the mission.
Mutual respect and mutual benefit. We recognize that we need one another to accomplish the mission.
Compassion’s Guiding Principles for Partnership
Based on the above three elements, we’ve developed a set of principles that guide us toward healthy, God-honoring partnerships. These apply to our relationship with you, our local church partners and our strategic ministry relationships.
Partnership Is Based On Our Identity in Christ
In Jesus, we are one body with many parts. Each part offers unique service and is equally important to the health of the body. We value each partner, irrespective of size, power or resources.
We don’t view any one partner as more important than the other. This can be achieved only if we are committed to the attitude of Christ.
Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves. — Philippians 2:2-3, NIV
Partnership Seeks Mutually Respectful & Beneficial Relationships
No partner should use the other for its own goals, but should develop genuine, mutually respectful and beneficial relationships. A partner does not lord over or “do mission” for the other. Rather, a partner seeks to help, empower and serve the other to enrich their shared ministry.
We give priority to relationships over tasks and projects. When relationships empower, rather than impose agendas, all partners experience transformation in the process.
Partnership Accepts Mutual Responsibility and Commitment
Partnership takes the commitments made to one another with utmost seriousness and works in collaboration, without dominance, exploitation or condescension.
Increased trust is built through partners being accountable to each other, ensuring their words and actions are consistent. Partnership requires an enduring commitment to not only the common vision but also to each other.
Partnership Produces Visible Transformation and Outcomes
Partnership exists for the purpose of advancing the kingdom of God further, better and faster than either party could do alone.
For us, partnership exists for the shared goal of releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name. The essence of partnership is that one plus one equals more than two. We enter partnerships to do something we can’t do alone or that we can do better together.
“A mosaic consists of thousands of little stones. Some are blue, some are green, some are yellow and some are gold. When we bring our faces close to the mosaic, we can admire the beauty of each stone. But as we step back from it, we can see that all these little stones reveal to us a beautiful picture, telling a story none of these stones can tell by itself.
That is what our life in community is about. Each of us is like a little stone, but together we reveal the face of God to the world.”
- Henri J. Nouwen, “Bread for the Journey: A Daybook of Wisdom and Faith"
At Compassion, we’re deeply honored to be part of the thousands of little stones that God is using to build a beautiful mosaic. Together, we’re telling a story that none of us could tell by ourselves.
Through our commitment to and relationship with one another, we’re revealing the face of God to the world and advancing his kingdom by releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name.
