When I was in grad school, I had a professor whose favorite pedagogy was forming collaborative teams to work on projects and solve problems. “Cooperate and Graduate,” he used to tell us. That slogan has stuck with me over the years as I have had the opportunity to work on a variety of teams, both in China and the US. I think it captures well the spirit of collaboration that is necessary in the China ministry community.
At ChinaSource, we work in collaborative partnerships, both formal and informal, with like-minded organizations and individuals. By working together to accomplish mutually beneficial and determined vision and objectives, we are able to better serve, support, and strengthen the China ministry community, thereby serving, supporting, and strengthening the church in China.
Our commitment to collaboration is rooted in our belief that unity in the ministry community comes through recognizing the unique roles, gifts, and resources that each individual and organization brings to advance the kingdom of God in China and globally, and that working together for their strategic deployment results in multiplied effectiveness. We are grateful to God that over the years he has allowed us to develop a broad network of collaborative relationships.
The core activities embedded in our mission are educating and connecting. We educate the global church on critical issues facing the church and ministries in China. We connect Christians inside and outside of China, providing a platform for engagement and mutual learning. These are done for the purpose of advancing the kingdom of God globally. We cannot do this alone. Rather, we are convinced that the accomplishment of this mission requires partnerships. It is through partnerships that we educate and connect.
We believe that an informed understanding of China and the experience of the Chinese people, both historical and contemporary, is critical to effectiveness.
Broadly speaking, we can divide our partnership activities into four categories: content generation, events, networking, and consulting.
We have a strong and growing network of contributors, both Chinese and non-Chinese on whom we rely to tell gospel-centered stories of what God is doing in China, and to provide analysis on the issues facing Christians in China.
We collaborate with various academic institutions, organizations, and churches to host online webinars, ChinaSource Connect events, and to provide speaking services.
Behind the scenes we introduce individuals and ministries unknown to each other, but who share similar visions for serving churches in China. We also regularly convene smaller groups for online encouragement and prayer.
Finally, we are privileged to consult with various ministries on the current situation in China and potential opportunities for future involvement, as well as providing background information for a number of media outlets, both Christian and secular.
As a result of these strategic partnerships, ChinaSource has been able to assist with the formation of new ministry initiatives, help organizations and individuals gain a better understanding of the changing ministry environment in China, and be a platform for Chinese Christians to speak to the global Christian community.
Despite a difficult environment in China, God continues to build his church. At ChinaSource we are grateful for the role we have been given in the work of serving the church there. If you would like to partner with us, please feel free to reach out.
Visit our Partnership page to learn about some of our partners. Each organization has a wealth of experience in cross-cultural work and a unique lens on ministry.
Over the coming weeks, we will be introducing our partners as part of our new series, “Meet Our Partners.”
Image credit: Christopher Paul High, via Unsplash
Joann Pittman
Joann Pittman is Vice President of Partnership and China Engagement and editor of ZGBriefs. Prior to joining ChinaSource, Joann spent 28 years working in China, as an English teacher, language student, program director, and cross-cultural trainer for organizations and businesses engaged in China. She has also taught Chinese at the University …View Full Bio
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