Global Partnership Learning Modules

These learning modules are intended to assist a group / church to nurture learning, preparation, and commitment for global partnership. They are in an adult education format and each would be about 1 to 1½ hours in length. The suggested order is not rigid; not all modules may be deemed necessary as each group / church context is different.

Areas to consider include:

1. Spiritual Growth: Define how the partnership journey can contribute to spiritual growth
2. Mission and Vision: Draw up and describe a preliminary picture of your vision for a partnership
   Developing Mission and Vision (download: DOC or PDF)
   Strategic Plan Questionnaires
3. Poverty
   1. Walking with the Poor: A look at theories of poverty and its causes, and Biblical passages about poverty
      Walking with the Poor (download: DOC or PDF)
      Walking with the Poor handout (download DOC or PDF)
      Walking with the Poorfacilitator helps
      Steve Sylwulka Feb 2008 newsletter
      A Handful of Rice (World Missions news item, August 2009)  
   2. Learning to Understand Poverty: Activities to stimulate experience of poverty Learning to Understand Poverty (download: DOC or PDF)
      Gerry Hellenier on Poverty
      Time Magazine article by Jeff Sachs
4. Stepping Beyond our Culture: Exposure to cultural foundations and discovering your own Cultural Intelligence
   Stepping Beyond Culture (download: DOC or PDF)
5. Understanding Worldviews: A look at the differences in outlook and perspective on what life is about, on what it means to be human and the purpose of life.
   Worldview (download: DOC or PDF)
6. Promoting Mutual Growth: in Ourselves, Each Other and as a Partnership: Identify behaviors that contribute to healthy interdependence and those that promote dependence.
   Promoting Mutual Growth (download: DOC or PDF)
   Oscar Murui DVD
7. Praying Together: Finding effective ways to build ongoing prayer into all phases of the partnership process.
8. Getting ready to “sup” together: Begin to make plans for “getting to know one another” through visits in both directions.
9. Money and Power in Relationships: Develop guidelines on how to create healthy relationships and how to use financial resources most effectively.
   Power and Money in Cross Cultural Relationships (download: DOC or PDF)
10.   Partnering Specifics: Develop a concrete plan leading to the finalization of a partnership agreement (covenant) among the main parties: North American group, southern community, and the facilitating agency.

Facilitators may find helpful tips for leading the sessions in this Facilitator Guide.

Have resources to suggest? Let us know by posting in the Global Mission forum.