Many of us are allergic to business jargon. Nothing can make people start itching faster than sitting in a meeting and hearing words like “strategy,” “assessment,” or — horror of horrors — “best practice methodology.”

“Partnership” can be one of those abstract business-like words that make our eyes glaze over. The word has been used to mean a lot of things to a lot of people until it hardly means anything to anyone. What is partnership?

Partnership is at the center of what we do at Compassion. We not only partner with you, our sponsors and donors, but also with the local church around the world. So it’s worth understanding what we mean by partnership and how we do it.

The word “partnership” is derived from the Latin word for “portion.” In partnership, we share a portion with each other.

Partnership should achieve a vision that is mutually desired and that cannot be achieved by any one partner alone. It is not simply having tea together. It is having tea in order to work together on something that you both care about and can’t do alone.

With this in mind, this is how we define partnership:

“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.”

Our definition is based on three things:

1. A common mission to release children from poverty in Jesus’ name. This is the only purpose for which we will enter into partnerships.
2. A collaborative relationship. Both parties must actively build relationship with each other and cooperate willingly on the mission.
3. Mutual respect and mutual benefit. We recognize that we need one another to accomplish the mission.

And based on these three things, we have developed a set of principles that guide us toward healthy, God-honoring partnerships.

They apply to our relationships with you and our supporting church partners; they apply to strategic ministry relationships; and they apply to our implementing church partners.

Partnership Is Founded Upon Our Identity in Christ.

In Christ we are one body with many parts. Each part offers unique service and is equally important to the health of the body. Each partner, irrespective of size, power or resources, is valued. No partner is viewed as more important than the other. This can be achieved only if we are committed to the attitude of Christ and “having the same love … and in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:2-3).

Partnership Seeks Mutually Respectful and 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 are transformed 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 that 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 does not exist as an end in itself. It exists for the purpose of advancing the kingdom of God further, better and/or 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 into partnerships in order to do something we cannot 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, The Mosaic That Shows Us the Face of God

At Compassion, we are deeply honored to be part of the thousands of little stones that God is using to build a beautiful mosaic. Together we are telling a story that none of us could tell by ourselves.

Through our commitment to and relationship with one another, we are revealing the face of God to the world and advancing His kingdom by releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name.

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Can I tell you my favorite thing about being part of this ministry? My six years with Compassion have been a time to grow professionally and economically, but more so spiritually.

People join organizations with different motives. However, as they start working, they sometimes realize that their motives for joining do not drive them to their desired goals.

As much as I joined Compassion because of its mission of releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name, there is one thing that has touched me even more. It’s the phrase, “It is all about Jesus.”

This phrase has been a motivating factor for me to stay with Compassion. I always ask myself why I do what I do for Compassion, and the answer has always been this: It is all about Jesus.

Why are we laboring to help children? Why are we striving for integrity, excellence, stewardship and dignity? Why sometimes do we have sleepless nights thinking about our ministry? Why, as Compassion staff, do we strive to be one in Spirit?

It is all about Jesus!

I see Compassion not just as any organization, but as a ministry with substance. We are sustained by the centrality of Jesus Christ and His Church, and by the resolve of our corporate leadership to ensure that we do not deviate from these roots.

I am proud to be part of this ministry, and I boldly say to anyone that I am Compassion. That is my calling. That is my anointing. That is my divine appointment. Compassion is about Jesus, and will always be about Jesus! In that way we shall always be one in Spirit. It is all about Jesus! Amen.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” — Colossians 3:17 (NIV)

Prayer: We pray that we may remain one in Spirit as the Compassion family in whatever we do and that we always remember that everything we do is for the glory of Jesus. Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Cuthbert Mono serves with Compassion International Tanzania in the capacity of senior HR specialist.

Read all the One in Spirit devotionals.

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When I was in high school, I had a few friends who were strong evangelical Christians.

Tim was one of them, and he unabashedly shared his faith on a regular basis. Because of Tim, I was introduced to Christian music à la Michael W. Smith on a bus ride home from a school trip – ahhhh good times!

I was ornery then, and though Tim was a good friend, I wanted to see how Christian he really was, so I’d try to push his buttons to make him mad. Sometimes I’d cuss in front of him just to see what he would do. While he’d tell me he didn’t like my words, he was unwavering and stayed my friend.

When I read this quote from Lloyd Pulley about sharing the Gospel it made me think of Tim.

“The most important call upon our lives is to make disciples. Whether we are Sunday school teachers, preachers, mothers, fathers, friends or co-workers, we all have been given the same mandate from the Lord to go into the world and be witnesses of Him.

Fear of rejection hinders many of us from sharing the Gospel. Taking a stand for Jesus can be a little risky and may cost us friendships, but aren’t you glad someone took that risk with you?”

I am so grateful for Tim’s friendship and that he took a risk with me. Now, as I think about sharing the gospel with others, I keep these five principles in mind. They’re from Pulley’s book, Everyday Conversations, Eternal Impact.

Five Principals for Sharing the Gospel (S.H.A.R.E.)

1. Be Sensitive to the Spirit

   How many times do you struggle to make something happen, but when you stop to pray, the Holy Spirit gives you the perfect solution and your task is accomplished in no time?

   Being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit is critical when sharing the gospel with others. By listening to His prompting we can be led in what to say – and not to say – to someone who doesn’t know Him.



2. Humbly Build a Bridge

   At my college there was this green grassy area called “the mall” where students hung out, studied, played Frisbee, and so on.

   Often there’d be someone standing out on the mall sharing the gospel by yelling at passersby telling them that they were going to hell. I never once saw someone stop and talk to the yeller and say, “Oh you are right. I’ll go ahead and become a Christian now.”

   When we approach people with humility and respect, they are more receptive to what we have to say. People want to know that you, and Jesus, genuinely care about them.

   Jesus treated the Samaritan woman in John 4 with respect and, in turn, she and her entire community became believers.

3. Arouse Interest

   In a world where so many are busy, tired and hurting, it won’t take much to arouse interest. People want to know that the things in their lives matter to another human being.

   When you take time to talk to others, opening a door to share the gospel, take a genuine interest in them and they will take interest in what you have to say.

4. Reveal Sin

   Today, pointing out sin is not PC and equals disrespect and being unloving. I am an emotions-based person, so the idea that someone could feel disrespected or unloved based on my words or actions is devastating. At the same time, this isn’t about me.

   I am a sinner saved by grace, so talking about someone’s sin isn’t about pointing and condemning – it’s about extending the Christ’s freedom to that person. It’s telling them that the junk they struggle with – sin – doesn’t have to be an ongoing struggle.

5. Explain the Plan of Salvation

   When sharing the gospel with others, you may never get to a point of explaining the plan of salvation to them. If you do, stick to the simplicity of the truth. Often people have questions like “Why does God allow cancer or war?” While those are good questions, they are a distraction from the point of your conversation.

   The point is: Jesus loves them, died for them and wants to have a personal relationship with them. It is that truth that will change their lives – for eternity.

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Christmas is such a festive season, so full of rich traditions that have long been a part of our culture.

But as much as I love turning on the Christmas carols and look forward to time with family and friends, it’s all too easy for me to let the traditions and festivities overwhelm the only reason I have anything to celebrate:

The gift of the Prince of Peace, baby Jesus.

His gift to me was a gift freely given, not earned, expected or deserved, from the heart of our heavenly Father.

This life-giving offer of salvation is the very heart of what it means to give. During Jesus’ time on earth, he spoke to us of giving:

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” — Matthew 25: 35-36, TNIV

As I hurry through this holiday season, from party to party, lugging shopping bags around the mall, making my list and checking it twice, I’m trying to add a little intentionality to the season.

For me, that looks like:

• a handwritten note to encourage a friend who is struggling
• some extra time on the phone, to lend an ear to a family member
• allowing a young mom to step ahead of me in line at the store

There are so many other things I could do, but I’m just not thinking of them.

How do you intentionally bring Jesus into your gift giving? How do you keep Him at the center of the season?

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Lloyd Pulley is the senior pastor at Calvary Chapel Old Bridge in New Jersey and author of Everyday Conversations, Eternal Impact.

After 9/11, Pulley spent time in New York City sitting with those who had been traumatized, listening to them and their stories. During these months of ministry with wounded strangers, Pulley had a revelation from Jesus Himself.

A revelation for those who desire to share Jesus with others as well as those who desire to know that they are loved by God.

During this chaotic time, Pulley was studying the story of Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman. As he read the verses from John 4, he realized that the Samaritan woman’s encounter with Jesus was not only life changing for her, but is an everyday model for us in how we can reach the hearts of the lost.

For the lost who are living in sin and know it. And for the lost who have been battered and abused by life after making one bad decision after another.

Know anyone like that? Were you or are you someone like that?

The things Jesus said to the Samaritan woman and the questions He asked were undergirded by godly wisdom that in turn revealed Himself to her and His love for her. Jesus was intentional in the way He communicated to her.

I want to be able to speak to others like Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman. But how do I start a conversation about Jesus with a total stranger? What’s the best way to talk to people about sin without making them feel worse and turning them away from Christ?

Pulley uses the acronym S.H.A.R.E. to explain how to offer the gospel to others as Jesus did in this story. S.H.A.R.E. means:

S – Sensitive to the Spirit
H – Humbly Build a Bridge
A – Arouse Interest
R – Reveal Sin
E – Explain the Plan of Salvation

With each letter, he explains how to engage others in conversation about Jesus in a genuine way. A way that may or may not lead them to a relationship with Christ, but a way that will let the person you are talking with know that there is a God whose name is Jesus, He is loving and He wants to be in relationship with each of us.

Pulley reminded me that if I let the Lord lead my conversations, I can rest assured knowing that each conversation I have about Jesus is ultimately in His hands.

This book has been a mirror for me; helping me to see times I have hurt others with my attempts to share Christ. It has also shown me times when I thought I messed it all up, and while the outcome wasn’t exactly as I had hoped, I was right where the Lord wanted me to be.

Do you struggle with evangelism and sharing the gospel with others? Are you ever uncertain about when is the right time to talk about Jesus, the need for a Savior, and the realities of sin?

Tell me how you start the conversation and how you approach the subject without alienating the other person.

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Awa is a housewife living in Burkina Faso. She lives with her husband, Irissa, and their five children in a typical Muslim compound of approximately 50 people. They have lived a difficult life.

Awa’s husband does small jobs and earns meager wages. He once left the family in search of gold; he worked five years without finding even an ounce. Awa cooks and sells cakes made of millet flour. What she and her husband earn every month is not enough to take good care of their family.

The only positive thing Awa could see about their hardship was that she was her husband’s only wife. All of the other women living in the compound are married to men with multiple wives. Every cloud has a silver lining, Awa would say, as her husband could not afford to take a second wife.

“I could spend three weeks without any food supply in the house. My salvation was in wandering from place to place asking for help.”

Awa tried in vain to find help from the Muslim community surrounding her. Although they were living in front of the community mosque, she and her family felt abandoned. Her sorrow was compounded when her younger brother and his wife both passed away, leaving a 6-day-old baby boy in Awa’s care.

Awa needed to find milk for the baby but could not afford it. She was so depressed by her helplessness that she considered putting an end to her life.

One day she wandered into the local Assemblies of God Central Church to ask for help.

“The day I entered the office doors to the child development center and told them my story, workers were with me.”

Unfortunately, Awa’s baby nephew could not be registered because we have not yet established a Child Survival Program in Burkina Faso. But the center workers showed Awa where she could find milk for the baby, and the pastor provided Awa with money to buy milk and other food supplies for her family.

After her visit to the center, one of Awa’s aunts advised her to give her life to Jesus if she wanted to get out of the mess she was going through.

“From that day on, I started going to church on Sundays. Three months later I gave my life to Jesus.”

A significant change has occurred in Awa’s life since she met Christ. She can now count on God to solve her problems.

Just a month after she received Jesus, Awa’s little girl Fatimata was registered at the Assemblies of God Central Church Child Development Center. Soon, someone sponsored Fatimata and Awa considered it a miracle.

The turnaround even brought dreams into little Fatimata’s heart. She was able to go from worrying about daily food to dreaming about tomorrow. Fatimata would like to be a primary school teacher.

Fatimata is in 1st grade and has a gentle spirit. Her mother encourages her to work hard at school to fulfill her dreams.

Within two months of her registration, Fatimata’s sponsor sent a family gift. It was like manna for the family. Awa used the money to purchase food supplies and a bicycle, and she was also able to restart her business of selling cakes.

Some weeks ago the family again received some extra money from Fatimata’s sponsor, and Awa used the money to buy provisions. The storm is over for Awa and her family. The time when they were living from hand to mouth is over.

Awa is now confident in life and has started praying that her husband would come to know Jesus and give his life to Him.

While the family’s livelihood improved dramatically after Fatimata joined the child development center, Awa was not out of the woods yet.

Being from a Muslim family, and living in front of the community mosque, her decision to become a Christian was not acceptable among the Muslim community.

Recently Awa was summoned to the mosque by religious leaders, who questioned her about her Christian faith. They pressured her husband to give her an ultimatum: give up Christianity or leave the house.

But Awa refused to reject her new faith. She told the Muslim leaders,

“When I was suffering with my kids under your eyes, no one dared to lend me a hand. Now that the church has saved my life, would I give it up? Never ever.”

Awa was ready to leave if her husband asked her to. The mosque leaders told her to take a week to think and make up her mind. When Awa met with them a week later, she told them again,

“I have decided to follow Jesus and you will not make me change my mind. It is because of Jesus that I am still alive.”

The Muslim leaders were speechless. They had all witnessed the hardship Awa had gone through with her family and they had never lent her a hand or paid her a visit.

They could not stand against her arguments. That was how she obtained freedom to go to church with her kids. Her husband has given up trying to convince her to give up her faith.

As for Awa’s daughter Fatimata, she has also changed. She used to be extremely rude, insulting people around her.

Since Fatima joined the child development center, a radical change has taken place in her life. Fatimata has become polite and disciplined; she no longer insults others. She is now the one advising other children not to be rude or insulting.

Though Fatimata is a bit shy, she has a gentle spirit. Her mother considers Fatimata her “lucky star.” The whole family is benefiting from the spiritual, educational, social and physical help Fatimata receives through the Child Sponsorship Program.

Awa and her family are experiencing the difference it makes when someone dares to give his or her life to Jesus. And it takes a lot of courage for a former Muslim woman living in front of her community mosque to give her life to Jesus openly and to take a stand for her faith.

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Children living in poverty face daily challenges. However, through sponsorship you are providing children hope, love, the chance to succeed and the chance to know Christ.

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I’m an expat living in Thailand, and I believe that this requires me to change certain behaviors that are normal and comfortable to me in order to be culturally sensitive. When the Thai national anthem or the king’s song plays, everyone is supposed to stand (including foreigners) out of respect.

If I hear either song, I stand. It’s a sign of respect to the country that is allowing my family to live on its soil.

In the mornings when I’m in town, I walk the kids to school and then sit for half an hour or so doing my quiet time in the school’s courtyard.

At 8 a.m. each day the large Thai school across the street from our school plays the national anthem. I always stand, but many times I’m the only one. The other foreigners typically continue their conversations, and even the Thais working at our school stop what they are doing only occasionally.

Standing is a simple gesture, but when you are the only one doing it, it’s easy to feel foolish. I look around at everyone doing their own thing and I wonder,

Am I overdoing this respect thing? If no one else is doing it, maybe it’s not really expected. I wonder if they are laughing at me. Maybe they are thinking that I’m being pretentious. Does it really even matter if I stand or not?

After all, there are plenty of excuses for not standing. The music is a little hard to hear. It’s not playing at our school. I’m not Thai. The Thais don’t even stand sometimes. No one seems to care. I’m having a conversation. I’m tired. My leg hurts …

I had an experience like this today, and I spent some time thinking afterward. Being a Christian is a little like standing for the Thai national anthem. When you take a stand for God, you will often look foolish to the world around you.

You are standing for music they may not be able to hear, and for reasons they don’t particularly understand. Even some of the Christians around you aren’t taking a stand for God.

It’s easy to second-guess yourself:

Am I being too strict about the movies my kids watch and the music they listen to? Am I naive to think my kids could possibly make it to marriage without having sex? Am I throwing my money away when I tithe to the church? Am I being pretentious by claiming that there is only one way into heaven and His name is Jesus Christ?

These doubts and questions are part of the cost of taking a stand for God. If it were easy, everyone would do it, right? Of course, God could strike down anyone who didn’t take a stand, but He doesn’t.

He doesn’t, because then EVERYONE would stand. They wouldn’t be standing because they loved the Lord; they would be standing out of fear and compliance. Those aren’t the types of followers God is looking for. He loves us too much to force us to “love” Him back.

When you take a stand for something, you have to be willing to pay the price. Without cost, there is no sacrifice. As King David said when Araunah offered him his threshing floor, oxen, wood and wheat for free in order to make an offering,

“No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.”  – 1 Chronicles 21:24 (NIV)

The value of the sacrifice is tied to how much it costs you.

The foolishness you sometimes feel when taking a stand for God is part of your sacrifice. But you can take comfort in this scripture:

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.  – 1 Corinthians 1:25 (NIV)

One day, every stand you took for the Lord will be seen for what it was: wisdom, love, honor, respect, readiness, strength, adoration, devotion, courage, faith. Insist on paying the full price.

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.  — 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (NIV)

This post was originally published in Nov. 2009 on Michael’s personal blog, Build Your Walls! Guard Your Gates!

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But when I look back on those moments now, I am proud of him. He was a strong man who could fix or build almost anything – a man who changed the world. But more importantly, he had a tender heart.

As I am getting to know many of our top leaders, I am finding that they are a lot like my dad: strong yet tender. Time after time I have seen them get tears in their eyes as they commit their hearts to our mission.

Recently one leader shared stories about the children whom he and his family have sponsored. He paused several times, his voice cracked, and tears welled in his eyes. It reminded me of my dad in church.

I am proud of this leader.

Jesus is like this: wonderfully strong yet tender. We are told time and again that Jesus had compassion on the people — like the time His heart went out to the grieving widow who had lost her son.

Jesus loved little children and held them in His arms. He wept at the death of His friend Lazarus. He was the very picture of a person who is strong yet tender.

I want to become strong yet tender like my dad, like our ministry leaders, and like King Jesus. I have felt the strengthening and the softening of my heart. I’m glad for it.

“Jesus wept.” John 11:35 (NIV)

Prayer: Father God, I pray that You would send Your Spirit on us to make us more gracious and tender-hearted. Thank You for the way You moved in my dad’s heart. Thank You for the way You are moving in our hearts and in the hearts of our leaders. In Jesus’ name I pray.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Greg Boyer is Compassion’s Organization Design and Development Director. Greg works ministry-wide to improve cross-group alignment and productivity, and organizational culture. When he is not keeping the rest of us on track, Greg likes to ski-bike and climbs 14ers with his wife, Anne.

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Hallelujah! Hosanna!

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

Artwork from Mathare Community Outreach Child Development Center

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. – Matthew 28:1-9 (NIV)

Guatemala, a country whose whose religion is chiefly Roman Catholic and Protestant, is deeply rooted in local traditions, making the celebration of Easter a colorful and massive one.

• Read about Easter in Guatemala.

To Ghanaian Christians, Easter is a day of remembering what Christ did on the cross for all mankind; not just remembering but knowing that it was the foundation for their salvation.

• Read about Easter in Ghana.

In Bangladesh, the activities of Easter Sunday look different for the Christian and non-Christian children in our child development centers.

• Read about Easter in Bangladesh.

Easter Week in El Salvador is celebrated differently than the way it is celebrated in the United States. There is a much a different atmosphere.

• Read about Easter in El Salvador.

To talk about Easter is to talk about Christianity, and for children in our development centers to talk about Easter in Peru is to talk about a variety of traditions.

• Read about Easter in Peru.

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