SIM International Director Malcolm McGregor

In January 2005 we concluded our mission-wide “Seize the Day” review, and one of the key areas which we identified for special attention was that of partnerships. “Redefin[ing] the basis of our relationships with churches and like-minded organizations” became one of our top 10 changes. So, two years on, how are we doing?

Every day—as I work on email, talk with colleagues around the world, and discuss with the International Leadership Team the challenges we face—I am reminded of the debt we owe to our partners. The task of fulfilling Christ’s mission in the world is simply too great for any one organization, and that is why we need each other.

During “Seize the Day,” Dr. Tokunboh Adeyemo reminded us of the African proverb, “One hand alone cannot put the roof on the hut.” He explained, “Regardless its resources, expertise, experience, strategy, etc., no single organization can finish the task of world evangelization and discipleship alone.” Echoing the purpose statement of the Lausanne Committee on World Evangelization, he added, “It will take the whole Church (with all of its cultural diversities) taking the whole Gospel (i.e. proclamation, presence, and social action) into the whole world (i.e. mission from everywhere to everywhere).”

That is the exciting and challenging vision of partnership SIM is pursuing in this new age of mission. We are grateful to all of our partners—churches, mission agencies, and individuals—for coming alongside us and allowing us to come alongside them.

While SIM benefits greatly from the partnerships we have established around the world, I also believe that those who partner with SIM in these relationships gain from us as well. SIM brings a lot of strengths to these partner relationships, including our ethnic/cultural diversity (1,600 missionaries from 37 nations serving in over 40 countries) and our long-term commitment to planting, strengthening, and partnering with churches in the regions where we are at work. These are truly God-honoring, synergistic relationships.

Please pray for SIM as we seek God’s guidance for nurturing our existing partnerships and for establishing new partnerships that will take us all further down this path towards seeing His kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. ... Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, NIV).