Excellent STM Is Characterized by:
Standard #2:
EMPOWERING PARTNERSHIPS
An excellent short-term mission establishes healthy,
interdependent, on-going relationships between sending and
receiving partners, and is expressed by:
2.1 Primary focus on
intended
receptors
2.2 Plans which benefit all
participants
2.3 Mutual trust and
accountability
We acknowledge the two primary “sides” of any
mission outreach—the “sending side” (senders and goers) and the
“receiving side.” As short-term mission practitioners from both
sides, we pledge to work together within the framework of an
empowering partnership, focusing not only on the interests of
the “side” we represent, but also the interests of the other
“side” (Phil. 2:3). We further acknowledge that partnership in
Christian mission is a complementary relationship motivated by
common purposes and sustained by a willingness to learn and
grow together in obedience to God while serving him. We pledge
to openly admit any personal benefits we hope to achieve as a
result of our partnership, while keeping the intended
receptors’ benefits as our primary goal. The ultimate goal of a
healthy partnership is not to promote an unforgettable
experience for goer-guest participants, but to consider the
needs and possible benefits to all participants (senders,
goers, and receivers). We therefore pledge to establish
(formally or informally) trusting and accountable partnerships
with each other as the overarching design of our short-term
mission efforts.
2.1 Primary focus on intended receptors
Second only to seeking first God’s glory and his kingdom
(Standard #1), we pledge that the primary purpose of our
partnership is for the sake of our
intended
receptors—and not merely for each other. We acknowledge
that anything called ‘Christian mission’ must involve all its
participants in the manner that best serves God’s desires for
the intended receptors. We acknowledge that if the primary
purpose of an STM is for discipleship of the
goer-guests, or if the
primary purpose is to provide an educational cross-cultural
experience (important as these agendas are), that the STM
partnership has failed in its primary focus on the intended
receptors.
KEY QUALITY INDICATORS
2.1.1. How do you determine that your main purpose of each specific outreach is for the good of the intended receptors?2.1.2. What on-going and long-term relationships exist between sending and receiving partners? How do you cultivate these?
2.2 Plans which benefit all participants
We acknowledge the six categories of participants in our STM
efforts:
sending
supporters,
sending entities,
goer-guest
leaders,
goer-guest
followers,
field
facilitators, and
intended
receptors. Through our partnership efforts we design
everything we do to benefit the kingdom of God within the lives
of all six sets of participants (Phil. 2:4).
KEY QUALITY INDICATORS
2.2.1. How do you include and seek the benefit of the following participants: sending supporters, sending entities, goer-guest leaders, goer-guest followers, field facilitators, intended receptors?2.2.2. What evidence can you provide that your partnering relationships are healthy and interdependent?
2.3 Mutual trust and accountability
We pledge to be mutually accountable to each other within
the context of our partnership, by providing full disclosure of
conflicts of interest and timely communication and evaluations
with each other. We strive to have no hidden agendas. We strive
to help each other do and be what we say we are going to do and
be. Our evaluations with each other will be timely,
redemptive-oriented evaluations, not critique-oriented
evaluations (the blend of grace and accountability—Phil. 4:5;
Gal. 6:1).
KEY QUALITY INDICATORS
2.3.1. How do you seek to provide full disclosure of conflicts of interest and/or hidden agendas?2.3.2. How do you promote timely communication between all participants?
2.3.3. How do you provide opportunity for all participants to evaluate the process redemptively?