The Lausanne World Pulse web site has an article by Ken Lane of Focus on the Family. Lane makes several good points that relate to the practice of cross-cultural partnership. Mr. Lane argues that:

Duplication of effort arises within an organization because of:

• Ignorance. Different business units are unaware of similar efforts by other business units.
• Pride. Different business units believe their approach to meeting needs is the only correct way.
• Confusion. Different business units are unclear about who should be doing what in relation to each other (no integrated plan).

Duplication of effort arises outside of organizations because of:

• Ignorance. Organizations are unaware of similar efforts by other organizations.
• Pride. Organizations believe their approach to meeting needs is the only correct way.
• Confusion. Organizations are unclear about who (which organization) should be doing what in relation to each other (no partnership plan).

Read the full article here.

Ken Lane is senior director of global strategic development for Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA. He also serves as a member of the Lausanne Strategy Working Group. Lausanne World Pulse is Published as a joint effort between the Institute of Strategic Evangelism, Evangelism and Missions Information Service and Intercultural Studies Department (Wheaton College, Wheaton, Ill. USA) and the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization.