All posts by Werner Mischke

About Werner Mischke

My passions are “Honor, Shame and the Gospel” … cross-cultural partnerships with great leaders in the majority world … adult learning theory and creative communications. I love integrating these passions to contribute my bit in sharing the transforming grace of Jesus Christ among the peoples of the world.

Almost there—The Beauty of Partnership, Standard Edition

Competencies for cross-cultural partnership, Cross-cultural partnership, Global Christian mission, Ministry tools and resources, Training
The Beauty of Partnership Study Guide, Standard Edition, is perfect for individuals and small groups who are engaging in cross-cultural partnerships, but are unsure about what constitutes truly healthy and wise practices. Ideal as a six-week study for small groups, we envision many local churches using this resource.

I have been working intensely on getting the Standard Edition version of The Beauty of Partnership Study Guide ready for distribution. This version of The Beauty of Partnership will be 210 pages. It will be one-third: study guide—with learning lessons and Bible studies—and two thirds: readings—from a variety of authors.

This edition of The Beauty of Partnership Study Guide is excellent for individuals and small groups who are engaging in cross-cultural partnerships, but are unsure about what constitutes truly healthy and wise practices. Ideal as a six-week study for small groups, we envision many local churches using this resource.

Foundational beliefs / assumptions for The Beauty of Partnership

  1. Healthy cross-cultural partnerships are centered in Jesus Christ and his mission. Healthy cross-cultural partnerships glorify God … are attractive because we live in such a fractured world … and are cost-effective.
  2. There is a continuing trend toward cross-cultural partnership in the work of Christian world missions.
  3. Many thousands of local churches are doing short-term mission trips without the benefit of training in cross-cultural ministry.
  4. A growing number of churches and Christian leaders are engaging in cross-cultural partnerships without the benefit of learning from those 
who are partnership experts; frequently, this results in misunderstand-ing, conflict, and significant wasted money and resources. This is a big problem in Christian world missions and can be remedied.
  5. Learning from a variety of experts is vital to gain a broad perspective.
  6. Healthy cross-cultural partnerships are the result of developing godly character, cultural intelligence, and organizational competence—
among all partners.
  7. Healthy cross-cultural partnership ministry is not exclusive to certain Christian agency professionals. Almost any adult follower of Jesus Christ can learn how to engage in healthy cross-cultural partnerships.
  8. Learning to engage in healthy cross-cultural partnerships benefits spiritual formation (becoming like Christ), and contributes to the health of one’s relationships generally.
  9. Most adults learn by doing; people grow and have genuine behavior change through being on a journey with others—“learning in community.”
  10. While Mission ONE still has much to learn, we believe we can provide 
significant value to others engaging in cross-cultural partnerships.

Entrepreneurial faith

Competencies for cross-cultural partnership, Entrepreneurship,

In his book, Discipling Nations: The Power of Truth to Transform Cultures, Darrow Miller speaks of a kind of faith that can transform individuals, families, communities, indeed entire nations. It may also be called entrepreneurial faith.

Miller quotes the book of Hebrews concerning Abraham and the practice of faith:

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God … These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. (Hebrews 11:8–10, 13)

Miller adds:

Faith sees God’s good intentions for men and women, families, communities, nations, and the world. Where the land is barren it sees a garden. Where there is filth it recognizes the dignity of man in God’s image and builds a latrine. Where there are bare walls it sees beauty and paints a picture. When it dreams of distant lands it builds a ship and sails there…In contrast, people in poverty are dominate by fear. They have a gut-level understanding of Jesus’ words of warning that “to him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.” Unfortunately, this is how most people throughout history have lived.[1]

Comparative language: the mindset of fatalism and faith, from Darrow Miller’s book, Discipling Nations, p. 234

Consider the chart at right from Miller: The comparison of language is stark. The Bible gives man the language of faith, hope, responsibility, development (while respecting the past). Fatalism, a perspective commonly found in Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist and tribal societies is diametrically opposed. In the rest of his book, Miller compares the biblical worldview with the secular and animistic worldviews. He demonstrates how only Christianity offers a sure foundation for the “development ethic.” Only Christianity’s God gives man this kind of rational basis for responsibility and divine stewardship in a transcendent story.

Some observations:

  • Entrepreneurs have a mindset of faith—the antithesis of fatalism, which is a mindset which keeps people in poverty and oppression in many nations the world over.
  • Entrepreneurs have a unique calling in this world to develop, innovate, create jobs and wealth—in short, to transform the world.
  • Christian entrepreneurs have a corresponding calling to use their skills on mission with God. Could it be that Christian entrepreneurs have a very special role in helping to bring the life-transforming gospel of Jesus Christ to the peoples of the world?
  • Because so much of Christian mission is about transformation, entrepreneurs and leaders who recognize their destiny in God’s Story have an unusually significant role to play in helping change the world for the joy of all peoples (Matthew 28:18–20).
  • Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs and professionals who are followers of Jesus Christ are marginalized in the world Christian movement. This must be remedied! I believe there are a huge number of Christian entrepreneurs who have so much to offer but are on the sidelines of the greatest enterprise on the earth.

Are you a Christian and an entrepreneur? Would you like to use your skills—your entrepreneurial faith—to help change the world? You can do this through a learning journey we’ve developed called The Beauty of Partnership. It is designed specially for entrepreneurial leaders. For more information contact me, Werner Mischke, at werner@mission1.org.

1. Darrow Miller: Discipling Nations: The Power of Truth to Transform Cultures (Seattle: YWAM Publishing, 2001), 
p. 233.

Development and the entrepreneurial mindset

Competencies for cross-cultural partnership, Entrepreneurship

Darrow Miller speaks of the entrepreneurial mindset (or what he calls “development”) in his book, Discipling Nations: The Power of Truth to Transform Cultures. The words quoted below are from the chapter entitled, “Stewardship: Creating and Managing Bounty.”

As we have seen in previous chapters, we are not to be God’s mindless lackeys, although that in itself is more than we deserve. No, God has given us the unfathomable privilege of being co-creators with Him. Man made in God’s image, is given the awesome task of bringing forth all the potential of creation. Man is the source of earth’s bounty as well as its poverty. As the sovereign God’s vice-regents, we are stewards for His household, coworkers in His kingdom, caretakers of His garden, builders of His city, and actors in His story. In some ways, like our Master, we transcend nature. Of course, He is completely above the natural order, while we live in it and in some ways are bound by the universe’s physical processes. Yet the minds God has given us allow us to move ahead, to leap over barriers, to devise new ways, to solve problems. As Novak has said, “Creation is full of secrets waiting to be discovered, riddles which human intelligence is expected by the creator to unlock.” Created “a little lower than the angels,” we have a task to perform and a purpose to fulfill.

…We can dream of a better world and then begin to make it happen. Where there is darkness, we can create a lightbulb, where there is desert drill a well, where mountains are barren plant a forest, where people are forgotten and ignored set them free through the power of the gospel, where people are ignorant build them schools and libraries, where the land is wasted, plant a garden, where people are sick develop a cure, where there is silence hear the music and play it. Man is the discoverer, explorer, innovator, initiator, creator, and composer.[1]

I just love the creative, transformational juices that run through Darrow Miller’s words above. I believe Miller argues persuasively that this “development ethic” is in the heart of every entrepreneur, and that it ultimately derives from the Christian worldview.

Are you an entrepreneur? Do you wish to use your creativity, your visionary abilities, your ability to lead a team and “get stuff done”—for the glory of God and the blessing of the nations?

At Mission ONE, we have a learning journey—The Beauty of Partnership—that can help you succeed. Check out the panel on the left side of this blog for more information. If you’re interested, you may contact me, Werner Mischke, at werner@mission1.org.

1. Darrow Miller: Discipling Nations: The Power of Truth to Transform Cultures (Seattle: YWAM Publishing, 2001), 
p. 225.

Entrepreneurship and mission

Competencies for cross-cultural partnership, Entrepreneurship

I believe entrepreneurs have a particular worldview—a set of “instincts.” Below is a list of “instincts” which characterize successful entrepreneurs. It is taken from an e-zine article by Jeff Chavez. I like the word instincts, because it implies a way of thinking that is almost subconscious, just like a worldview. Following each of the listed “instincts” is a comment I add to demonstrate the missional connection.

Here’s a quick look at the 11 Killer Instincts of Entrepreneurship, by Jeff Chavez, with a corresponding comment in italics from me.

1. The Solution Instinct: This is about ideas and always seeing them. It’s about seeing new opportunities while traveling, shopping, or working. Seeing problems and potential solutions to those problems is at the heart of valuable ideas and business models.

The missional element is problem-solving. Problems are opportunities for solutions that come from creativity, hard work, and the application of wisdom. The Solution Instinct tells us that a problem is not inevitable; a problem can be solved. Change and improvement is possible and desirable.

2. The Detective Instinct: This is about fact-finding and due-diligence. It’s about letting go of the emotion and excitement of a good idea and taking a venture-capitalist approach. This instinct is something that keeps one constantly assessing how a business model will work, scale, and succeed… without personal bias.

The missional element is openness to new ideas, new facts, new information that can inform the process of change and progress. It is curiosity with a purpose or mission, based on the belief that better information can lead to a better way; productivity can be improved; success can be enhanced; failure can be avoided.

3. The Great Communicator Instinct: This is about connecting and constantly selling. It’s a constant awareness that every point of communication matters. Whether communicating with partners, investors, vendors, employees, or competitors; every communication is an opportunity to strengthen your company.

The missional element is communicating meaningfully with people in a purposeful way. All human contact can have purpose. All communication can be strategic. From conversations and web sites, to business cards and email, to DVDs and print communications, to business luncheons and special events—all can be centered on progress and achievement. Salesmanship and relationship is missional.

4. The Youthful Genius Instinct: This is about doing what you love. When we were young, we dreamed big dreams and showed glimmers of what we might become. Tapping into the expectation of our youth is central to successful entrepreneurship.

The missional element is passionate joy. The resolve to reach for your dream, 
the joy of pursuing a magnificent goal, the thrill of a pursuit that builds on your strengths and captures your imagination—all this is central to the the entrepreneurial-missional mindset.

5. The Entrepreneurial Heritage Instinct: This is about how our heritage can reveal some of our natural gifts. What has your family and ancestors been successful at already? Exploring your roots can help one tap into opportunity. There is a reason why many families pass along entrepreneurial success and create “dynasties” of their own

Is there an entrepreneurial / missional DNA? No doubt, some people are born with a greater threshold for risk and a greater propensity for vision and salesmanship.

6. The Risk-Taker Instinct: This is about going out on a ledge. No risk, no reward. It’s a fundamental factor of business building or almost any major endeavor. Finding the calculated balance of risk and opportunity is key.

Risk is a core element in mission. It is the willingness to accept loss and endure 
the possibility of failure in order to achieve a greater gain. All great mission accomplishments involve bold, calculated risk.

7. The Work-Horse Instinct: This is about paying the price. Doing whatever it takes. Those “overnight successes” usually require at least 5 years of hard work and incredible sacrifice to get there.

The missional element is hard work and sacrifice in order to achieve a worthy goal, an obvious factor for any significant achievement.

8. The Thick-Skinned Instinct: This is about being tough. Resilience, optimism and a positive mindset reside in every great entrepreneur. The fundamental key to success in attaining goals? Never give up.

The missional element is optimism. Entrepreneurial people have the ability to see opportunity when others see only failure and doom. Resilience keeps the missional person going in spite of setbacks and great obstacles.

9. The Flexibility Instinct: This is about being willing to change. Emotion and pride must be removed from the process while building a business and paying attention to the best route to take. The right path naturally eventuates; if you’re willing to recognize it and take it.

Flexibility makes change possible. Any great missional enterprise requires change, innovation, new ways of thinking, paradigm shifts, worldview adjustments, changes in direction and behavior.

10. The Human Instinct: This is about people. Attracting the best people is more important than the business model itself. Treating people well, leading well, and serving with care is a fundamental reason why anything worthwhile should be built in the first place.

The missional element is humanity. People are moral agents designed by God with the creativity and drive that enables them to work with others for progress, change, development, transformation. Mission is simply designed-in to the DNA of human beings, a reflection of the Creator in whose image man and woman are made.

11. The Knowledge-Quest Instinct: This is about constantly learning. Reading, thinking, listening, observing, absorbing, and applying is a hallmark trait of a great entrepreneur.

The missional element is curiosity, the capacity to learn, the drive to understand. Learning and reflection are critical to meaningful, purposeful change. Truly effective mission is impossible without new understanding—new knowledge, skills and attitudes.

These are unique instincts and in my experience, everyone possesses at least a touch of each of them. And it’s my observation that every natural instinct can be discovered, uncovered, and developed by anyone interested in doing so.

From this list of entrepreneurial instincts, I conclude:

Successful entrepreneurs are missional leaders with the ability to identify and seize opportunity, 
and work with other people in order to achieve great goals.

Are you a Christian entrepreneur who is interested in global mission? Can you see yourself being a world-changer through advocacy for a cross-cultural partnership? We can help you go from success to significance through The Beauty of Partnership learning journey—designed specifically for entrepreneurial leaders. Please contact me, Werner Mischke: werner@mission1.org.

What is “managerial paternalism?”

Competencies for cross-cultural partnership, Cross-cultural partnership, Global Christian mission, Helping the poor, Organizational competence, Quotes, articles & books related to cross-cultural partnership
Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert are the authors of this excellent book

From When Helping Hurts: Alleviating Poverty Without Hurting the Poor … and Yourself, by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert …

Managerial paternalism is perhaps the hardest nut to crack. We middle-class North Americans love to see things get done as quickly as possible. Relative to many other cultures, including many low-income communities in North America, we are prone to take charge, particularly when it appears that nobody else is moving fast enough. As a result, we often plan, manage, and direct initiatives in low-income communities when people in those communities could do these things quite well already. The structure and pace might well be different if the low-income communities undertook the project themselves, but they could do a good job nonetheless.

The authors then go into the reasons for managerial paternalism, and the alternatives. If you want to know more, you should buy the book!

At Mission ONE, we do not try to run our partners’ ministries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. We do not tell outstanding indigenous Christian leaders how to manage their financial administration, how to delegate responsibility, how to do accountability in their culture, how to pursue their vision. We do ask, “How can we serve your vision?” We do require quarterly reports covering ministry progress, stories, prayer requests and financial disbursements. We do trust one another, not only as organizational partners, but as friends who serve the Lord together for God’s glory.

With these kinds of relationships between Mission ONE and our ministry partners in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, we avoid managerial paternalism. Want to know more about Mission ONE’s ministry partners? Write to me at werner@mission1.org.

What is “labor paternalism?”

Competencies for cross-cultural partnership, Global Christian mission, Helping the poor, Short-term missions
Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert are the authors of this excellent book

From When Helping Hurts: Alleviating Poverty Without Hurting the Poor … and Yourself, by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert …

Labor paternalism occurs when we do work for people that they can do for themselves. I remember going on a spring break mission trip to Mississippi while I was in college. I will never forget the sick feeling I had as I stood on a ladder painting a house while the young, able bodied men living in the house sat on their front porch and watched. I did so much harm that day. Yes, the house got painted, but in the process I undermined these people’s calling to be stewards of their own time and talents. It might have been better if I had stayed home for spring break, rather than to have gone and done harm.

This statement really hits hard: “I did so much harm that day.” I am grateful for the authors’ honesty and vulnerability. I wonder: How many non-poor evangelical Christians from North America are willing to admit that they “did harm” on their mission trips, despite their good intentions?

How many mission trips have occurred in which North American believers built a church for a community, while marginalizing members of the local church, local construction workers and small businesses?

Helping the poor and cross-cultural partnership is not simple. It requires training and learning from others. Thank you, again, Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert for your insights. God help us to avoid “labor paternalism.”

What is “knowledge paternalism?”

Competencies for cross-cultural partnership, Cultural intelligence, Godly character, Helping the poor, Quotes, articles & books related to cross-cultural partnership
Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert are the authors of this excellent book

From When Helping Hurts: Alleviating Poverty Without Hurting the Poor … and Yourself, by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert …

All of us need to remember that the materially poor really are created in God’s image and have the ability to think and to understand the world around them. They actually know something about their situation, and we need to listen to them! This does not need to degenerate into some sort of new-age ,“the-truth-is-within-you” quagmire. Like all of us, the materially poor are often wrong about how the world works and can benefit fro the knowledge of others. In fact, a key trigger point for change in a community is often being exposed to a new way of doing something. But it is reflective of a god-complex to assume that we have all the knowledge and that we always know best.

Knowledge paternalism may be a particular temptation for Christian businesspeople from North America, many of whom are showing considerable passion for using their God-given abilities to train low-income entrepreneurs in the Majority World. This passion is a wonderful development and has enormous potential to advance Christ’s kingdom around the world. But the fact that a person successfully operates a software company in Boston does not ensure that this person has the best business advice for a highly vulnerable farmer living on one dollar per day in the semi-feudal institutional setting of rural Guatemala. Humility, caution, and an open ear are in order.

I appreciate the respect the authors show to the materially poor for the knowledge they do possess. This need for this is amplified when Christian leaders from North America enter into cross-cultural partnerships with Christian leaders in the Majority World, who as indigenous followers of Christ, usually have a clearer understanding—better knowledge—of how to share the love of Jesus and build God’s kingdom in their community.

The ideal in a cross-cultural partnership is to learn from one another and to learn together. This has the effect of deepening the relationship reservoir from which to pursue your ministry goals, and to work through inevitable misunderstandings.

For more on paternalism: What is “resource paternalism?” /  What is “spiritual paternalism?”

What is “spiritual paternalism?”

Competencies for cross-cultural partnership, Cultural intelligence, Godly character
Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert are the authors of this excellent book

From When Helping Hurts: Alleviating Poverty Without Hurting the Poor … and Yourself, by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert …

Many of us assume that we have a lot to teach the materially poor about God and that we should be the ones preaching from the pulpit, teaching Sunday School class, or leading the vacation Bible school. We do have much to share out of our knowledge and experiences, but oftentimes the materially poor have an even deeper walk with God and have spiritual insights and experiences that they can share with us, if we would just stop talking and listen. (location 1700)

The authors argue that a common unhealthy practice of North American Christians toward the poor is paternalism. Note: Since I am reading this book with an Amazon Kindle, I am referencing the book using the Kindle reference system which is by “location” rather than by page number.

Here are some suggestions for avoiding “spiritual paternalism.”

  1. Create an inter-cultural conversation—conducting an exchange program between churches or ministries, by which leaders teach on both sides of the partnership.
  2. When preaching or teaching in the host culture, invite dialog from your respective partners; simply expect that you will learn much more than you teach. Avoid the necessity of having the last word.
  3. Learn the vital practice of empathic listening. For more on this, click here.
  4. Avoid the attitude of superiority by constantly praying the Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner”

Aid groups warn of Sudan civil war risk

Global trends, World news affecting partnership
There have been recent protests by southern opposition supporters

From the BBC web site: Ten international aid groups say a 2005 peace deal in Sudan is on the verge of collapse and that the world must act now to prevent renewed conflict. Read the full article here.

This is a huge issue for all those who are engaged in cross-cultural partnerships with indigenous ministries in Sudan. Mission ONE has two significant partnerships in Sudan, one with Arabic Speaking Congregations led by Idris Nalos, and the second with Evangelical Free Church of Sudan, led by Severino Maira Janus. Mission ONE has had long relationships with both Idris and Severino, whose minsitries have been engaged in evangelism, church planting, and holistic ministry for some 20 years.

What can you do?

  1. Pray for peace in Sudan.
  2. Contact your Sudanese ministry partners and ask their advice. Listen with your heart and mind.
  3. Visit the Save Darfur web site. Explore various ways to take action. This web site has the best array of news, action options, and detailed information about Sudan that I know of.
  4. Keep appraised of happenings in Sudan by visiting the BBC web site, African section.
  5. Share what you learn with your friends.

High quality, very low-cost resources for your partner ministries

Global Christian mission, Ministry tools and resources

Do you know about Equipping The Saints (ETS)—a ministry that provides a huge array of high-quality/low-cost ministry tools and resources—serving western as well as indigenous majority-world missionaries all over the world?

ETS is directed by my friend Keith Jones, with whom I have had the pleasure to serve as steering committee members for COSIM (Coalition on the Support of Indigenous Ministries). Keith and his team are wonderful servants to the Body of Christ around the world.

From the ETS web site:

ETS helps ministries find the materials and equipment they need at a minimal cost by networking with individuals, businesses and ministries around the U.S. to meet these needs. Whether it’s finding and shipping a bus to Chile, medical supplies to the Ukraine, computers to Tajikistan, a road grader to Brazil, shoes to Romania, clothes to Sudan, food for Iranian refugees or projectors to the Philippines, ETS is ready to serve.

Many items provided by ETS are obsolete in the U.S., but still useful in other countries. Most items come from government auctions. Other items are purchased at special discounts. Vehicles, medical and dental equipment, computers, office and school equipment are sometimes donated. Once, an entire print shop was given!

Why send used things to missionaries?

Here are six reasons why “used” can be better than “new”:

  1. Good quality used equipment is usually available at a fraction of the cost of new items.
  2. Used items usually clear Customs with no or greatly reduced fees.
  3. National co-workers can be equipped with the same ministry tools as missionaries without creating dependency or the perils of paternalism.
  4. Missionaries spend less time raising funds and more time in ministry.
  5. Parts and repairs for older computers, printers, projectors, etc., are more readily available in developing countries than for “the latest and greatest” gadgets.
  6. Used equipment shipments can provide employment opportunities for national believers.

Ministries are charged a minimal cost for the supplies and must pay for shipping. Books, Bibles and videos are regularly available in Spanish and French as well as English at a reduced cost. Items are available in other languages at your request. For a partial list of items available, click here. If you don’t see what you need, it’s possible that we can find it. Please email us at ets.usa@hotmail.com and let us know what you’re looking for.

Visit their web site! Check out Equipping The Saints—and discover how they can help you achieve your ministry vision—with high quality/low cost ministry tools and resources.