Relational Drift
For centuries, the local church was the centerpiece of outreach and service. The rapid creation of separate parachurch org’s is a relative recent phenomenon. Para, parachurch’s prefix, is Greek for “alongside” or “beside.” The purpose of the parachurch org is to come alongside, to support, the local church.
Following World War II, a concentrated effort to respond on a massive scale to the devastation of Europe and Asia began. Newspapers carried images of suffering in Europe and Asia to the doorsteps of many Americans, prompting a compassionate response. A few years later television opened eyes to the world’s needs. The result was the rapid increase of Christian relief and development org’s motivated by faith, but largely disconnected from the local church. Over time, many of these org’s, like Christian Children’s Fund, received increased funding from a variety of supporters.
No longer were partnerships with churches necessary. In fact, sometimes stifled organizational growth. Parachurch ministries and outreach org’s pursued independence. More significantly, a separation developed between the “works” of justice and the “message” of salvation. Slowly, the church was given the responsibility to share the Good News verbally while the work of physical restoration went to nonprofits.
David Bronkema describes the implications of this period: “In effect, the theological rubber band that held the two elements [of the Good News and good deeds] … had snapped.” But not all org’s walked away from the local church. Mission True org’s know the importance of collaboration with local congregations.
BOTTOM LINE:
One of these org’s is World Relief. Today they actively work to connect churches around the world. Every outreach program has to have a clear plan of action grounded in local church partnership. They recruit through local churches and actively seek to strengthen church networks. World Relief understood from the beginning that the building up of the church is the anchor to mission!
NEXT UP:
This collaboration with the local church can be complicated: resembling either a “bride,” OR “Bridezilla?”