Part of the Engage the Hui series.
Engaging the Hui is a significant commitment for any church to make. Helping a church to fulfill this calling is also a large commitment for field workers. However, these partnerships are vital for advancing the Gospel among this people group. We believe a partnership covenant is an important step to ensure that both parties are committed and focused on making the relationship work.
Here is an outline of what a covenant may look like:
Covenant Agreement Between Hui Field Team and ___ Church
Partners
___ Church
Hui Field Team
Leadership
Field Representative Names
Church Partner Advocacy Team Names
EndVisions
Field EndVision (what do we want to see at the end of our partnership)
Example: “A rapid advancement of the Gospel among every major Hui population segment, to the end that healthy,multiplying churches will be established.”
Church Partner’s EndVision
Example: “Our faith family mobilized and using our skills and gifts to engage ___ Hui population segment with the Gospel, to the end that healthy, multiplying churches will be established.”
Time Frame
The partnership will be for a period of __ years, from __ to __, with an extension if needed and agreed to by all parties concerned.
Purpose Statement
In step with God’s plan and activity, and in keeping with our stated guiding principles, to join together for the mobilization and employment of our prayers, personnel, and spiritual and material resources toward the fulfilling of our EndVision.
Work/Action Plans
Attach a Plan of Action for field team and church partner
Procedures and Responsibilities
List responsibilities of both parties. For example: To what degree will field workers help with short-term teams? How many teams will a church partner send each year? Will field partners invite church partners to team meetings and trainings? Will field partners visit church partners on a regular schedule?
Evaluation
Every year the field team and church partner will evaluate the partnership to review the objectives and goals of the partnership and to make any needed adjustments in the agreement.
Guidelines
This section will cover specific logistical concerns as well as missiological principles that both partners agree to follow. For example, church partners will agree that short-term teams will not conduct mass seed-sowing by distributing hundreds of items of material. Church partners will agree to provide emergency medical insurance and proper immunizations for short-term teams. Field partners will agree to cover all in country logistics for short-term teams. Field partners agree to provide regular updates to church partners among the work in ___ population segment.
Signatures
_______________________ ____________
(Church Partner) Date
_______________________ ____________
(Hui Team Field Partner) Date
(The covenant above is only an example. Each partnership covenant will look a little different as each partnership will have different goals and plans.)
Prayer Requests
- Pray that field workers among the Hui will be able to connect with new church partners and together engage the Hui.
- Pray for God to send more workers into His harvest among the Hui.
Recommended Reading
- Engage the Hui
- Engage the Hui: Our Vision Statement
- Engage the Hui: Starting with Prayer
- Engage the Hui: Advocacy Team
Written by Dirk Dubose (pseudonym). Dirk Dubose and his family live among the Hui where they seek to shine for Jesus.