Collaborating With Other Churches and Ministries
By: John Templeton
In my early years of student ministry, I was just 22 and felt uncertain about my role. I was primarily focused on growing “my” ministry and numbers, fearing that collaboration with other churches would diminish my own efforts. I worried that if I partnered with other youth ministries, my students might prefer their leaders or programs. This mindset left me isolated, even though I could see the positive impact other churches were having when they worked together.
Everything changed when a local youth pastor named Eddie invited me to lunch. Eager to connect, I accepted, and it became a pivotal moment in my ministry journey. Eddie genuinely cared about my well-being and emphasized the value of building a supportive community with like-minded peers. As a young, married man with a child, his words resonated with me and sparked a desire to seek connection with others in the field.
After our lunch, I decided to attend the McMinnville Area Youth Ministries (MAYM) gathering, feeling both apprehensive and excited. To my surprise, I was warmly welcomed by a diverse group of youth pastors who shared similar struggles. This meeting opened my eyes to the importance of community and collaboration. I realized that partnering with others not only eased my burdens but also enriched my ministry.
Over time, our unified efforts led to incredible events like D-Now and mission weeks, fostering meaningful relationships among students across churches. We supported one another without fear of competition, united in our mission to grow the kingdom of God. This sense of unity demonstrated to our students that collaboration was possible, regardless of denominational differences. My involvement in MAYM from 2004 to 2013 laid a foundation for my understanding of effective ministry and community.
In 2013, I moved to a new state to take on a full-time student pastor role, knowing no one and starting from scratch. All my previous connections were gone, and I quickly realized that building relationships with other youth pastors was essential. Thankfully, I connected with fellow youth leaders through our local association, which made my transition smoother and allowed us to organize some successful events together.
Fast forward five years, and God called me back to my hometown, where I first got involved with the McMinnville Area Youth Ministries (MAYM). I was excited to continue the momentum we had built five years earlier, but I discovered that most of the previous leaders had either retired or relocated, leaving only one other full-time youth pastor in the area. Despite this challenge, I knew we needed to make a collective impact in Warren County, a community of about 49,000, where roughly 30,000 residents reported no religious affiliation in the last census. My church couldn’t reach them all alone, but together, we could make a difference.
Over the past six years, we’ve grown to include four full-time youth pastors in town, along with several bi-vocational and lay leaders, all dedicated to reaching people for the kingdom of God. This collaborative effort has significantly enhanced our ability to minister to the community. We have seen hundreds of students come to know the Lord through the efforts of MAYM.
Having experienced both sides of ministry—working alone and working with others—I can confidently say that while I had some successes on my own, I often felt lonely and struggled to find peers who could relate to my challenges. I’ve seen firsthand the benefits of working with other churches and ministries, and I will always advocate for collaboration in ministry.
When I think of Partnering with other ministries and churches Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 rings loud “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall. One will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
Here are some compelling benefits of collaboration with other churches and ministries:
Resource Sharing: By pooling resources, churches and ministries can access shared facilities and volunteers, making it easier to host larger events and initiatives.
Diverse Perspectives: collaboration brings together a wealth of insights and experiences, enriching discussions and sparking innovative ideas in ministry.
Increased Volunteer Capacity: Many hands make light work. Partnering with others distributes tasks among a larger group, allowing for greater focus and effectiveness on each project.
Broader Outreach: This can expand a ministry's reach, enhancing outreach initiatives and increasing community involvement.
Networking Opportunities: collaboration fosters emotional and spiritual support, creating lasting friendships that benefit all involved.
Strengthened Community Bonds: Partnerships cultivate unity and connection among different churches and ministries, enhancing the overall sense of community.
In light of these benefits, I encourage anyone in ministry to connect with other churches and develop collaborative strategies to reach their communities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Together, we can make a more significant impact!