Mind the Gap

Americans tend to have a skewed interpretation of what the word “partnership” means or what partnership connotes in a cross-cultural context. This results in an American organization providing a service or product for a community which at first glance seems positive but in fact results in a lack of empowerment and dependency. Section One explores this phenomenon. Section Two highlights published works on the impact of misinterpreting the concept of transformative partnership in building mission relationships. Section Three outlines the project generated by the question “How can American mission teams learn the foundational characteristics of a mutually beneficial cross-cultural mission relationship with Haitian communities and leaders?” The proposed solution is three-fold: 1. teach biblical koinonia; 2. gain understanding of the development or stages of relationships; and 3. recognize friendship as an alternative to the word “partnership.” If Americans want to participate in transformative partnerships we must reform unhealthy one-sided transactional exchanges by investing in relationship building that seeks to place the person above the project.