When we recognize the importance of partnering with nationals or national organizations, the first question often asked is, “So, how do I find or identify national partners?” The reality is, it is not always easy to find national partners or organizations, especially if we are working to identify, vet, and connect with national partners working among unreached people groups and in the most difficult and dangerous locations in the world (e.g., the 10/40 Window). Although finding and building these partnerships can be challenging, the strategic importance of partnering with national believers and practitioners is worth embracing the inevitable challenges for the sake of obeying the Great Commission. At TRIAD, we have thirty years of experience working on the frontlines of unreached peoples, and through a series of both successes and failures, we’ve gleaned some insights that we pray will be helpful for others as they seek to establish fruitful partnerships with national workers.
Relationships built through shared experience and vision often lead to stronger, more trustworthy partnerships.
1. Networking and Relationships
In our opinion, the single most important aspect of finding national partners has been relationships. Missions work is relational at its core. Relationships matter in the body of Christ. Furthermore, when you consider working in sensitive locations, trust is vital, and trust comes through relationships.
Finding national partners often happens organically through the networking that develops over time. For example, our work in Nepal led to connections within the body of Christ in India. The work in India then led to doors being opened to work happening in Bhutan.
These relational networks also happened stateside. An introduction from one partner to a foundation that was supporting work in another country opened up an opportunity in another.
Connections to nationals or national organizations often begin through personal recommendations and the reputations of those already on the field. Start by connecting with like-minded practitioners. Attend conferences, missions summits, or join networks where national workers are represented. Relationships built through shared experience and vision often lead to stronger, more trustworthy partnerships.
2. Positioning Yourself for Long-Term Engagement
A major key to success in finding national partners is commitment to the long haul. As David Platt has famously said, “Unreached people are hard, difficult, and dangerous to reach. All the easy ones are taken.” Tenacity, faithfulness, and a willingness to sacrifice are vital in missions work. Sticking it out even when success isn’t immediate helps to foster trust and opens the door to long-term partnerships. In a global missions landscape where the active laborers in unreached environments are relatively few, your commitment will allow you to become a known entity, which will open doors to potential partners.
3. Partnering with Established Organizations
For those just starting out and seeking national partners, it’s often wise to partner with organizations already working on the ground rather than starting from scratch. Doing so not only allows your team to learn from those who already understand the culture and context but also helps protect national workers from unnecessary exposure.
Many frontline workers operate in sensitive or dangerous environments. Established missions organizations often have systems in place to protect their national partners, meaning your first step might be to provide financial or logistical support to those already engaged on the field rather than jumping straight into direct partnerships.
4. Working with NGOs
Another way to find national partners is by working with NGOs that have a high percentage of national staff. These organizations often have an established presence and are trusted within local communities. Partnering with an NGO can sometimes be the most effective way to support national work, particularly if they share your mission and values.
When evaluating NGOs, the same principles apply: look for alignment in theology and practice, ensure they are bearing fruit in their efforts, and assess their structures for accountability.
5. Finding National Partners Takes Time
One must approach national partnerships with the realization that finding appropriate and trustworthy partners takes time. Oftentimes, they’re not quick to reveal themselves due to very real security risks. You have to vet them out, and you have to build trust. We have dedicated the next article to focusing on the importance of vetting partners because it is a critical component of partnering with nationals and national organizations!
Finding national partners in missions work is not about building your organization’s brand—it’s about advancing the kingdom of God.
Practical Steps to Finding National Partners
1. Identify Your Target Area
Begin by determining who and where you want to serve. This might be a specific unreached people group or geographic area. Utilize resources like Stratus, a tool that offers data on global needs and can help inform your decision on where to focus your efforts.
2. Research Existing Organizations
Once you know where you want to go, start researching which missions organizations are already working there. Find those that are bearing fruit and consider whether your team can come alongside them. Rather than "planting your organization’s flag," focus on how you can contribute to existing kingdom work.
3. Send an Exploratory Team
Send a team to the target area to invest time on the ground. Meet with local churches, pastors, and missions agencies already operating there. This step is crucial to understanding the culture, building relationships, and discerning whether there is alignment in doctrine, practice, and vision for ministry.
4. Focus on Collaboration, Not Ownership
When partnering with nationals, emphasize that they are kingdom ambassadors, not ambassadors of your organization. While financial support is often a necessity, avoid making them wholly dependent on you. Set goals for national partners to become self-sufficient and self-governing, evaluating your support on a year-to-year basis with a mix of monthly and project-based assistance.
A Parting Word
Finding national partners in missions work is not about building your organization’s brand—it’s about advancing the kingdom of God. As you seek to partner with national believers, approach these relationships with a posture of collaboration and humility. By building national partnerships that are gospel-centered and focused on sustainable, self-sufficient ministry, we can all play a pivotal role in seeing God glorified among the nations.
Co-written by Josh Duncan, Executive Director, and Eddie Lozano, Director of Mobilization and Training of TRIAD.
TRIAD is a global missions organization committed to sharing the gospel among the hardest-to-reach places and people groups. We work to mobilize, train, and deploy the body of Christ and support indigenous-led work in hard-to-reach and gospel-hostile nations like Afghanistan, Somalia, North Korea, Iraq, and the Himalayan region in order to see Jesus glorified in every tribe, people, nation, and language.
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