Two Christian Leaders Discuss Dependency
by Chuck Bennett of Partners International and Glenn Schwartz of
World Mission Associates
Chuck Bennett of Partners International: Like Glenn,
I abhor unhealthy dependency and believe "psychological ownership"
is an indispensable element in any true people movement. Like him,
I studied under McGavran and Tippett at Fuller. But I began my missionary
career among three fast-growing, self-sufficient people movements,
while Glenn began his in a highly paternalistic denominational mission
in Africa, with huge institutions and vast tracts of land. No wonder
he is passionate about fighting dependency. He's seen it at its
worst. I've visited about as much church and mission work in as
many different countries as anyone alive, and I've certainly seen
the kind of dependency Glenn describes, but I've also seen many,
many healthy indigenous movements.
Of course we must not create unhealthy dependency. But unhealthy
is the operative word. The Scriptures are full of admonitions that
members of the Body of Christ should be interdependent. To refuse
to share our resources with overseas brethren because there have
been abuses is like saying we should outlaw marriage because some
husbands beat their wives. The problem is real but the solution
is simplistic. I'm convinced it's possible to "help without hurting."
At Partners International we have, for 53 years, been "joint venturing"
with indigenous ministries in poor countries. We try to empower
and encourage fellow believers to carry out their own God- given
visions. That's the opposite of creating unhealthy control and dependency.
Our 60 joint venture partnerships in 50 countries are planting a
new church every 15 hours, training nearly 30,000 grassroots leaders
every year. . .and much more. We typically provide only about 20%
of the total income of an indigenous partner ministry, and almost
never more than 35% except in disaster relief situations. If we
withdrew it, they would slow down but not collapse.
We don't control these ministries. We only try to help them enhance
the effectiveness of their own vision and ministry. And only at
their initiative. We don't hire them away from anyone. They are
not our employees. They are our partners. Over the past five years
we have "graduated" about 30 ministries to full self sufficiency,
usually at their request. Only two of those separations were unhappy
experiences.
Last October, 52 agencies that specialize in support of indigenous
ministries gathered together for the first time at the Billy Graham
Center in Wheaton; and we now have a list of 135 such agencies in
North America. I can't vouch for every single one of these agencies,
but I know the vast majority of them are as concerned about avoiding
unhealthy dependency as Glenn and I are. Nor are the budgets of
these indigenous support agencies large, nor is our fund raising
easy, as Glenn suggests. I previously headed another mission with
a budget three times the size of Partners. I can personally affirm
that it was far, far easier to raise funds for American missionaries
than it is for indigenous workers.
I admire Glenn's passion and I agree in principle with his concern.
But his experience has been mostly limited to some of the worst
cases. Jim Plueddemann is right on. "We need to help national churches...
. but we need to help responsibly." So let's get a good grip on
the baby before we fling the bath water of unhealthy financial aid
out the window!
Chuck Bennett has 41 years experience in missions, as a missionary
in Latin America, a church growth researcher, president of Mission
Aviation Fellowship, Executive V.P. of Food for the Hungry International,
founder & chairman of AirServ International and, since 1991, president
of Partners International.
Glenn Schwartz Responds to Chuck Bennett: Chuck Bennett
has been a friend and co-laborer in Great Commission missions for
a long time. We may differ on strategy but our goal of honoring
the Lord Jesus Christ is the same and undiminished.
One gets the impression when reading Chuck's response that he is
arguing with me--Glenn Schwartz--regarding the ability of non-western
churches to stand on their own two feet. In fact, I am only echoing
what I have heard from hundreds of church leaders from every continent
without exception. I have heard them express exasperation when anyone
gives the impression that their churches can't get on without outside
assistance.
I realize that one can find thousands --not just hundreds--of church
leaders who still think western help is the only way for them to
do what God is asking of them. Their churches are yet to discover
the joy of full local support and the rewards that accompany giving
beyond their borders. Indeed, some of them, because of the amount
of foreign support they receive, are not granted membership in their
own national missionary associations. That speaks volumes for the
cause of developing local support.
I choose to champion the cause of those who believe that self-support
and missionary outreach are possible with local resources. Our numbers
are also increasing, but probably not as fast as those who are involved
in creating or perpetuating dependency on outside funding.
The WMA video series on issues of dependency and self-reliance shows
that we do not treat the subject lightly or simplistically.
[Used with permission from Mission
Frontiers magazine (Jan-Feb '97)]