Vishwa Vani (VV) is a church planting ministry capitalizing on the responses of Christian radio broadcast, especially that of Trans World Radio. It started partnering with cooperative Bible-believing local churches to connect the new believers raised in the mission field wherever such assistance was not available. India Believers Fellowship (IBF), a sister concern of Vishwa Vani, took up the responsibility of pastoral care towards the believers. Both VV and IBF are committed to using only native workers and indigenous funds. They entered into an understanding with The Good Samaritans (TGS) to assist the emerging churches of first generation Christians in areas of health, hygiene, literacy, education, and other social needs. The partnership was centered on the unevangelized districts or people groups of India with a holistic approach. The partners met and drew a common vision statement to achieve the desired outcome:

To use available mass media tools to reach out with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in 120 districts of India through native workers and indigenous funds where there are positive indicators by networking with cooperating local churches to bring about transformation in the communities.

Partnership Structure/Priorities/Barriers

They also identified these partnership priorities:

• Survey (to gather knowledge of the field, background of the social and spiritual needs of the people)
• Preparation of brochures and materials (to use for fund raising)
• Timeline for "Ezra" camps (through which young people are recruited into our full-time ministry)
• Training the workers (especially in Type III areas)
• Use of the web concept (where each worker is responsible for five villages with a vision of turning listeners into worshippers)

The villages are called "web villages." When the ministry grows in these five villages, each village then becomes a web center in itself having another five villages as their web villages. The desired goal is the formation of worship groups in each village in two years' time.

There were a variety of hurdles and barriers to partnership that we had to work through.

• Cultural barriers

We are able to relate to each other in the midst of diverse cultural impediments.

• Language barriers

Even though English is not our mother tongue, it is the chief language of our communication in major meetings. Sometimes this communication is followed by translation as and when required. From time to time we have seen the other parties unable to understand the issues and needs discussed, even though it seemed at that time that they understood quite well.

• Relationships

When funds are raised from the mainline and other independent churches, a high level of transparency in financial activities and performance is properly maintained.

• Financial difficulties

As VV and IBF solely depend on indigenous funds, the money does not flow easily or constantly.

• Lack of infrastructure

Infrastructure, quality resources, and advanced technological modes of communication are no longer a luxury but necessities, as we race against time in a fast-paced world.

• Comity

It is oftentimes experienced when results are achieved in the mission fields or other organizations are drawn to the same area, thereby resulting in a spirit of competition.

• Cult groups

Cult groups such as Seventh Day Adventists and Jehovah Witnesses end up in the mission fields to influence the new converts.

• Opposition

From time to time opposition is seen in areas like joint family system, casteism, fundamentalism, or government ban on conversions.

• Overseas partners

Without knowing the background of the ministry, many take blunt decisions involving finance that affect the functioning of the ministry.

In spite of hurdles and hardships faced, we have seen that partnership and networking is the right way for us to grow and multiply.