Well Connected: Releasing Power, Restoring Hope through Kingdom Partnerships

by Phill Butler

Book Overview

Jesus's words in John 17 represent one of the church's highest values: May they all be one as you and I, Father, are one. Yet divisions occur from the highest levels of the church to street level... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1932805540
• ISBN13: 9781932805543
• Release Date: March 2006
• Publisher: World Vision
• Length: 332 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.8" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Expect Problems With Partnerships

"They'll know we are Christians by our love." (How's that working out for all of us?) What if the next verse to that song read, "They'll know we are Christians by our partnerships?" (Oops. That's not working out either.) Here's the deal. Many Christian organizations--even in their mission statements--proudly proclaim that they are partners with the local church. Others have a "Director of Strategic Partnerships & Alliances" on their teams. But gut-check time: how competent are we in building and sustaining God-honoring partnerships? There's help. Phill Butler's classic book, "Well Connected," is your Partnership 101, 201, 301 and 401 course and baptism into the hope of John 17: unity in the body of Christ. You may want to just read the summary (Chapter 1) and then delegate your reading to a team member who will review the book at a future staff meeting. The appendix is worth the price of the book, especially the five-page "Partnership/Network Diagnostic/Evaluation Tool" for your current presumed partnerships. Or you can rate yourself with 10 questions: "Are We Good Partnership Material?" If you score 60 or less (100 is possible), Butler suggests you host a leadership meeting to look at your scores and discuss improvement options. Finally, the "15 Critical Principles" of partnerships are excellent. For example: #2. Lasting partnerships need a committed facilitator. #4. Effective partnerships have limited, achievable objectives in the beginning. #5. Effective partnerships start by identifying key felt needs among the people being served. (See "The Customer Bucket" in Mastering The Management Buckets: 20 Critical Competencies for Leading Your Business or Non-profit) #8. Effective partnerships are even more challenging to maintain than to start. #15. Effective partnerships expect problems and pro-actively deal with them. If you're "partnering" and have never read this book, your partnerships could be dramatically enhanced in just one reading.

Insight and practical help for those with a vision for kingdom collaboration

Well Connected has proven to be a powerful tool for inspiration, evaluation, and growth for our organization--the International Council of Ethnodoxologists (a network of Christians involved in encouraging culturally-appropriate music and arts around the world). Our organizational DNA is permeated with the value of collaboration, so this book really speaks our heart language! In our board meetings this year, we are systematically examining the principles of effective networking and partnerships laid out in Well Connected; we rejoice to see that much of what we're doing is hitting the bull's-eye. We're also receiving insightful and practical suggestions for improvement. Especially helpful for us was Phill's clear definition of the relationship between networks and partnerships - we see now that our network has given birth to a number of effective partnerships; some project-oriented, some long-term. If our network is healthy, these partnerships will continue to form. The superb organization of the book includes several features that make it easier to unpack (and to share with others at the drop of a hat): * a concise three-sentence description of each chapter right in the table of contents; * a "quick-start chapter" at the beginning of the book summarizing the principles and benefits of kingdom collaboration; * a short "core idea" paragraph at the beginning of each chapter (an effective hook!) * an appendix with outstanding resources such as: 1. a list of practical, downloadable resources available from related web sites. 2. Assessment and evaluation tools for partnerships and networks 3. Summary of the 15 critical principles of being well connected 4. Bibliography for further reading on partnerships and networks In short, this ground-breaking volume is a "must read" for those who are ready to take seriously the scriptural principle of the interdependence of the body of Christ and who desire to truly collaborate with others to see the Church at its most effective. Phill is right - "working together is God's idea." Well Connected puts "hands and feet" on this great idea, offering insight and realistic help for those with a vision for kingdom collaboration. Robin Harris Founder, International Council of Ethnodoxologists (ICE)

This Book Puts a Handle on Community Transformation

"Well Connected" has truly given me the kind of insight that brings community transformation into the realm of real possibility! I know worship and prayer are the key ingredients for transformation, but what are also the practical steps that really enables me to get a handle on getting started. "Well Connected" gave me the answers! And it really wasn't something new ... but how I needed to be reminded. Everything starts with relationships and then carefully and spiritually moves forward to collaborating and partnering about the work in our community that's on God's heart. And what we're discovering is, God already had in the community all the ingredients to accomplished His purposes for our city. We had just never connected the dots (real people and ministries). Now God is helping do just that ... and "Well Connected", by Phill Butler, is the catalyst God is using to help pastors and non-pastors learn and grow together in new Kingdom partnerships! This is going to help YOU a lot! ~ Joe Walsh, [...]Sacramento, CA

Just the best on the topic

A vital book on a vital subject - how to actually co-operate across organizational or denominational barriers on Christian projects which would be impossible alone. I liked the frequent case studies and practical advice, all offered in a gentle spirit, obviously from many years of experience.

For those who desire maximum impact !

Well Connected is a terrific book for anyone desiring to having maximum impact on their neighborhood, community, nation or world. Phill Butler's unique combination of journalism skill, partnership expertise and love for the Gospel makes this book a must read.