Churchnet April 2016 | Page 9

Otto Echeverria (President of the Guatemalan Baptist Convention) and his wife, Ruth, give a plaque to Churchnet Executive Director Jim Hill to recognize Churchnet for 10 years of partnership.

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miss the incredible potential that exists in genuine collaboration and authentic community. In reality we cannot be the people God calls us to be alone, and we cannot fulfill his mission in our world without our brothers and sisters in Christ. We desperately need fresh awareness of God’s mission and a fresh filling of his presence and power, but we also need a new commitment to deep, authentic relationships and real collaboration. We need each other!

Denominational life has changed over the past few decades and it continues to change. Congregations connect in dramatically new ways across new networks most of which did not exist only a few years ago. When we talk with congregational leaders it is clear they are looking for connections in new ways, but the most important connections—the most valuable relationships are with other leaders and congregations who are “fellow workers” in the work of God.

Churchnet is committed to engaging the future not with fear and anxiety, but with hope and confidence in the God of the past, present and future. We are about helping to “create space” there authentic relationships can flourish and genuine collaboration can take place. We are passionate about God’s mission in our world—not ours. We frequently say "the church has a mission," but according to missional theology a more correct statement might be "the mission has a church." God is doing something in our world. He has invited us into his mission, and he has invited us “together.” I pray we will have the courage to allow him to bring us together that we might become co-laborers in his mission.

Our Mission: Churchnet serves churches by fostering collaboration

and hope for engaging new generations and cultures.