Making Your Partnership Work: A Guide for Ministry Leaders (Cross ...

What does it take to build a successful ministry partnership?

Daniel Rickett reflected on 20 years of experience and found the essential components to be a blend of vision, relationship, and results. In ?Making Your Partnership Work,? he shows how to build a partnership by focusing on nine imperatives of partnership:

Creating shared vision

Establishing compatibility

Applying ground rules

Keeping the relationship open and personal

Building intercultural understanding

Fostering trust

Measuring progress

Tracking agreements, contributions, and outcomes

Learning and handling change together

?Making Your Partnership Work?its like having a personal coach eager to help you build your ministry partnership.

Making Your Partnership Work: A Guide for Ministry Leaders

Cross-Cultural Partnerships: Navigating the Complexities of Money and Mission

?Mary has done an incredible job in storying, through numerous case studies, the wedding as well as the marriage of good accountability and good cultural relationship. This book has showcased the deeply rooted but often glossed over relational challenge over money, men and materials that has bugged the kingdom from time immemorial. Here is a book that celebrates the vulnerability of both sides, examines the age-long mutual suspicion, and raises the bar to promote the dignity and integrity of both the giver and the receiver. I sense this book practically promotes nonthreatening, God-honoring accountability and sustainability of church family values in our quest to make Christ known across the globe. ?I commend the grace and boldness given to her to put this together. It is a worthy work, because money matters a lot in mission. I enjoyed reading it, perhaps because there are so many true-life stories in virtually every chapter. I extol this work joyfully to the body of Christ worldwide as an unbiased, well-set-out and constructively presented view on money and global Christianity. I will particularly love to have numerous copies to give to missions leaders in Africa while recommending it for use in field preparatory trainings.? (Timothy O. Olonade, executive secretary, Nigeria Evangelical Missions Association (NEMA) )

?In matters of money, American evangelical mission has certainly made a mark in many positive ways, but our methodology in applying the funds has not always made such a positive mark. In this volume, Mary Lederleitner pulls some of those skeletons out of our dusty closets for a fresh examination of what we did right and what we could have done better. She offers many practical ways to avoid pitfalls as we move toward a more globalized mission partnership in the twenty-first century.? (Gilles Gravelle, director of research and field project development, The Seed Company )

?Cross-Cultural Partnerships brings the rare combination of mind, heart and experience of a seasoned yet compassionate accountability expert who is also a missionary with extensive field experience. Its realistic portrayal of the issues and practical suggestions for policy and action make this an invaluable read for anyone wanting to address one of the critical, central issues in partnerships within the growing global church.? (Phill Butler, director, Vision Synergy, and author of Well Connected: Releasing Power, Restoring Hope Through Kingdom Partnerships )

?Mary takes us straight to the intersection of mission, money, culture and partnerships. She walks us through key issues regarding money that can complicate, derail and even destroy cross-cultural partnerships. Using biblical perspectives, categories from anthropology and practical experience, she provides valuable guidance. This is a must-read for anyone struggling with the role of money in such contexts.? (John Watters, former executive director of Wycliffe Bible Translators International )

?In our globalized world the North American missions community needs Cross-Cultural Partnerships! I found it filled with practical, down-to-earth advice built on extensive experience and solid research. Mary is much more than just an accountant with a decade of living experience working through issues of partnering with others; she truly knows how to compassionately listen, apply what she learns to test it out and then pass it on to the rest of us in ways that will benefit the whole body of Christ.? (Scott Moreau, professor of missions and intercultural studies, Wheaton College Graduate School, and author of Introducing World Missions )

?Mary Lederleitner?s conversational style combined with her fair-minded approach creates a book that is friendly as well as informative about a tough subject.She wastes no time pointing out the gorilla in the room when it comes to money in cross-cultural partnerships?cultural differences.Important as it is, culture is no excuse for bad behavior, and she tackles that as well with helpful material on how to prevent and detect embezzlement and fraud.If you read only one of the few books on money in mission partnerships, read this one.? (Daniel Rickett, author of Making Your Partnership Work and Building Strategic Relationships )

?Money is the defining and dividing issue in cross-cultural partnerships, and Mary Lederleitner has given us the essential cultural insights and very practical tools and applications to navigate these treacherous waters. Writing from years of experience, Mary shines light on our harmful assumptions and then guides us to better and biblical ways to achieve accountability, build capacity and create sustainable partnerships with lasting impact for the kingdom of God.This very compact book is a must for everyone who aspires to partner with Majority World leaders and churches. Its fresh insights and applications make it invaluable as a training tool, one that I will use in seminars for Western and Majority World church and mission leaders.? (Sherwood Lingenfelter, provost and senior vice president, Fuller Theological Seminary )

?I began reading Cross-Cultural Partnerships and became practically glued to it! Its case studies enlarge my own understanding of the issues. This book will contribute to better beliefs and practices regarding the proper place of money in kingdom partnerships.? (Alex Araujo, director of new mission initiatives, Partners International )

?Over the years Mary?s insights into the world of missions have informed, challenged and delighted me. Her organizational awareness, hands-on field experience and heart for others provide a 360 perspective on cross-cultural partnerships. This book is a tremendous resource for churches, mission agencies and any who wish to develop international partnerships.? (Adele Calhoun, copastor, Redeemer Community Church, and author, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook )

?Mary Lederleitner has winsomely brought the field of intercultural communication to bear on the thorny and complex relationship between cross-cultural partnerships and money. . . . Mary has given us a missiologically grounded text that is comprehensive, enlightening, eminently readable and thoroughly practical. I highly recommend it!? (Dr. Evvy Campbell, professor of missions and intercultural studies, Wheaton College )

?From years of experience working with NGOs in a number of countries around the world, Mary Lederleitner writes knowledgeably about the strains that differences in worldview and in cultural expectations regarding accountability in handling money can place on mission partnerships, themselves entered into with the best of intentions. This book is practical, well focused and vision-expanding. I recommend it highly.? (Dwight P. Baker, associate director and associate editor, International Bulletin of Missionary Research, Overseas Ministries Study Center )

?When it comes to investing financial resources through cross-cultural partnerships, there are vast opportunities to build God?s kingdom. There is also an array of thorny tensions about money, arising mainly from cultural misunderstanding. Mary Lederleitner has done a great job of affirming the opportunities and navigating the cultural tensions. At last, here is a readable book with careful biblical insight about money and partnership, with gleanings from leading missiologists and expert partnership practitioners. Mixed in are real-life stories of partnership failures and great successes. Cross-Cultural Partnerships is an essential resource for Christian mission in the twenty-first century.? (Werner Mischke, vice president, Mission One )

One of the biggest challenges in global mission work is moneynot merely the need for it, but working through cross-cultural differences surrounding how funds are used and accounted for. Cross-cultural missteps regarding financial issues can derail partnerships between supporting churches and agencies and national leaders on the ground. North Americans dont understand how cultural expectations of patronage shape how financial support is perceived and understood, and Western money often comes with subtle strings attached. So local mission work is hampered by perceived paternalism, and donors are frustrated with lack of results or accountability. How do we build financial partnerships for effective mission without fostering neo-colonialism? Cross-cultural specialist Mary Lederleitner brings missiological and financial expertise to explain how global mission efforts can be funded with integrity, mutuality and transparency. Bringing together social science research, biblical principles and on-the-ground examples, she presents best practices for handling funding and finance. Cross-cultural partnerships can foster dignity, build capacity and work toward long-term sustainability. Lederleitner also addresses particular problems like misallocation of funds, embezzlement and fraud. This book is an essential guide for all who partner in global mission, whether pastors of supporting churches or missionaries and funding agencies.

Cross-Cultural Partnerships: Navigating the Complexities of Money and Mission
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Source: http://gdlpclub.com/b/2012/201206/32454.html

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Russia, US key to last-ditch Syria talks in Geneva

GENEVA (AP) ? Russian's desire to keep its last remaining ally in the Middle East collided head-long with the United States' desire to remove President Bashar Assad and replace him with a democracy at a pivotal United Nations-brokered conference Saturday seeking a political solution to the violence in Syria.

Efforts at bridging the Russian-U.S. divide over Syria held the key to international envoy Kofi Annan's plan for easing power away from Assad's grip and ending 16 months of horrific violence in Syria before it erupts into full-blown civil war.

Without agreement among the major powers on how to form a transitional government for Syria, Assad's regime which is Iran's closest ally would be emboldened to try to remain in power indefinitely ? and that would also complicate the U.S. aim of preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.

At talks Friday night, top U.S. and Russian diplomats remained deadlocked over the negotiating text to agree on guidelines and principles for "a Syria-led transition."

Hopes have centered on persuading Russia, which is Syria's most important ally, protector and supplier of arms, to agree to a plan that would end the Assad family dynasty that has ruled Syria for more than four decades. But the Russians want Syria alone to be the master of its fate, at a time when Assad's regime and the opposition are increasingly bitterly polarized.

"Ultimately, we want to stop the bloodshed in Syria. If that comes through political dialogue, we are willing to do that," said Khalid Saleh, a spokesman for the Syrian National Council, a coalition of Syrian opposition groups in Istanbul, Turkey. "We are not willing to negotiate (with) Mr. Assad and those who have murdered Syrians. We are not going to negotiate unless they leave Syria."

The negotiating text for the multinational conference calls for establishing a transitional government of national unity, with full executive powers, that could include members of Assad's government and the opposition and other groups. It would oversee the drafting of a new constitution and elections.

But the text that would serve as the framework for Annan's peace efforts also would "exclude from government those whose continued presence and participation would undermine the credibility of the transition and jeopardize stability and reconciliation."

Foreign ministers from all five of the permanent, veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council ? Britain, China, France, Russia and the U.S. ? converged at the U.N.'s European headquarters in the sprawling Palais des Nations overlooking Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc. Russia and China have twice use their council veto to shield Syria from U.N. sanctions.

For his "Action Group on Syria," U.N.-Arab League envoy Annan also invited Turkey, the U.N. secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, the European Union and Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar as heads of three groups within the League of Arab States.

Major regional players Iran and Saudi Arabia were not invited. The Russians objected to the Saudis, who support the Syrian opposition. The U.S. objected to the Islamic Republic, which supports Assad's regime.

Much of the work remains to be hammered out by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who met for an hour in St. Petersburg before sharing dinner Friday before Clinton left Russia. Lavrov predicted the meeting had a "good chance" of finding a way forward, despite the grim conditions on the ground.

Russia insists that outsiders cannot order a political solution for Syria, while the U.S. is adamant that Assad should not be allowed to remain in power at the top of the transitional government.

But Clinton said Thursday in Riga, Latvia, that all participants in the Geneva meeting, including Russia, were on board with the transition plan. She told reporters that the invitations made clear that representatives "were coming on the basis of (Annan's) transition plan."

The uprising in Syria since March of last year has killed some 14,000 people and Syria has shot down a Turkish warplane. Turkey has responded by setting up anti-aircraft guns on its border with Syria. On Friday, Syrian troops shelled a suburb of Damascus, killing an estimated 125 civilians and 60 soldiers.

The United Nations says the violence in Syria has worsened since a cease-fire deal in April and the bloodshed appears to be taking on dangerous sectarian overtones, with growing numbers of Syrians targeted on account of their religion. The increasing militarization of both sides in the conflict has Syria heading toward civil war.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/russia-us-key-last-ditch-syria-talks-geneva-054436115.html

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Twitter for Windows Phone updated, finally gets notifications

Twitter for Windows Phone has just been updated to version 1.5. While some of the Twitter updates in the past have been a bit lackluster, for example the last update just added the new Twitter logo, this update finally brings support for notifications.

It?s kind of surprising that it took this long for the official client to include notifications, but, hey, better late than never. You can head on over to the Windows Phone Marketplace to grab this update for free right now to start receiving notifications for mentions, favorite tweets, DMs, new followers, and retweets.

Source: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Twitter-for-Windows-Phone-updated-finally-gets-notifications_id31752

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Twitter updates

Source: http://katy-perry.us/2012/06/katy-perry-parade-photo-shoot-video.php

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Google Chrome for iPhone hands-on

DNP Chrome for iOS preview

Today's Google I/O keynote was, as expected, all about the Chrome. Easily one of the biggest among the company's laundry list of announcements surrounding the browser-turned-operating-system has to be its arrival on iOS, bringing the functionality that an ever-growing number of users have come to know and love to the iPhone and iPad. The list includes, perhaps most notably, its cross-device syncing, ensuring that you can pick up where you left off on the desktop version of the program, taking your pages and tabs with you on the go. So, is Google's fancy mobile browser enough to get us off mobile Safari altogether? Check out some impressions of the iPhone version of the app after the break.

Continue reading Google Chrome for iPhone hands-on

Google Chrome for iPhone hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 28 Jun 2012 17:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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White Sox blast 4 homers, hammer Yankees 14-7

By BEN WALKER

AP Baseball Writer

Associated Press Sports

updated 10:49 p.m. ET June 29, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) - A.J. Pierzynski, Paul Konerko and the Chicago White Sox were totally prepared to face Adam Warren in his major league debut.

Seeing Dewayne Wise on the mound, now that was a surprise.

Pierzynski homered twice, Konerko and Alexei Ramirez also connected and the White Sox pounded the Yankees so hard that New York needed an outfielder to pitch, bringing in Wise to finish up a 14-7 romp Friday night.

"I'll be honest, I was very happy I didn't get up against Dewayne," said Pierzynski, who was left on deck. "He's a good friend of mine. And no matter what you do, you're going to hear about it."

A night after the White Sox rallied to win at Yankee Stadium on Dayan Viciedo's three-run homer in the ninth, they made it a short and sour outing for Warren. The 25-year-old newcomer didn't make it through the third inning

By the end, the Yankees brought in Wise for his pro pitching debut - it was the first time since 1968 that a Yankees position player pitched in a home game. Throwing a 79 mph fastball, the crafty lefty was perfect, retiring Konerko on a routine fly and getting Alex Rios on a grounder to close a four-run ninth inning.

"I like Dewayne Wise a lot better when he's making catches to preserve perfect games than when he's on the mound," Konerko kidded. "You can't win, even if you hit it a mile."

"But Rios got jammed. At least I got the bat out," he said.

Wise was familiar to many Chicago players. His outstanding grab for the White Sox in 2009 helped Mark Buehrle pitch a perfect game.

Wise was the first position player to pitch for the Yankees since Nick Swisher in 2009 - Gene Michael was the last to do it for the Yankees at home 44 years ago. Wise wasn't in the game when he was told he had two minutes to warm up.

"I was very nervous. I haven't pitched since my sophomore year in high school," he said.

"Of all the people on that team, I wish it had been A.J. that I faced. I would love to try to strike him out," he said, laughing. "It was fun. I always said that someday I hoped I would get the chance to go in and pitch. I'm just glad I was able not to walk anybody and not give up any hits."

White Sox manager Robin Ventura was impressed. He knows what Wise went through, having pitched an inning for the Dodgers.

"He beat me. I topped out at 72 (mph)," Ventura said.

Rookie Jose Quintana (3-1) fell behind 4-0 in the first inning, then hung in to give the White Sox their fourth straight win in a matchup of AL division leaders.

Derek Jeter's leadoff double was his 3,185th hit, moving him past Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. for 13th place on the career list. Curtis Granderson followed with his 22nd homer.

It was 95 degrees at gametime, and the ball was flying. It was 6-all by the fourth and Pierzynski's leadoff homer in the fifth against David Phelps (1-3) put Chicago ahead to stay.

Pierzynski hit a pair of solo drives for his fifth multihomer game, and drove in three runs. Ramirez had four of Chicago's 19 hits and Gordon Beckham had two of the team's five doubles.

"This is a nice park to hit in," Ventura said. "It's nice to get everybody swinging the bat."

Quintana has been quite a surprise for the White Sox, and the rookie began the night with a 1.25 ERA and a 16-inning scoreless streak. He had not allowed more than two runs in any of his six starts.

The Yankees quickly tagged Quintana, and Andruw Jones' two-out, two-run double made it 4-0 in the first. But the 23-year-old lefty from Colombia stayed cool, and was nicked only by Jayson Nix's two-run double off Ramirez's glove at shortstop in the fourth before leaving after six innings with a 10-6 lead.

Warren was promoted from Triple-A this week after CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte went on the disabled list. A few hours before the game, Warren's suitcase was in his locker and there wasn't yet a nameplate over his stall.

The Yankees tried to make him feel welcome. After the infielders whipped the ball around after Warren's last warmup pitch, Jeter took a toss from Alex Rodriguez and trotted in for a final word with the new pitcher.

Warren started out fine, striking out leadoff man Alejandro De Aza and drawing a cheer from friends and family members sitting in the second deck behind the Yankees dugout. Catcher Chris Stewart tossed the ball out of play as a keepsake - pretty soon, the White Sox started providing their own souvenirs.

Pierzynski opened the second with his 13th homer. Beckham lined a two-run double and Kevin Youkilis had an RBI groundout that made it 4-all.

Konerko hit his 14th homer on Warren's first pitch in the third. After an RBI single by Pierzynski and a sharp single by Ramirez with one out, Warren was pulled. Phelps relieved his fellow rookie and got out of the inning, drawing a high-five from Warren.

Rios had an RBI single in the sixth. Ramirez hit a two-run homer in the seventh and added an RBI double in the ninth.

NOTES: Konerko has homered 21 times against the Yankees, tying Joe Kuhel for the most by a White Sox player. ... Youkilis left in the fifth inning because of an upset stomach. He said he expects to be OK to play Saturday. ... Pierzynski played his 1,000th game with the White Sox. ... Chicago LHP Leyson Septimo pitched a perfect ninth in his MLB debut.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Mercosur won't slap sanctions on Paraguay, eyes China

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Suicide by poison suspected in Ariz. court death

In this undated photo provided by the Maricopa County Sheriff?s Office, 53-year-old Michael Marin is shown. The former Wall Street trader and attorney is suspected of fatally poisoning himself as he was found guilty of arson of an occupied structure in a Phoenix courtroom on June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Maricopa County Sheriff)

In this undated photo provided by the Maricopa County Sheriff?s Office, 53-year-old Michael Marin is shown. The former Wall Street trader and attorney is suspected of fatally poisoning himself as he was found guilty of arson of an occupied structure in a Phoenix courtroom on June 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Maricopa County Sheriff)

PHOENIX (AP) ? As the word "guilty" filled the silence of a Phoenix courtroom, defendant Michael Marin closed his eyes, put his head in his hands and appeared to put something in his mouth. He then took a swig from a sports bottle.

Minutes later, the 53-year-old Marin was dead.

Now investigators are trying to confirm their suspicion that Marin popped a poison pill after the jury found him guilty of arson, a bizarre ending to a case that began in 2009 when he emerged from his burning mansion in scuba gear.

Prosecutors said he torched his home when he couldn't keep up with the payments. Marin, an attorney and father of four, faced seven to 21 years in prison.

"This is one of the strangest cases I've seen in a long time," said Jeff Sprong, a spokesman with the Maricopa County sheriff's office. "We're hoping to find out exactly what he was thinking and exactly what he took."

Detectives will get the liquid from the sports drink tested for poisons. An autopsy was being conducted Friday to determine if any poison was in Marin's system, but results weren't expected to be released for months.

Marin's four grown children, who live in Arizona, did not return requests for comment, nor did his attorney, Andrew Clemency, or prosecutor Chris Rapp.

Marin, a former Wall Street trader, had summited Everest and wrote on his Facebook page that he had scaled six of the world's seven tallest mountains. He also was an art collector who had original Picassos.

Prosecutors painted him as a desperate man who had $50 in his bank account in July 2009, down from $900,000 a year earlier. He also had a monthly mortgage payment on the mansion of $17,250 and an upcoming balloon payment of $2.3 million.

Marin also owed $2,500 a month on a different home and owed $34,000 in taxes, prosecutors said.

On July 5, 2009, Marin told investigators that he escaped a blaze in his 10,000-sqaure-foot mansion in a posh part of Phoenix using a rope ladder and wearing scuba gear to avoid inhaling smoke.

Fire investigators later determined that the blaze was intentionally set. As Marin was led off to jail, he told reporters that he was innocent and "utterly shocked" that he was being arrested.

On Thursday, a jury found Marin guilty of a felony count of arson of an occupied structure.

After the verdict, he appeared to put something in his mouth, according to video footage. Soon after, a bright-red Marin coughed, reached for a tissue, buried his face in his hands and appeared to sob, The Arizona Republic reported.

Marin then began making noises that sounded like snores and whoops as he began convulsing and fell on the floor face-first, according to the newspaper.

Sprong, the sheriff's spokesman, said an investigator in the courtroom tried to resuscitate Marin. He was pronounced dead soon after at a hospital. Sprong said the department planned to interview his family and search his home.

Records show that other defendants found guilty of arson of an occupied structure, on top of other serious charges and when other people's lives were at risk, have received more lenient sentences than the one Marin faced.

For instance, a Phoenix man was sentenced to 10 years in prison and three years' probation after being convicted on charges that included arson of an occupied structure. Prosecutors said he endangered 12 people, including six children.

Franklin Zimring, a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley, who specializes in criminal sanctions, said a sentence up to 21 years in prison seemed overly long in Marin's case.

"What makes the potential sentence both seem quite long and seem, in some sense, inappropriate is that the life that was put at risk was that of the offender," he said.

Zimring said Marin likely would have been eligible for a shorter sentence had he agreed to a plea deal.

Jerry Cobb, a spokesman for the Maricopa County attorney's office, said talks about a plea deal had broken down and the case moved to trial. He could not say which side was more responsible for the breakdown.

Cobb said that after Marin was convicted, prosecutors would have sought a harsher sentence for him, anywhere between 10 1/2 and 21 years in prison.

Among Marin's last posts on Facebook, in November 2009, was a photo of his four children that said there was something more important to him than his Everest conquest.

"More than anything else I may have accomplished in this life, this is what really matters to me: the blessing of knowing the amazing individuals I am privileged to call my children," he wrote.

___

Follow Amanda Lee Myers on Twitter at https://twitter.com/AmandaLeeAP

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-06-29-Defendant-Dies/id-81f06da78845478e973b3f5ef2bbf68b

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