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Partnering For A Better World
‘Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much’—Helen Keller
After losing both sight and hearing in early childhood, Helen Keller spent years isolated in a dark, silent world before she met teacher Anne Sullivan. Working with Helen’s strengths, Anne found innovative ways to help her overcome the barriers she faced, and Helen went on to become a world-renowned speaker, author, and disability advocate—from darkness to full life through partnership.
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At Baptist World Aid, we hold partnership in high regard. So much so that our most recent annual staff gathering, Vision Day, focused on celebrating all that God does through us in partnership —with himself, his people, and those in vulnerable communities. Our development approach is informed by this commitment to partnership—equipping and empowering people to identify their strengths and resolve challenges for themselves, wherever possible. You can read more about this unique approach on page 6.
Everything we do is anchored in a belief that people thrive in healthy, dignified collaboration. It’s true of our staff, and it’s reflected in the warm relationships we foster with our local Christian Partners, who we celebrate on page 8. Indeed, this same spirit of partnership is evident in our relationship with individual supporters and churches as together, in prayer and action, we strive towards a better world for all. I hope you enjoy our interview with Clovercrest Baptist Church (page 12) which gives a glimpse into one of these partnerships.
God made us to work in partnership with each other and with himself. In Matthew 26, Jesus tells us that we serve and love him best when we love and care for others. You can find out what this looks like in times of disaster, long after the media attention fades, on page 10. And don’t miss our guest contributor, Andrew Turner, Director of Crossover for Australian Baptist Ministries, who explores the question, ‘Is addressing poverty really mission?’ on page 14. It’s a good question with an answer that might surprise some.
Partnership is powerful. Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan showed us that a good partnership can transform a seemingly hopeless situation into so much more than we can imagine. I’m thankful to be partnering with you for the same reason.
Because of Jesus,
Melissa Lipsett CEO Baptist World Aid
