"I long for the Calcutta slums to meet the Chicago suburbs, for lepers to meet landowners, and for each to see God's image in the other. It's no wonder that the footsteps of Jesus lead from the tax collectors to the lepers. I truly believe that when the poor meet the rich, riches will have no meaning. And when the rich meet the poor, we will see poverty come to an end."  Shane Claiborne, The Irresistible Revolution

African Church Partnership is not a contract or covenant between your church and an African church. African Church Partnership is a conversation, where people get to know each other by walking together, listening to each other, learning from each other, going places and doing things together that are important to each other. In the conversation together, God fulfils His purposes in our lives, our churches, our communities and our nations.

Amahoro Africa is a network of African and non-African leaders who seek to further effective ministry on the African continent and around the world through partnerships. These leaders love their country, they know the culture and language and they do Kingdom work that is bringing blessing to both the church and community.

Many partnerships of the past continued the mistakes of colonialism, with westerners coming in as experts rather than as partners, friends and fellow learners. Many connections deteriorated as cross-cultural issues created an impasse that neither side could breach. Other times there were issues of mismanagement, exploitation and the like. Partnerships are not easy - but we believe they are necessary to advancement of the Kingdom around the world. Amahoro Africa is committed to partnership as a method of Kingdom building in Africa and elsewhere!

What Amahoro Africa can do for your church or group?

Connect: Connecting potential partners is the foundation of what we do. We believe that good friendships give rise to strong and lasting partnerships, and that is what energizes us in our work. We enjoy meeting friends of Africa, whether they are from America or a country in Africa. We listen to their story, discern their passion and understand their needs. This network naturally grows as we introduce those with similar passions and interest areas to each other. Putting people together who can collaborate and see God's Kingdom grow as they share the mission together.

You may have an issue you are concerned about (i.e. HIV/AIDS, ministry to Muslims in Africa, famine relief, etc.) or you may already be attracted to a particular country or people group in Africa. Maybe you know nothing about Africa other than you are strangely drawn to the continent. We can help! We can connect you with others who are actively involved with areas you care about, introduce you to people from countries of interest, and assist you in finding long-term partners for ministry in God's Kingdom. And if Africa is new to you, we will help you explore the variety of ways you can connect with this great continent and investigate some potential partners for an adventure of a lifetime!

Africa possesses many vibrant and credible indigenous ministries. These local churches are some of the best practitioners, as they enjoy an intimate knowledge of the region, its people and their customs. We would like to help you discover some of these ministries and consider partnerships with these local leaders.

Consult & Coach: Cross-cultural partnerships are a great blessing, but they are not easy. Americans and Africans approach leadership, finances, relationships and projects differently. Each culture places various expectations on its members which can often collide when working with a colleague from another culture. We assume that our colleague has misused funds; they think that we do not trust them; we create accountability structures while they build relationships, etc. We approach the same mission with different eyes, different experiences and different expectations of each other. Sometimes we need help navigating such cultural divides, we need to find a bridge to understand our colleague and strengthen our partnership.

We offer consulting services to strengthen your partnerships from their inception, as they progress and with the hope of increasing the longevity of your alliance.

• Cultural advising (for American and African friends)
• Cross-Cultural mediation
• Communication recommendations
• Fiscal support models
• International hospitality (travel preparation and hosting)
• Project / Program review

Educate: There are so many misperceptions about Africa and its people. Learn about the countries of Africa from those who know it best! Let the leaders in our network introduce you to the nations, cultures and traditions of Africa.

We can offer specific and detailed introductions to countries of interest, overviews of topics that affect one country or many in Africa, and cultural education for those interacting with Africa or Africans.

Who would benefit from our educational experience?