A: This decision will be made by a capable board of experienced, spiritually grounded inner-city leaders, working in conjunction with business professionals and financial advisors.

I: This approach is rooted in an Acts 6 model, designed to address inequity within the church. When concerns arose about equitable distribution to the poor, the apostles did not take offense or disregard the needs of the impoverished. Instead, they entrusted real authority and leadership to individuals who were both gifted and filled with the Holy Spirit, drawn from those very communities and cultures that were overlooked. These appointed leaders were empowered to oversee and determine how resources were allocated. We take this approach to ensure that gifted leaders are empowered to use discernment and leadership instincts to address the inequity and plant healthy churches.

C: The discussion regarding funding in church planting movements between majority culture communities and minority communities is quite complex. The idea of receiving hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars to initiate a church is often perceived as biased and discriminatory, leading many to believe it’s something they may never have access to. Engaging in these conversations without sensitive mediators and individuals who grasp the contextual nuances can inadvertently cause significant offense.

A: It encompasses recruitment, an application procedure, training, and the establishment of connections. After individuals have completed this process, they will be sent out with resources as God provides partners and support.

I: One distinctive aspect of our approach is recruitment.  We firmly believe that acknowledging and affirming individuals’ gifts represent a pivotal initial phase in this process. We prioritize affirmation before application. Our experience has demonstrated that the application, training, and eventual release of minority culture leaders flows much more seamlessly when they feel seen, affirmed, and have someone to guide them through the process.

C: Historic issues and lingering wounds have left many minority leaders facing rejection across various domains, including the church planting movement. When this movement is conceived with a majority culture context in mind, the application process can unintentionally sideline leaders who possess the perfect qualifications for inner-city leadership. A prevailing experience among inner-city leaders is that they are pre-judged and rejected even before they apply. Regrettably, this has led to heightened offense and division, unless the process prioritizes relationships and is designed to connect individuals through recommendations that pave the way for applications.

A: We will assess, train, and hold accountable each leader to develop a creative mindset and explore multiple avenues for sustainability, including bi-vocational roles, entrepreneurial initiatives, non-profit ventures, and support-raising. We believe all of these approaches can be legitimate means of achieving sustainability in an inner-city context.

I: Self-sustainability is a multifaceted issue that requires a nuanced understanding, especially when considering different contexts. In more prosperous communities, achieving financial independence may be a realistic goal, but it poses unique challenges for missionaries in under resourced areas.

While we strongly emphasize the importance of responsible financial stewardship and accountability, pinpointing a specific biblical standard for “self-sustainability” is challenging.

Although we don’t view self-sustainability as an absolute biblical mandate, there are valid reasons why church planting movements often strive for it. This includes fostering growth, ensuring prudent financial management, and aligning with the community’s specific financial circumstances. However, we caution against hastily pursuing self-sufficiency, especially in the context of inner city church planting.

In inner city church planting, achieving self-sustainability through regular tithes and offerings is often not feasible. Instead, long-term creative funding approaches are needed. It can be beneficial to set aside strict sustainability timelines and instead focus on collaborative partnerships, measuring how investments are used, rather than simply on the return on investment.

C: While we may not be able to fully convey the profound pain associated with this question in the confines of this FAQ sheet, we earnestly request an open-minded approach to understanding its origins and complexities.

Certainly, biblical teachings consistently acknowledge the enduring tensions between the rich and the poor, emphasizing that the love of money can lead to various societal sins. Money competes for our affections and can lead some to feel superior while making others feel inferior. Caring for and connecting with the poor are fundamental biblical mandates that every church, network, and movement must wholeheartedly embrace and address.

It is widely recognized that marginalization and poverty are often closely intertwined. The complex social and political dynamics within our communities, contributing to the categorization of certain neighborhoods as inner cities, defy a simple answer to the question, “Whose fault is it?” We must collectively acknowledge the injustices and inequalities our nation has witnessed and participated in to even begin to grasp the significance of this mission field for the church.

We advocate for the use of the 3:1 partnership as a trusted mediator in this relationship so that conversations about money can be handled with the right care and consideration, devoid of control. Our goal is to bridge the gap and serve as interpreters between churches, fostering trust as the primary currency and preventing money from becoming a barrier that hinders leaders from entering the room as family.

A: The simple answer is “no” as grants and ongoing financial contributions will be channeled through the partnership structure to ensure transparency, accountability, and equitable resource distribution.  While there may be opportunities for individuals to contribute directly to approved project-based initiatives, we are asking for churches to entrust distribution to those who are leading the partnership.  We also will ask those receiving funds in the partnership to not solicit extra funds from partnering churches unless previously approved.

I: We will assemble a capable team consisting of individuals with extensive experience and valuable insights into the allocation of funds, all while honoring and dignifying local investments. The principal goal of establishing these partnerships is to enable talented leaders to make well-informed decisions in these intricate financial matters. Given the sensitivity surrounding financial matters, we aim to serve as mediators within this ongoing relationship within the partnership, striving to be a trusted source for managing increases and decreases, recognizing that more money is not always the solution to the challenges at hand.In certain scenarios, there may be opportunities for groups to shift from a 3:1 partnership structure to self-sustaining entities where churches give directly to one another. This transition could occur if the overarching partnership is no longer required, and both parties have no need for a cultural intermediary or for equitable resource distribution to other communities.

C: The context behind this response stems from the cultural differences related to money, often associated with notions of control, and the common perception of resourced churches consistently being approached for more financial support. This dynamic tends to heighten tension, which is why our partnership aims to act as a mediator in the financial relationship. By doing so, we seek to alleviate this tension and create space for more organic and authentic interactions within the partnership.

A: The 3:1 Partnership is a nonprofit organization that acts as an intermediary, collaborating with various entities. Our primary focus is nurturing the community, providing training, facilitating recruitment, and creating a fund to support the planting and revitalization of churches in inner city communities.

I: This approach draws inspiration from a Galatians 2:10 model, with the goal of nurturing leadership commitment to church planting in diverse and impoverished communities. In this biblical passage, the need for someone with a distinct apostolic focus on caring for the poor is discerned, and it is recognized that Paul possesses unique gifts for spreading the gospel in these areas. With this in mind we desire to be a nonprofit that is collaborative, we believe that we can concentrate on these communities while becoming a supportive branch of other nonprofit organizations that aim to aid and establish inner city churches.

A: While our goal is to maximize financial capital allocation to churches, this percentage may vary during initial phases as we establish operations. However, we’re committed to refining these metrics as our operations expand.

I: During this early phase, we have three initial churches, a team to support, and startup costs that will create an initial imbalance in our investments. However, as we continue to grow and establish standard practices, we will readily provide transparent information about the percentages of distribution vs training and staffing.

A: We prioritize multiple equally important aspects—Community, Empowering Minority Leadership, Relationships, and Effectiveness in Ministry. These priorities work together to propel our mission, ensuring equitable support for under-resourced communities.

I: While there is benefit to a structured and straightforward approach, our unique context introduces complexities that require us to address multiple priorities simultaneously, each carrying equal significance. This is not an attempt to evade a question but rather to emphasize that we have multiple priorities that we consider equally important in achieving our objectives.

A: Embracing the principle of “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” we aspire to have this financial support be seen as both a privilege and a source of joy for all parties involved, benefiting everyone. Beyond providing financial assistance, we are committed to establishing intentional spaces that naturally cultivate symbiotic relationships across our partnership. In these spaces, leaders from both Three-Side and One-Side communities view each other as valuable collaborators in the shared mission of spreading the gospel.We actively encourage the laity to participate in inner city mission initiatives, aiming to deepen our collective impact. These opportunities will be presented as invitations rather than mandates, fostering genuine relationships and advancing the work of the kingdom. Furthermore, we extend invitations to One-Side leaders to join and contribute to events, training sessions, and networking opportunities hosted by other partner churches.

A: Both sides will have established commitments, ensuring mutual respect, cooperation, and a spirit of servitude. These commitments will guide the partnership, with a practical approach that prioritizes effective communication, celebrations, and active engagement to promote strong relationships within our partnership.

I: Our aim is to foster transparency without making the partnership feel transactional. We envision that clear commitments, ongoing communication, and natural collaborative spaces will facilitate both giving and receiving among all members of the partnership. Furthermore, we envision organic ways for individuals to form friendships and collaborate on projects.To establish genuine relationships within our partnership, we will take a practical approach. Firstly, we will prioritize effective communication, ensuring that everyone can easily share stories and updates. We will create opportunities for face-to-face meetings, virtual gatherings, and conferences to facilitate personal connections. Additionally, we will celebrate individual and collective achievements, encouraging a spirit of celebration to strengthen our bonds. Ultimately, our commitment lies in active engagement to nurture strong relationships within our partnership.

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A: Our goal for the first year is to secure $250,000 (Salary, Grant fund development, partnership recruitment, travel, marketing, media, curriculum, ect.)

I: We have some initial support and commitment from pilot churches, and our primary focus in the first year will be on building strong partnerships, establishing a solid organizational structure, assembling a dedicated team, and laying the groundwork for future scaling. Many variables and challenges lie ahead that we have not yet encountered, and these will require careful consideration and time from our team as we navigate the early stages of our initiative.We would love to build our partnership on a relationship so please let us know how we can start the relationship.  Please contact us to start that process.

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