Part one of this article is available here: collegeministry.com/win-win-win-part-1
In part one of this article, Adam shared the benefits that come from when our ministry partners well with students, and with other involved partners. He says it well here: “I believe in a third way: a WIN-WIN-WIN. This approach ensures that all parties involved can achieve meaningful benefits when proper expectations are set, particularly in college ministry. The ministry we steward in God’s kingdom wins. The other partner involved wins. And the students we minister to win! WIN-WIN-WIN!”
Read on to see more of the details of how these partnerships can work well with your ministry.
I identified four categories of outcomes that define a WIN-WIN-WIN:
- Typical Outcomes
- Cooperative Contributions
- Enhanced Fruitfulness
- Kingdom Building
While the specific wins varied, the overarching result was the same: all parties experienced meaningful benefits, and God’s work of reconciliation advanced.
PARTNERSHIP GOALS:
Different organizations have different callings from God, but they can work together well on a project if there is a shared vision. Most significantly, they can work well together if they can agree on outcomes that are mutually beneficial.
The emphasis of Christian humanitarian aid (meeting people’s physical needs) and the focus of most ministries committed to evangelism and discipleship ministries differ. However, I’ve seen such entities come together to meet more people’s physical needs, increase opportunities to share the gospel and, in turn, launch more new churches.
TYPICAL OUTCOMES
The most common (typical) WIN-WIN-WIN is where the strength of one party is used to aid the others. Typical outcomes focus on individuals partnering together to accomplish things that give them outcomes that they describe as helpful for each party, focusing on a strength of one being utilized to aid the other.
Bible Reference:
1 Corinthians 3:4-5, “For when one says, ‘I follow Paul,’ and another, ‘I follow Apollos,’ are you not mere human beings? What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task.”
Key characteristics: One organization serves in an area that is a blessing to another. Organizations are focused on the task that they serve for God.
Win/Win/Win: The organization is blessed by the gift of the strength that allows for growth. People in the organization are equipped and impacted by the strength of the organization, and students grow in their area of development.
COOPERATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS
Callings of different organizations can be diverse, but so can strengths. Some ministries are effective in using digital methods to expose large numbers of people to the gospel. A local church, though, is likely more experienced at assimilating new converts into fellowship and following up on the ground in personal discipleship and communities of faith.
No partner should waver from its calling and mission – the work it does best – but rather use its strengths to complement those of other organizations.
Cooperative contributions focus on strength. This could be the strength of the organization, leader, or resources of one that are utilized to benefit the other.
Bible Reference: 1 Corinthians 3:7, “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.”
Key characteristics: Both organizations receive a minor reciprocating impact.
Win/Win/Win: Ministry is impacted with a return for what it has contributed either with volunteer training, student connection or spiritual formation. This type of partnership is more characterized by the view of the whole than the parts. Because this type of experience exists it benefits the whole. Additionally, students experience a model of partnership and cooperation as well as spiritual formation.
ENHANCED FRUITFULNESS
There is a big difference between talking about something and taking effective action. Partnership projects should have a purpose toward which all the partners who commit can be motivated to be involved. Enhanced fruitfulness is when both partners are yielding a return or to use business terms a return-on-investment.
Bible Reference:
1 Corinthians 3:8-9 – “The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.”
Key characteristics: Both organizations receive an increased reciprocating impact.
Win/Win/Win: Ministry is impacted with a level of ROI in mind either with volunteer training, student connection or spiritual formation. This would be an event or experience that is considered a significant win by both parties. Additionally, students experience a model of partnership and cooperation as well as spiritual formation.
KINGDOM BUILDING
Where differences exist, so can comparisons. Considering ourselves better than others and looking down on others is sin. “In humility consider others better than yourselves.”- Philippians 2:3. No single person, church or ministry has all of the perspective, strategies or resources that are needed to fulfill God’s Great Commission. We are arrogant to think otherwise. As you live out the “one another” verses of scripture – encouraging, giving and collaborating with partners in a Spirit of genuine biblical humility – God can accomplish more than you could ever dream possible.
Bible Reference:
1 Corinthians 3:10-15, “10 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be built with care. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13 their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14 If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. 15 If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.”
Key characteristics: Both organizations consider this experience to be a high impact for both. These events would really serve as catalytic experiences for the ministries and students.
Win/Win/Win: High ROI with assimilation and spiritual formation involved. Students experience a high level of impact. Many would consider this their favorite event and/or life-change response is focused on for this event.
PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
After the goals were set there were seven common ways that people partnered that fell into self-explanatory categories: Evangelism, Discipleship, Missions, Impact University, Neighborhood Impact, Resources, and Leadership Development.
The figure showcases examples of partnerships within college ministries that exemplify the Win-Win-Win framework by benefiting all involved parties—students, ministries, and the broader kingdom of God. These partnerships span categories such as evangelism, discipleship, missions, leadership development, resource sharing, and community impact. From large-scale evangelistic events and campus-wide outreach efforts to collaboration on mission trips and leadership training, these examples illustrate how cooperative contributions enhance spiritual fruitfulness and build God’s kingdom. Each partnership leverages unique strengths and resources, fostering mutual benefit and aligning with God’s reconciliation mission.
Adam Venters is the Director of Carolina BCM in South Carolina. You can see more about the ministry at carolinabcm.org.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Covey, Stephen R., James C. 1958- Collins and Sean, Covey. 2020. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. New York, Simon & Schuster
Corbett, S. (2014). When helping hurts: How to alleviate poverty without hurting the poor… and yourself. Moody Publishers.
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