Customer Reviews

Well Connected: Releasing Power, Restoring Hope through Kingdom Partnerships

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Phill Butler gives us one of those books that takes an action sport or skill that is usually performed on an intuitive or visceral level and reduces it to a formula.

Don't get me wrong. This is not a criticism. Many of us need precisely such a formula that provides a handle, a method, or a path. Butler has given us that, and is to be thanked for doing so.

Six more or less balanced sections move from top to bottom as they view the complex dance that leads to partnership among Christian churches, parachurch organizations, and related missional groups:

One: The Big Picture
Two: The God Design
Three: Behind the Scenes
Four: On the Way
Five: Working It Out
Six: Special Cases, Special Opportunities

After telling his own story in an introduction, the author utilizes Part One ('The Big Picture') to build a case for partnership based on both pragmatic and biblical principle. In the first instance - and since 'all truth is God's truth' - Christians have much to learn from the business world and its own experience of strategic alliances. What's more, we ought to anticipate that many of the dynamics that lead to success or failure in that arena will also prove to be operative in our own.

With respect to biblical instruction on partnership, Butler believes that partnership is akin to unity and that unity is near to the Father's heart. It may work, and that's all to the good. But it's also *right*, Butler would seem to argue, and that's almost justification enough for the significant and sometimes grueling exertions that true partnership requires.

Finally in Part One, the author defines the menu of alliances that are commonly available, subjugating structure and talk to matters of mission as he does so. Butler has a penchant for graphs, many of which repay careful analysis. He introduces his first one here in a visual that anticipates his perception that certain commonalities in form and process produce the possibility of discerning laws of partnership, though I am not aware that he uses such terminology.

In Part Two ('The God Design'), Butler unveils the theological conviction that drives his work. Many Christians launch facile declarations about 'unity' that mistake intense preoccupation with the matter and location of one's calling with a fractious spirit. This is an unfortunate and undeliberated conclusion, and one that Butler comes perilously close to adopting as he explains why unity is God's idea before it is ours.

Yet he skirts the danger by his confidence that unity is not only God's idea but God's project, thus only worthwhile as God births its, nurtures it, and teaches it to flourish. It is not essentially a feat of human engineering and is to be seen as a process that is watered by human laborers insofar as they offer prayer and relationship in service of its growth. In my judgment, Butler hits the mark with these observations and escapes the tendency of elevating partnership for partnership's sake to the top rung of an organization's strategic planning ladder.

Part Three ('Behind the Scenes') fleshes out how vision, prayer, and relationship join together like three strands of a strong rope.

It was not until reading Butler's Part Four ('On the Way') that I was persuaded I'd depart this book with something valuable in hand. Here WELL CONNECTED morphs into a practical manual for partnership-building to which I will refer frequently by taking it down from the book of well-thumbed manuals perched within reach on the shelf above my desk. In these pages, the author distinguishes himself as someone who has done the thing rather than as a dreamer of fine dreams that lose their pertinence by Thursday afternoon's leadership meeting. If you read only one portion of this book, start here.

Parts Five ('Working It Out') and Six ('Special Cases, Special Opportunities') move the discussion in the direction of case studies and special circumstances. In doing so, they link closely to the fundamental declarations of Part Four.


Phill Butler's WELL CONNECTED is not likely to be of service to you as a quick read. However, if you find yourself in leadership of a church or Christian organization, you probably already undertand that today's world is not kind to those who go it alone. If you embrace that apparent fact, then this book can prove a valuable manual as you seek to build the right partnerships for the right purpose at the right moment. It's value will only be multiplied if the coterie of leaders at the head of your organization covenant to read it together.

"Well Connected" has truly given me the kind of insight that brings community transformation into the realm of real possibility! I know worship and prayer are the key ingredients for transformation, but what are also the practical steps that really enables me to get a handle on getting started. "Well Connected" gave me the answers! And it really wasn't something new ... but how I needed to be reminded. Everything starts with relationships and then carefully and spiritually moves forward to collaborating and partnering about the work in our community that's on God's heart. And what we're discovering is, God already had in the community all the ingredients to accomplished His purposes for our city. We had just never connected the dots (real people and ministries). Now God is helping do just that ... and "Well Connected", by Phill Butler, is the catalyst God is using to help pastors and non-pastors learn and grow together in new Kingdom partnerships! This is going to help YOU a lot!
~ Joe Walsh, [...]Sacramento, CA

"They'll know we are Christians by our love." (How's that working out for all of us?)

What if the next verse to that song read, "They'll know we are Christians by our partnerships?" (Oops. That's not working out either.)

Here's the deal. Many Christian organizations--even in their mission statements--proudly proclaim that they are partners with the local church. Others have a "Director of Strategic Partnerships & Alliances" on their teams. But gut-check time: how competent are we in building and sustaining God-honoring partnerships?

There's help. Phill Butler's classic book, "Well Connected," is your Partnership 101, 201, 301 and 401 course and baptism into the hope of John 17: unity in the body of Christ.

You may want to just read the summary (Chapter 1) and then delegate your reading to a team member who will review the book at a future staff meeting. The appendix is worth the price of the book, especially the five-page "Partnership/Network Diagnostic/Evaluation Tool" for your current presumed partnerships. Or you can rate yourself with 10 questions: "Are We Good Partnership Material?" If you score 60 or less (100 is possible), Butler suggests you host a leadership meeting to look at your scores and discuss improvement options.

Finally, the "15 Critical Principles" of partnerships are excellent. For example:
#2. Lasting partnerships need a committed facilitator.
#4. Effective partnerships have limited, achievable objectives in the beginning.
#5. Effective partnerships start by identifying key felt needs among the people being served. (See "The Customer Bucket" in Mastering The Management Buckets: 20 Critical Competencies for Leading Your Business or Non-profit)
#8. Effective partnerships are even more challenging to maintain than to start.
#15. Effective partnerships expect problems and pro-actively deal with them.

If you're "partnering" and have never read this book, your partnerships could be dramatically enhanced in just one reading.

Well Connected has proven to be a powerful tool for inspiration, evaluation, and growth for our organization--the International Council of Ethnodoxologists (a network of Christians involved in encouraging culturally-appropriate music and arts around the world). Our organizational DNA is permeated with the value of collaboration, so this book really speaks our heart language!

In our board meetings this year, we are systematically examining the principles of effective networking and partnerships laid out in Well Connected; we rejoice to see that much of what we're doing is hitting the bull's-eye. We're also receiving insightful and practical suggestions for improvement.

Especially helpful for us was Phill's clear definition of the relationship between networks and partnerships - we see now that our network has given birth to a number of effective partnerships; some project-oriented, some long-term. If our network is healthy, these partnerships will continue to form.

The superb organization of the book includes several features that make it easier to unpack (and to share with others at the drop of a hat):
* a concise three-sentence description of each chapter right in the table of contents;
* a "quick-start chapter" at the beginning of the book summarizing the principles and benefits of kingdom collaboration;
* a short "core idea" paragraph at the beginning of each chapter (an effective hook!)
* an appendix with outstanding resources such as:
1. a list of practical, downloadable resources available from related web sites.
2. Assessment and evaluation tools for partnerships and networks
3. Summary of the 15 critical principles of being well connected
4. Bibliography for further reading on partnerships and networks

In short, this ground-breaking volume is a "must read" for those who are ready to take seriously the scriptural principle of the interdependence of the body of Christ and who desire to truly collaborate with others to see the Church at its most effective. Phill is right - "working together is God's idea." Well Connected puts "hands and feet" on this great idea, offering insight and realistic help for those with a vision for kingdom collaboration.

Robin Harris
Founder, International Council of Ethnodoxologists (ICE)

A vital book on a vital subject - how to actually co-operate across organizational or denominational barriers on Christian projects which would be impossible alone. I liked the frequent case studies and practical advice, all offered in a gentle spirit, obviously from many years of experience.

Well Connected is a terrific book for anyone desiring to having maximum impact on their neighborhood, community, nation or world. Phill Butler's unique combination of journalism skill, partnership expertise and love for the Gospel makes this book a must read.

I found the book incredibly helpful for project-specific, strategy development in relation to managing, leading and guiding multi-level, multi-ministry and international collaboration, which NEMA fosters in 52 countries.

Phill Butler has an impressive resume in journalism and broadcasting. From that perspective, he brings a unique combination of ideas to the mission partnership discussion. His book, "Well Connected: Releasing Power, Restoring Hope Through Kingdom Partnerships," gives the reader insight into his unique perspectives. Butler makes a key focus of his book the need for various groups to work together to accomplish common goals. He says that "world conditions are forcing business, social initiatives, and Kingdom strategies to acknowledge the same truth: if you want to work smart, you work together" (page 25).

Butler reminds us that "all effective strategic partnerships are driven by an energizing, challenging vision" (page 16). This vision must come from a genuine belief that the partnership can accomplish something significant for the Kingdom. This vision must be so compelling that it overcomes the human obstacles that often arise when diverse groups try to work together. "Durable, effective partnerships are always built on authentic approaches that build trusting, open, and restored relationships" (page 52).

I appreciated Butler's warning about over structuring your partnership, especially in the beginning. "The structure of your partnership should be as simple as possible and still meet your objectives" (page 40). This is not to imply that partnerships should have no structure or formalized procedures. Organizational principals are important. "How the group organizes itself is one of the most important steps in the life of an emerging partnership. As soon as the participants represent their personal interest and the interest of an organization, the dynamics usually change significantly" (page 164). So organization is important, but it is equally important not to over organize. "Remember: simple is good. The less structure you need to accomplish the vision, the less maintenance you need and the more resources can be focused on your primary outcomes" (page 251).

Butler emphasizes the need to understand the people group or geographic location that you are seeking to reach through your partnership. This exploration and information gathering phase is vitally important for the long term effectiveness of the partnership. "The `unreached' are unreached for very real reasons" (page 11). Part of the information stage is gathering the data that will help all the partners understand why the unreached are in the position that they are in. This will allow the partners to proceed in a way that works with the culture instead of ignoring the culture.

I appreciated Butler's distinction between a network and a partnership. This helped me clarify those terms in my own mind. He defines a network as "Any group of individuals or organizations sharing a common interest, who regularly communicate with each other to enhance their individual purposes." He defines a partnership as "Any group of individuals or organizations, sharing a common interest, who regularly communicate, plan and work together to a common vision beyond the capacity of any one of the individual partners" (page 34-35). The key difference between the two is that in a network, each group remains focused on their own agenda and goals. But in a partnership, the participants have committed to a common goal that they could not do without the cooperative efforts of those around them. To effectively reach the entire world for Christ "both networks and partnerships are needed to release Kingdom power" (page 33).

Butler points out one of the major pitfalls of potential partnerships as being the temptation to rush too fast without laying an adequate foundation for a healthy partnership. He says "Scripture and life experience make [it] clear that spiritual change occurs over time" (page 59). He goes on to say that "what appear to be decisions made in a moment are almost always based on preceding events and influences" (page 59). Therefore take time to let the various events and influences build until there is an adequate commitment level and spiritual momentum to make the partnership vibrant and long term. "The combination of our desire for quick results and the Western tendency toward individualism has created frustration, ineffective strategies, and unrealistic expectations" (page 66).

Butler points out another key element of an effective partnership as prayer. "Our partnerships will only have lasting, eternal significance as they are rooted in prayer and in awareness that our planning and work can, ultimately, only be empowered by the Holy Spirit's work--in our lives and the lives of those we seek to reach and serve" (page 73). This may sound too obvious to the reader. Indeed, the need for prayer is often so obvious that it is overlooked in the partnership process. Too many times potential partners make all their plans and commitments and then ask God to bless them. Instead they should be asking God to give them wisdom as they make the plans and commitments.

Finally, Butler points out the vital need for there to be a person who accepts the responsibility for making the partnership happen. There has to be a person who not only believes in the partnership, but can relate to all the other individuals, personalities and groups within the partnership. "In effective partnership development, someone at least has to be acquainted with everyone!" (page 124). It would be better for a number of people to be acquainted with everyone, but the reality is that often there is one key player who tends to connect everyone together and make things happen. We can never underestimate the importance of the people factor in a partnership. "As in all human enterprise, people determine the success or failure of any collaborative effort" (page 202). So there must be someone leading the partnership who is willing and able to focus on people. Sometimes this creates awkward situations and difficult challenges as that leader tries to get the various participants to fully engage in the partnership. But this leader must be able to develop those people management skills or the partnership will never develop to its full potential. "As a partnership facilitator, you have to consistently wear two hats. To serve the partnership best, you have to be both a prophet and a servant" (page 204-205). Not everyone is comfortable in this dual role. Not everyone has the skill and personality for it. But for those who do, they are the ones who can make partnerships happen.

In my opinion, the reason more administrators don't aggressively pursue more partnerships is due to a negative experience with a previous partnership. "When expectations are raised and not fulfilled, hope dies and often turns to disillusionment" (page 222). Too many mission administrators put time and energy into what they thought would produce some great movement for the Kingdom only to see the effort fail. They become disillusioned and retreat in on themselves. We must stand against that. There will be failures in partnerships, because partnerships are made of people and people are not perfect. But there are also great successes. We must learn from the failures and rejoice in the successes. What we absolutely must not do is stick our head in the sand and pretend that if we keep doing the same things we are now doing that we'll suddenly start getting different results.

While there are a myriad of books about churches growing bigger and better, here's a book that provides what we are all missing - that churches become the best they can be by connecting with other churches and becoming THE CHURCH. Phill Butler's book hits the nail right on the head and is much needed in our day of churches thinking that they are the whole body of Christ or that they don't need the rest of the body. Quite the contrary - we cannot be the body of Christ we were meant to be without the other churches in our communities! I HIGHLY recommend this book!

Just as our organization was trying to figure out how better to connect with similar organizations, Phil Butler's book appeared! We have purchasde the book for others on the committee, and are discussing the very helpful guidelines.

Thank you Phil!