One of the biggest challenges in global mission work is money?not merely the need for it, but working through cross-cultural differences surrounding how funds are used and accounted for. Cross-cultural missteps regarding financial issues can derail partnerships between supporting churches and agencies and national leaders on the ground. North Americans don?t understand how cultural expectations of patronage shape how financial support is perceived and understood, and Western money often comes with subtle strings attached. So local mission work is hampered by perceived paternalism, and donors are frustrated with lack of results or accountability. How do we build financial partnerships for effective mission without fostering neo-colonialism?Cross-cultural specialist Mary Lederleitner brings missiological and financial expertise to explain how global mission efforts can be funded with integrity, mutuality and transparency. Bringing together social science research, biblical principles and on-the-ground examples, she presents best practices for handling funding and finance. Cross-cultural partnerships can foster dignity, build capacity and work toward long-term sustainability. Lederleitner also addresses particular problems like misallocation of funds, embezzlement and fraud. This book is an essential guide for all who partner in global mission, whether pastors of supporting churches or missionaries and funding agencies.

Foreward by Duane H. ElmerPrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: Partnership, money and cultural intelligencePart I: Core Cultural Concepts1 Is it "mine" or "ours"?2 Communication and harmony3 Other confusing issuesPart II: Uprooting The Harmful4 The path to premature judgments5 Paternalism couched in accountability6 Common unintended consequencesPart III: Partnering In Better Ways7 Biblical foundations for accountability8 Contextualizing processes9 Fostering dignity and mutuality10 Building capacity and sustainabilityPart IV: Redeeming Conflict11 Choosing your method carefully12 Options if designated funds are misallocated13 Options if embezzlement or fraud occursConclusion: How to tell if Christ is Lord of your partnership?Epilogue: Finding grace in the big pictureAppendicesAppendix A: Learning from the "Sister Church" partnershipAppendix B: Facilitating a culture of fiscal integrityAppendix C: Recommendations for further readingNotesBibliographyAbout the Author