Owing a Debt

From China:

Completing a series of meetings with religous officals in various cities inside Mainland China.
We are enjoying the benefits of 10 years of guanxi (relationships/connections). Much easier to sit down and talk with a leader here when their close friends and classmates have already vicariously introduced us to them. In fact this may be the absolute necessity for effective service in China.

In one city located in the central part of the country a top leader listened patienty as we shared what we would like to do someday. He then responded "why have you waited 10 years? You owe us a debt."

It was a cultural way of saying "what are we pussy footing around for? Time is wasting. Let's get busy." While not everyone is quite that quick and ready to begin partnerships it is becoming rather typical of the attitude we encounter.

Grace for Asia never and I mean NEVER had anyone say something like that 10 years ago, or 8 years ago, or even 6 years ago. Instead they would make speeches explaining the "realities" in China and then listen patiently to whatever we shared. Usually these hours were followed by a lengthy dinner. When we left we had no commitment from them except "hope you will come back and see our city again."

What changed? Most bascially 10 years. True China is changing (do not confuse that with "has changed." There is a greater openess and receptivity to foreign partnerships. More importantly 10 years of trust and relationship has occured.

I don't pretend to understand all the cultures of the world. But I suspect that people are pretty much the same. Trust takes time. We must learn before we serve. We must prove ourselves before we partner and certainly before we can lead.

So if you are thinking about a glocal partnership somewhere this may be one of the crucial secrets to learn. Start now. You'll make some mistakes. Become a student of the culture. Then settle down and keep going back. Build relationships. Be patient but keep moving forward.

In "Going Glocal" I talk about signature relationships. This means a partnership which has your finger prints all over it. It is unique to you and your ministry. No two are identical. One thing this will require is time. If groups are hopping all over the world they may have a great travel experience but it is unlikelly they will deepen relationships to the place where real significant ministry and partnerships can be formed.

Pehaps this trip I learned one more indication that guanxi has been acheived. You sit down with a total stranger overseeing 300,000 Christians and he looks at you saying "what took you so long to get here--you owe me a debt."

Talk later from California