Advance partners work together both globally and locally. Churches within a geographic region partner together around location specific Gospel advancing initiatives. The movement currently includes a North American, UK & Europe, African and Asia-Pacific region.
The Asia Pacific hub includes churches based in India, Nepal, Thailand, Australia and the Philippines.
As local churches, with a primary focus on the redemption of local communities, the roots of partnership lie in our Biblical convictions.
We are united by faith in Christ with a global family and have brothers and sisters all over the world (Col 1:3-6).
We are privileged to have relationships with these church families and the opportunity to join them in advancing the Gospel by establishing, supporting and strengthening local churches in other regions both locally and globally. (Col 2:5-6)
We count it a privilege to be part of the global church and we take the responsibility for this global community as seriously as Jesus did. Each of us is invited to be a part of His global mission. (Col 1:9-14)
Partnership with the Advance family of churches flows out of that conviction. Through partnership our efforts, in synergy with others, are directed toward the planting and strengthening of churches in our nations and further afield.
Recognised leadership
Advance’s agreed approach to appointing leadership is to recognise gifting and relationship over geography and tenure. While the Global team provides oversight for the movement as a whole, a group of recognised leaders from the Asia-Pacific region work together on regional projects. Ben Whittaker (Coastlands Church, Adelaide, Australia) who also serves on the Global team, provides point leadership for the Asia-Pacific region, working closely with leaders in Thailand, India and Nepal.
Leadership through invitation
Partnership with Advance is by invitation of local church elders. Leadership influence is worked out through relationships with Eldership teams and in time, congregations. Ideally church leaders will look for opportunities to invite outside leadership into church life, through visits, attendance at conferences and visiting teams. Partnership is always in good faith; churches remain independent.
Partnership opportunities
Participation in the movement includes going, giving, sending and receiving from the expansive relationship and accountability.
Support given can be broken down into these three categories:
Air Support
Pray for and give encouragement to specific churches, in person, through communication and media.
Ground Support
Serving on the ground – visiting churches to serve in practical and spiritual ways.
Financial Support
When appropriate funds are disbursed through either Advance’s Global fund or through the Asia-Pacific fund.
Practical examples of regional partnership & local church planting
Support for church planters
Valley Community Church (Victoria, Australia) is currently being supported and mentored by Elders from Coastlands Church, Adelaide. This support includes leadership visits during the year, regular communication through telephone calls and initial participation on the entity’s founding committee.
Church to church visits
Coastlands Church (Adelaide, Australia) sent a team to visit One Light Church (Chiang Rai, Thailand) in late 2023. The group spent a week enjoying fellowship opportunities with One Light congregants, volunteered in existing community programs lead by One Light and encouraged the church at various ministry moments through the week.
Regional Hub Gatherings
Church leaders from India and Thailand gathered with partners in Australia for an Asia-Pacific summit in late 2023. Together with invited Advance leaders from the UK hub, delegates spent 3 days together enjoying fellowship, worship, communal prayer and an array of teaching input sessions targeted at key leadership teams within our churches.