Spiritual Practices and Community Engagement: Building Partnerships with Nonprofits and Community Organizations

Building Partnerships with Nonprofits and Community Organizations: A Sabbath Approach

Theology of Partnership and Sabbath

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, urged believers to ground their work in divine trust rather than relentless striving. He wrote, “Having, first, gained all you can, and, secondly, saved all you can, then give all you can” (John Wesley, Sermon 50, “The Use of Money”). This call to generosity of resources and spirit reflects a deeper truth: our work is not solely ours but an offering to God. In the context of partnerships, this means approaching collaboration not with a mindset of control, but with openness and faithfulness to what God is already doing.

John Mark Comer, in The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, speaks of Sabbath as a radical act of trust in God, “Sabbath is a day where our work is done, even if it isn’t.”

This truth can transform how we approach partnerships. Rather than operating from urgency and scarcity, we can engage in community relationships with trust, patience, and attentiveness to what God is already doing. Sabbath teaches us that success is not defined by productivity alone but by faithfulness to God’s rhythm of work and rest.

By reshaping our perspective through Sabbath, we learn that partnerships thrive not through sheer effort but through trust and mutual care. As we step back to rest, we recognize that God is sustaining the work, allowing us to collaborate with others in ways that are both life-giving and enduring.

Sabbath as a Practice for Sustainable Partnerships

Sabbath-keeping can shape how we build relationships with community partners by ensuring that our work is not driven by exhaustion or anxiety but by God’s call to mutuality and shared mission.

1. Practice Rhythms of Rest and Trust

• Schedule intentional times of rest and prayer before making major partnership decisions.
• Resist the temptation to overcommit—not every partnership is necessary or aligned with the church’s calling.
• Take one day each week to step back and reflect on how God is leading, rather than rushing ahead.
• Plan ahead to prepare for Sabbath so you can experience rest. What errands or work do you save for your Sabbath that could be done at a different time?

2. Engage in Deep Listening

• Sabbath encourages slowing down to hear community needs rather than rushing in with solutions.
• Try disconnecting from social media on your Sabbath to disconnect from the noise and be present to God and those around you.
• Before forming partnerships, spend time in the community without an agenda—observe, listen, and learn.
• Host listening sessions where local organizations can share their vision and challenges.

3. Release the Need for Control

• True partnerships require mutual trust. Sabbath reminds us that God sustains the work; we do not have to micromanage every outcome.
• Allow space for partners to bring their own leadership, expertise, and strengths.
• Trust that God remains present in the work even when things do not go as planned.

4. Prioritize People Over Productivity

• Relationships matter more than results—Sabbath teaches us to value people over programs.
• Ensure that your partnerships are relational, not transactional. Ask: “Are we building genuine relationships or just accomplishing tasks?”
• Create time for restorative gatherings with community partners—shared meals, worship, or retreats—to deepen connection and trust.

5. Celebrate the Work Already Being Done

• Sabbath is a time of gratitude. Instead of always focusing on new initiatives, pause to celebrate what God is already doing.
• Acknowledge and affirm the gifts of local organizations and leaders.
• Regularly reflect on the impact of partnerships and give thanks for God’s ongoing provision.

Looking for Community Partnerships

When considering partnerships, reflect on the following questions:

• What organizations are engaging the community?
• In what ways are these organizations serving the community?
• Are there any gaps between what is offered and what is needed?
• Where is there potential for partnerships with other groups (e.g., other faith communities, ecumenical/interfaith organizations, nonprofits)?
• Who are the people being served, and what are they saying about their needs and experiences?
• Are there connections between those organizations and those who are a part of the congregation?

By engaging in these questions, churches can build relationships with community partners in ways that honor mutuality, sustainability, and God’s presence in the work already being done.

Building partnerships with nonprofits and community organizations is vital, but it must be done in a way that reflects God’s rhythm of work and rest. Sabbath offers a theological and practical foundation for sustainable, grace-filled engagement that prioritizes trust in God over burnout, relationships over productivity, and listening over urgency. As your church seeks to engage the community, consider how Sabbath might shape your approach, ensuring that your work is spirit-led, sustainable, and deeply rooted in God’s presence.

Reflection Questions

• How might Sabbath reshape the way you approach community partnerships?
• Where do you see signs of God at work in your community?
• How can you slow down and listen more deeply before acting?
• How can your church foster sustainable, long-term relationships rather than transactional partnerships?

Action Steps

• Pick a day to practice Sabbath. It could be Sunday for some; for others who work on Sundays, it may be a different day of the week.
• Discern how you’ll spend your Sabbath: what that means for you, your family, and/or those with whom you’re experiencing Sabbath.
• Prepare for what you need on the Sabbath. Our family would go grocery shopping on Sundays, but we began to be more intentional, trying not to work and trying to limit others doing work for us. We began to do grocery shopping at other times during the week. What preparations would you need to make?
• Disconnect from work emails or meetings and social media if possible.
• Spend time on Sabbath reflecting on the work God is doing, where you’ve experienced it throughout the week, and offer thanks.
• Remember, spiritual practices can be challenging, and not every Sabbath will go the way we imagine it should or want it to go. In the challenges, our shortfalls are reminders of God’s grace, so be easy on yourself and give it another go. The important thing is to show up.

By embracing Sabbath, we step into the freedom of trusting that God is at work—not just through us but ahead of us, alongside us, and even beyond us.

Next month, we will explore third spaces and the practice of slowing down to be present. If you have any questions or would like to reach out for more conversation or information, contact Bryan Tener at [email protected].