International (MNN) — Around the world, many — though not all — congregations often find themselves competing for members.
A competitive, scarcity mindset can lead leaders to assume they are losing church members because of another leader’s actions. Joe Handley of A3 says this kind of thinking ultimately blocks collaboration.
He recalls meeting two Indian leaders who joined an A3 cohort with suspicion toward each other. Handley says:
“They thought the other was stealing sheep from their church. During the process of those two years, they became friends, realized it wasn’t true, and started working together for the Kingdom.”
That shift didn’t just resolve tension — it revealed the cost of competition. When churches focus on winning, they risk losing the fellowship Jesus intended for His disciples.
“When we get into that scarcity mindset and get trapped in the fear of ‘Oh, they’re going to win, we’re going to lose,’ that doesn’t help the Kingdom,” says Handley.
People comfort each other (Photo courtesy of César O’neill via Pexels)
Instead of competing, Handley points to a different model — one that looks more like teamwork.
“The Bible itself is about us being in unity together and how beautiful it is when the church is unified,” he says.
That vision of unity is central to A3’s current work. The ministry helps leaders from different countries look beyond smaller differences and focus on a shared Kingdom goal. A key part of that process is understanding the unique context of each region and valuing local leadership.
“The world is changing, and the way the church is operating is changing,” says Handley.
The key shift is from a Western-centered approach to a more polycentric mission. Local leaders, after all, know their nations far better than any outside team. It is time, says Handley, “to empower local leaders in local contexts.”
It’s also an opportunity for mutual learning. Handley says: “We’re going to be learning from one another — across different cultures, different expressions of the Church, and from both younger and older generations.”
As this shift continues, prayer remains essential. Pray that A3 will continue to unite and strengthen Gospel work worldwide — and for unity in the Church.
Visit A3’s website to learn more about their work worldwide.
Header photo: Sheep near St Botolph’s Church (photo courtesy of Des Blenkinsopp via Wikimedia Commons).
