Collaboration as Spiritual Practice
Why Your Soul and Mission Need Others
“I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me…”
—Jesus, John 17:23
Leadership is spiritual work.
Whether you’re preaching, planting churches, coaching leaders, or dreaming about Gospel saturation in your city, you already know this: ministry is soul work. It requires presence, discernment, courage, and humility.
But here’s a question that might surprise you:
What if collaboration is one of the most vital spiritual practices of your leadership?
What if your long-term health, your greatest Kingdom impact, and even your personal intimacy with God depend on how you walk with others?
We tend to think of spiritual practices as solo disciplines—prayer, fasting, study, sabbath. And rightly so. These personal rhythms matter deeply. But they are incomplete without a communal counterpart. Collaboration is that counterpart. It’s more than a strategy for effectiveness. It’s a way of being formed.
Collaboration Reflects the Nature of God
At the center of Christian theology is a collaborative God.
Father. Son. Spirit.
Three persons. One divine essence. The Trinity is not just an abstract doctrine—it’s the eternal community of love and mission. When God created humanity, He said, “Let us make mankind in our image.” (Genesis 1:26). That us is no accident. The very DNA of our existence is stamped with divine collaboration.
Jesus himself lived in constant partnership—with the Father, the Spirit, and others. He trained his disciples not only to follow him, but to follow him together. When he sent them out, it was never solo. Always in twos. Always in teams. Always in relationship.
To collaborate, then, is to be like God. To reflect his image. To embody his mission.
We’re Formed In Relationships, Not Just By Them
Every healthy leader I know has spiritual rhythms—solitude, Scripture, journaling, rest. But the ones who grow in maturity, joy, and resilience also make room for spiritual community. They know that transformation doesn’t just happen in the quiet hour. It happens when iron sharpens iron. It happens when you show up for others—and let others show up for you.
That’s why collaboration is more than getting things done together. It’s letting God do something in you through others. It’s trusting that his grace will flow not only to you, but through the people around you.
Collaboration exposes your pride. It challenges your preferences. It tests your patience. And in that crucible, the Spirit refines you.
Want to be more Christlike? You probably don’t need another solo retreat. You probably need to partner with someone who thinks differently than you—and stay at the table long enough to see Jesus in them.
Collaboration Is the Antidote to the Castle-Building Mindset
Let’s be honest: most of us were trained to build castles, not the Kingdom.
Castles are about my ministry, my success, my brand, my tribe. They’re secure, impressive, and… isolated. But the Kingdom of God is different. It’s organic, expanding, interwoven. It grows best through collaboration, not competition.
If we want to see movement—real, sustained, Spirit-led multiplication—we must repent of our castle-building and reimagine ourselves as collaborators in a larger story. One body. Many parts. One Church. Many expressions.
What if your greatest impact won’t come from your next innovation—but from your next partnership?
The Practice of Collaboration: Five Commitments
Collaboration doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a spiritual practice that must be cultivated. Here are five commitments to guide you:
1. Start with Prayer, Not Power
Spiritual collaboration begins in the posture of prayer. Before we coordinate, we consecrate. Before we lead, we listen. Jesus spent all night in prayer before choosing the Twelve. Paul and Barnabas were set apart through prayer and fasting in Antioch.
Ask: Lord, who are you calling me to walk with in this season? What relationships need to be strengthened? What partnerships need to be formed?
2. Choose Trust Over Turf
Collaboration thrives in environments of trust. But trust requires letting go of control. It requires vulnerability. And it sometimes means sacrificing your preference for the sake of shared purpose.
Kingdom leaders must resist the instinct to protect their turf. Instead, we embrace a bigger vision that transcends our egos and logos.
Ask: Am I more committed to the success of the mission—or the success of my brand?
3. Value Diversity as a Gift, Not a Threat
God loves diversity. The Church is meant to be a mosaic—ethnic, cultural, theological, generational. Collaboration means working with people who see the world differently. That’s not a liability. It’s a gift.
Diversity sharpens us. It teaches us humility. It helps us see dimensions of the Gospel we might miss on our own.
Ask: Who am I overlooking? Who has a voice that needs to be at the table with me?
4. Pursue Clarity, Stay Relational
Collaboration isn’t chaos. It requires clarity—shared vision, mutual expectations, agreed-upon wins. But clarity doesn’t mean cold bureaucracy. We stay relational even as we stay organized.
Love and structure are not opposites. In fact, they reinforce each other. The healthiest collaborations are held together by both friendship and framework.
Ask: Are we clear about what we’re doing together? And are we still friends while we do it?
5. Celebrate Wins and Stay in It for the Long Haul
Spiritual collaboration is a long game. There will be disappointments, misunderstandings, and slow seasons. But the fruit is worth it. So celebrate progress. Affirm what God is doing in others. Practice gratitude. Stay faithful.
Ask: Am I in this just for a project—or am I in it for the people and the process, no matter how long it takes?
Collaboration Heals Isolation
Let’s name the reality: leadership is often lonely. Especially spiritual leadership. You carry burdens you can’t fully explain. You face pressures others don’t always understand. And if you’re not careful, you can drift into disconnection and burnout.
Collaboration is God’s gift to protect you. It brings companionship, perspective, accountability, and joy. It reminds you that you are not alone.
You weren’t designed to carry the mission alone. Not in your city. Not in your network. Not in your calling. Collaboration isn’t a luxury—it’s a lifeline.
From Solo Hero to Spiritual Partner
We live in an age that celebrates the solo hero—the charismatic leader, the genius founder, the inspiring individual. But that’s not the model Jesus gave us. He didn’t build a platform. He built a team. He didn’t launch a movement by himself. He invited others into it.
The Church doesn’t need more heroes. It needs more collaborators. Leaders who are spiritually grounded, relationally mature, and committed to walking with others for the long haul.
So here’s your invitation:
Let collaboration become your spiritual practice. Let it shape your soul, not just your strategy. Let it remind you of who God is, who you are, and what we are called to become—together.
Cheering you on!
Patrick