International Partnership Associates (IPA)

Founded in 1974 by Phill Butler, IPA served as a communications consultancy to mission organizations.  From the successful 1982 exploratory partnership meeting in North Africa, IPA pursued a calling to Partnership in Mission. IPA became a specialist ministry: teaching, training, developing and advocating Partnership in Mission throughout the global Church. 

  In 2003, the global demand for the ministry of Partnership in Mission was greater than ever, yet paradoxically, IPA faced severe organizational funding challenges! Humbled by an imminent IPA closure, the International Operations Team resorted to prayer & fasting. Did God really want this ministry of Partnership for Mission to carry on?? The answer was a resounding YES!!! And the idea of IPA Partnership Associates (IPA) was born.  Confident that IPA could carry the ministry of Partnership in Mission, the IPA Board blessed the inauguration of IPA, and closed the doors of IPA in the USA and UK. Today, through 20 globally-based Regional Partnership Advisors, and with IPA-India, IPA is privileged to carry the heart & field mission once served by IPA.

We are so thankful that God has made a way to continue His ministry of Partnership in Mission. We continue to serve over 450 mission entities around the world. In the USA, we use a simple 501(c)3 non-profit structure. Your prayers and your financial partnership are still needed! Read more about IPA and its covenant. [pdf - 100KB].  We expect other new initiatives may emerge to carry partnership endeavors once served by IPA.  Stay tuned…let's see what our Lord is doing!!  

FAQs
Aren't Christian ministries already cooperating? What is it that partnerships actually "do?" How do the partnerships handle doctrinal differences and approaches? Find answers to these questions and more.

Where We Work

IPA Partnership Associates' top priority is to develop partnerships among the least reached peoples of the world. Learn more about where these peoples are located, and why this is our focus.