What if one of the biggest things holding back evangelism isn’t a lack of resources, people or opportunities but our reluctance to work together? What could happen if churches stopped protecting their own little corners and started working towards something bigger?
Christians share the same Great Commission, yet churches and ministries can sometimes find themselves working separately, competing for resources or struggling to collaborate across different traditions. But what if reaching more people for Jesus requires us to think beyond our own churches and organisations?
In this episode of The Win Win Evangelism Podcast, Tina Waldrom speaks with Charlie Burke, Network Lead at Exponential Australia, about why collaboration is so important for evangelism and how working together can help more people encounter Jesus. Drawing on his experience with Alpha Australia, Exponential Australia and church planting, Charlie shares why humility, genuine relationships and a shared commitment to God’s mission can make a significant difference.
From overcoming personal agendas and learning from Christians who do things differently to celebrating the success of other churches, Charlie challenges us to reconsider what effective evangelism looks like when we work together. He shares practical insights into building relationships across denominations, navigating disagreements and creating partnerships that go beyond meetings and good intentions. Whether you’re a church leader, ministry worker or everyday Christian, this conversation will encourage you to look beyond your own circle and ask a challenging question: Are we more concerned about growing our own ministry, or helping more people come to know Jesus?
IN THIS EPISODE
- The importance of collaboration for kingdom advancement
- How humility and shared vision foster unity
- Practical steps for building church relationships
- Overcoming barriers to collaboration
- The role of leadership in fostering unity
EPISODE CHAPTERS
00:00 – Introduction
04:03 – A story illustrating successful partnership
06:02 – Barriers to collaboration and how to overcome them
08:52 – The importance of shared mission over uniformity
11:48 – Practical steps for building relationships
18:04 – Responding to opposition in collaboration
21:00 – The significance of spiritual friendship and humility
21:58 – The call to collective impact in Australia
WATCH THE EPISODE
Full Video Episode
Watch the short video – Unity for the Sake of Mission Works
MEET CHARLIE BURKE
Charlie Burke is a passionate Christian leader with over a decade of experience in evangelism, church planting and ministry collaboration across Australia. He currently serves as the Executive Ministry Director of Exponential Australia and leads a local church community alongside his wife, Jessica, in Blacktown, Western Sydney. With a heart for connecting churches and Christian leaders, Charlie is committed to strengthening collaboration across the body of Christ to advance the gospel and help more people encounter Jesus.
Connect with Charlie Burke and Exponential Australia:
Exponential Australia Website
Exponential Australia Facebook Page
Exponential Australia on Instagram
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Discussion Questions
1. Are we trying to fulfil the Great Commission on our own?
Why do churches and Christians sometimes approach evangelism as something they need to do independently? How might your approach to sharing Jesus change if you saw other Christians and churches as partners rather than separate organisations?
Read: Matthew 28:18-20; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
2. Are we more concerned about building our own ministry than advancing God’s kingdom?
What personal ambitions, preferences or insecurities can prevent Christians from working together? Are there times when you’ve been more concerned about receiving recognition than seeing someone encounter Jesus?
Read: Philippians 2:3-8; John 3:30
3. Are we willing to work with Christians who do things differently?
What assumptions do you sometimes make about Christians from other churches or denominations? How could learning from Christians with different experiences strengthen your understanding of evangelism?
Read: Ephesians 4:3-6; Romans 12:4-5
4. Is our unity built around friendship alone, or a shared mission?
What’s the difference between Christians getting along and Christians actively working together for evangelism? Does your church or small group have a clear sense of how it could work with others to help more people encounter Jesus?
Read: Philippians 1:27; John 17:20–23
5. Could you celebrate another church’s success as much as your own?
What if revival broke out in the church down the road rather than your own? Why can it sometimes be difficult to celebrate another church or ministry’s growth? What does your reaction to someone else’s success reveal about your understanding of God’s kingdom?
Read: 1 Corinthians 12:26; Philippians 2:3-4
6. Are we investing in relationships before expecting collaboration?
Why is trust important when churches or Christians want to work together? Are you more focused on what someone can contribute to your ministry than on building a genuine relationship with them?
Read: Romans 12:10-13; Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
7. What would change if we measured evangelism by our collective impact?
How might our priorities change if we measured success by the number of people being reached across our community rather than the growth of our own ministry? What resources, relationships or opportunities could your church or small group share to strengthen evangelism in your area?
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3:6-9; Matthew 9:37-38
