OPERATIONAL PRINCIPLES
(Not necessarily listed in order of importance)

Principle # 1: We Seek Neither Power nor Glory!
The Samaritan strategy Africa is a kingdom of God enterprise. We have discovered an important principle: it is amazing how much can be accomplished when people do not worry about receiving credit or glory. The world's mentality promotes competition for organizational territory and power. As a kingdom enterprise, however, we are not seeking power or glory, but the advancement of the kingdom of the glorification of the king!

Principle # 2: A school of Thought, Not an Institution
Although we recognize the importance of being organized, our primary goal is not to create a new organization. Instead, what we offer to the church and the world is a "school of thought" or a set of ideas. Developing and disseminating a school of thought and building and running a school are very different functions. We have consciously chosen not to build buildings or run schools; but we have chosen to participate in the spread of a set of ideas. To do this, we seek to partner with institutions that have existing infrastructures. In Ethiopia, we work with the Evangelical Churches Fellowship of Ethiopia, and in Southern Africa with AFnet A movement is like a brush of fire, not a campfire. Once it is started, it is difficult to control. We desire that the Holy Spirit - not Harvest, Food for the Hungry, or any other organization - guide Samaritan Strategy Africa.

Principle # 3: Following God's Lead
We are not trying to create opportunities for our selves. Rather, we are trying to participate in what God is doing worldwide, follow His lead and not set our own agenda. We desire to form relationships with people and organizations that share our vision and passion and want to seek God about how we might advance the kingdom together. We don't push our trust in methods or formulas. Instead, we desire to be flexible and ready to move at the prompting of the Holy spirit. We have sensed the Lord's leading and blessing in that most of the growth we have experienced has come because of God's, rather than from our initiatives. However, as we sense the leading of the Holy spirit we will, with his strength, take initiative to increase opportunities to share the vision God has given us.

Principle # 4: Working Collaborating
We seek to work collaboratively with like-hearted, yet different, organizations, believing that we will all be stronger as we band together around a common vision and purpose. When different organizations with different strengths and competencies work collaboratively, synergy is created and the outcome is greater than the sum of the parts.

Principle # 5: Getting Ideas Out as Widely as Possible
We are seeking to spread a set of ideas into churches, bible schools, seminaries, mission/church-planting organizations, discipleship movements, and relief of development organizations. Through these organizations, we seek to influence various sectors of society such as law, education, health, economics, the arts, media etc. since we want to widely distribute this ideas, we hold them - and the materials in which they are conveyed - very loosely. Those who join with us need to share this conviction: they are responsible to distribute and disseminate materials and ideas, but should not control, own, or franchise our ideas for their respective organizations.

Principle # 6: Relating to Each Other in the Love of Christ
As we form deeply valued relationships with people and organizations to advance the school of thought, we want our relationships to be built on the basis of mutual respect and the love of Christ rather than position, status, structure or control. We need to desire to follow the teachings of the apostle Paul who said, be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. There is only one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and father of all and through all and all" (Ephesians 4: 2-6).

Principle # 7: Using Local Resources
Although we seek to give ideas away, the process of giving them away is not free. For instance, when we conduct Visions Conferences, we ask the local organization committee to supply the resources needed for the conference. We have found that, even in the poorest countries, God has provided resources that can discovered and used.