How to connect your church (or movement of churches) with DOVE International as a partner church
DOVE is a global family of churches and movements on five continents. We are united by prayer, evangelism, discipleship, shared values, and vision to build the church “house to house, city to city, nation to nation.”
If you sense God stirring your heart to explore partnership with DOVE, you’re in the right place. Becoming a DOVE partner church is not a quick online form—it’s a relational, prayerful journey of getting to know one another and confirming God’s leading together.
Every Church Model Is Welcome
DOVE International joyfully welcomes all types of churches and ministries:
- Community churches
- Megachurches
- Microchurches
- House churches
- Networks and movements of churches
What a DOVE Partner Church Looks Like
A partner church is a community of believers led by a lead elder and eldership team, who meet regularly for discipleship in small groups. Together we share the same values and desire to walk in relationship with the other churches in the DOVE International network.
Clear, Step-by-Step Journey to Partnership
Here’s what the process usually looks like (we keep it flexible and Spirit-led):
1. The leadership of the potential DOVE partner church should familiarize themselves with the vision, mission, and values of DOVE International.
You can find them here.
2. To get to know our heart we ask that you read these foundational books by Larry Kreider.
- House to House – our vision
- The Cry for Spiritual Mothers and Fathers – the “why” behind our relational approach
- The Biblical Foundation Series – our core doctrines
3. Take time as a leadership team to discuss the content of these books together. Review our values and leadership principles to measure if your values are the same as DOVE International.
4. After exploring our shared values (how we relate) then check out our procedures. Review the DOVE International Leadership Handbook, this outlines the practical principles we live by.
5. Start a conversation
Reach out to us! We’d love to hear your story. Tell us a little about your church or movement and where you’re located. We’ll connect you with the right apostolic council (we have regional teams for different parts of the world).
Email: info@doveinternational.com or phone: (717) 627-1996
6. Pray and build relationship
If we both sense alignment, we’ll enter a season of prayer and relationship-building.
Apostolic leaders will visit (in person or online), ask questions, and listen for God’s confirmation together. This is an unhurried time of getting to know one another.
7. Engagement season (usually a minimum of 1 year)
Once God confirms the relationship, we move into a “engagement” period. You are invited in to begin experiencing DOVE family life:
- Regular relationship and prayer with your apostolic leaders
- Tithing model begins, as described in the DOVE handbook
- Connecting with nearby DOVE leaders and churches
- You will have the opportunity to participate in regional leadership gatherings held in many parts of the world with other DOVE leaders.
- We encourage making use of the many leadership resources for pastors and leaders.
- During the engagement time period, we will continue to pray, evaluate, and seek discernment and confirmation on if partnership is the right step.
8. Official partnership
After engagement is when we celebrate with a signed agreement and a special commissioning ceremony at your church. You’re now officially a partner church of the DOVE International family! We look forward to the mutually shared expression that our partnership will provide for you as well as DOVE International.
Important Notes
Partnership is about relationships, not paperwork. If your church is transitioning from another movement, we work through the details together with grace and wisdom.
What about Connecting as a Movement (group of churches)?
The same relational, prayerful process applies if you’re leading a whole movement or network of churches. Because more leaders are involved, it may take additional time and discernment to get all of your leaders on board—but the steps and heart are similar.
Ready to take the first step? Get started on steps 1 through 4 then reach out to us at info@doveinternational.com.
We can’t wait to hear from you and see what God has in store as we explore partnership together!
Just to be clear
Our focus is on relational connection for pastors and leaders actively building the local church. If your primary concern is based on requesting aid for financial needs of your ministry, we most likely are not the movement for you.
We have apostolic teams working in many regions of the world. You will most likely be connected to the apostolic team nearest to where your ministry is located.
Many assume they are connecting to a USA-based ministry, and this is not the case—DOVE International is truly global, with regional apostolic councils serving churches across Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, and beyond.
Missionaries and non-profit ministries do not connect to the movement through DOVE International. We believe missionaries are commissioned through local DOVE churches and relate through the appropriate regional apostolic team. We currently have mission centers in the USA, Canada, and Kenya.
