Kingdom Connections: How to Expand Your Network

Karl Koemmpel | Feb 10, 2026

What if building a team of supporters doesn't start with asking, but with praying? This article explores how prayer, clarity, and kingdom alignment reshape how you grow your network and invite others into meaningful, lasting partnerships.

In my previous article, Kingdom Connections: A Biblical Perspective on Networking, we unpacked Romans 16 and explored how Paul partnered with and was supported by a wide variety of people in the kingdom. Paul never went alone. At Reliant, we take the same approach in Ministry Team Development (MTD).

Sometimes people call it fundraising, but MTD is so much richer and deeper than that. It's an opportunity to grow and expand our networks for greater kingdom impact and invite others into what God is doing. Before diving into practical ways, we ask for specific connections. It's important to emphasize the incredible value of prayer.

Praying for Kingdom-Aligned Partners

Prayer is not an optional add-on to Ministry Team Development. It is one of the most essential parts of the entire journey. Prayer shapes our posture, aligns our motives, and reminds us that partnership is ultimately God's work long before it becomes ours.

Prayer aligns your heart with God's heart for people.

When we pray for new financial and relational partners, we're not simply asking God for names. We're asking Him to help us see people the way He sees them. Prayer keeps us from viewing others as obstacles to overcome or resources to extract.

Instead, it helps us recognize them as image-bearers to love, encourage, and invite into kingdom work. Paul models this repeatedly in his letters: partnership flows from honor and genuine care. Prayer cultivates that same heart in us.

Prayer helps us discern the connections God has prepared.

Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that God has prepared good works in advance for His people. That includes the good works of generosity, encouragement, and partnership. When we pray for God to highlight the right people, we're stepping into a reality He has already set in motion.

We begin to see introductions, conversations, and referrals not as coincidences but as part of God's intentional design. Prayer positions us to recognize and receive those connections.

Prayer shifts us from striving to partnering with God.

MTD can easily become a source of pressure— "I need to make this happen." But prayer interrupts that mindset. When we ask the Lord of the harvest to bring the right people into our path, we move from self-reliance to dependence on God.

Instead of striving, we learn to receive. Instead of forcing outcomes, we trust God to open the right doors at the right time. Prayer keeps us grounded in grace.

Prayer cultivates humility and dependence.

At its core, prayer reminds us that God is the ultimate provider. Every gift, every partner, every connection is an expression of His grace. When we pray, we approach MTD with a humble, expectant, and eager heart, ready to ask boldly and to trust God with the results.

This posture shapes not only how we invite others into partnership but how we carry ourselves throughout the entire process.

Prayer is not separate from the work of building a ministry team; it is the work beneath the work. It prepares us, guides us, and sustains us as we invite others into what God is doing.

Lastly, we should ask and pray specifically. When God answers distinctly, we can give Him specific glory.

Why Specificity Matters

At Reliant, when we train people to ask for names, many start by asking broadly. Over the years, we've found that asking more specifically about those who are passionate about the ministry you're stepping into yields higher levels of connection and fruitfulness.

Ephesians 2 reminds us that God prepared good works for us before the foundation of the world. With those specific assignments come specific ministry partners. The temptation is to ask broadly: "Who else do you know?" Often, that's interpreted as asking for those who have more money.

Instead, when we ask for connections based on kingdom alignment and shared passion, it's easier for people to think of names, and those names are more likely to lead to meaningful partnerships.

Kingdom-Aligned Connections

Start with a clear, one-sentence articulation of your vision. Then add what you're passionate about. For example:

• College Ministry: "I'm stepping into ministry on a college campus. Who do you know who shares a passion for reaching college students?"
• International Missions: "I'll be serving in Osaka, Japan. Who else do you know who might be passionate about Japan or East Asia?"
• Next Generation Ministry: "I'm stepping into ministry with kids and students. Who do you know who cares deeply about the next generation?"

Practical Tips for Asking to Expand Your Network

• Be Clear and Distinct: "I'm hoping to connect with 100 people throughout this process. Could you introduce me to 3–5 people who share this passion?"
• Give Space: After asking, pause. Let them think. Too often, we talk more than we listen.
• Prepare Follow-Up Questions: "Who in your network cares about the next generation?" "Who else might be passionate about Japan like I am?"
• Clarify Your Intent: Yes, you're looking for financial partnership, but also for prayer, encouragement, and kingdom collaboration.

By asking with clarity and specificity, you honor the person you're speaking with and make it easier for them to help you. This approach expands your network and invites others into the myriad ways they can support your ministry.