Independent and Pentecostal Churches initiated in Africa – subsumed here as African Initiated Churches, AICs – represent large parts of the population in many African countries. They are rooted in the communities and can hence be understood as experts for people’s daily needs and challenges as well as for the kind of support and development interventions needed. However, religious actors outside the mission churches are often not recognized as potential partners by international development organizations. Despite this lack of recognition, AICs are already active as development actors themselves. AICs see the human being in its physical, social and spiritual dimensions. Therefore, they support their members and the wider community through prayer and counselling, but also through various social service activities. This article highlights the perspective on development cooperation of AICs themselves. Focusing predominantly on the South African context, it outlines the views of AICs leaders on the modalities of fruitful development cooperation. While it turns out that they show interest in collaboration with development agencies, this does not come without conditions. Equal partnership, transparency, accountability and respect for religious identity are key requirements from the church leaders’ point of view.