…for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind—just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— so that you are not lacking in any gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[Adapted from “How Many?” by Kelly Phipps, May/June 2021 Herald, p. 18]

In management theory it is widely argued that what we choose to measure is an expression of what we value. When introducing someone to our church, I often included statistics on how many members our denomination had. And yet, this supposedly small movement has gifted me with an ever-expanding network of relationships that my friends outside of the church struggle to understand.

I really never considered that the measure of our church that mattered most might not be our numeric count, but rather the depth and breadth of relationships fostered within our community. That the pursuit of our mission might hinge more on the kind of community we build than on the size of that community.

We find ourselves in a place in history where many are actively seeking out deep personal connection with others. Attempts at “virtual” community or social media “friends” point to this impulse to find a place of belonging and also highlight how difficult it is to find. From our earliest beginnings as a movement, we have been practicing these skills. Camps, reunions, local congregational traditions, and World Church gatherings all demonstrate our culture of weaving strangers into loving community.

This divine gift has been cultivated through the generations in our movement and has its roots in our belief that we have a part to play in building God’s kingdom on Earth.

I have been blessed by a church community that is large and ever expanding. Today, as I see so many looking for true community, I am sensing with new urgency the world’s need for the gift we have been practicing all these years.

How can our church’s divinely gifted skills at building community be applied creatively in this specific time?

Prayer Phrase

“We, who are many, are one body in Christ” (Romans 12:5).

Spiritual Practice

Spiritual Learning

Meditate on a time when you learned about community from someone who took you in, fed you, taught you, shared stories and wisdom with you. What did you learn? Prayerfully create a list of qualities you need to learn from spiritual mentors and friends. Then write the names of people who serve as teachers, models, coaches, or encouragers in your life as a disciple. Offer a prayer of gratitude and blessing for these spiritual “relatives” and friends.

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.