Unity

I'm part of a pastors prayer group that meets every Wednesday morning. It's growing and there are now about 14 of us, representing that many different churches and denominations. It's a refreshing breath of fresh air for me that I begin anticipating on Mondays. We're all in the ministry together and we feel that we complete one another, not compete with one another. I can share professional ministry needs as well as personal prayer requests. I mean, it's unfortunate, but there just hasn't been this kind of unity in the Body of Christ very often. We feel that God has really gifted us and we intend to follow Christ's lead. There seems to be a new wind that God is blowing across the church and we're hoping that the future in America, at least, is one of Christians reaching out from their own buildings and across denominational lines to love and serve.

This morning's gathering was particularly rewarding. A number of us had quite serious requests and we could sense the love, concern and active prayer of others in the group. I guess people don't think about pastors needing pastoring, but we do need pastoring at times and this group in Arlington is exceptional. What a God-send.

We can also sense the prayer group strengthening the church in Arlington (that is, the body of Christ that meets in various churches in Arlington). There have been several Sunday mornings when, with permission, our church has prayed for another church. In fact, it's a common practice in a number of our churches. What a beautiful act of unity to have our church praying for the benefit of another church, sometimes just down the street.

We sense that this coming together of church leaders will result, somehow, in the coming together of the Body of Christ. Our annual Good Friday services are love-fests of worship and power. People like it when their spiritual leaders are committed to the Kingdom of God. We like it too.

What's the point of all of this? Jesus said, "They (the world) will know you are Christians by your love." By the grace of God, the church in Arlington is beginning to come together at the foot of the cross to love one another and to love God. It's really exciting.