Day 15: We Are Family, We Are One
Week 3: Identity, Unity & Glory
“That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”
These are some of the most intimate words Jesus ever prayed. Just before the cross, His focus was not only on our forgiveness, but on our unity. He prayed that we would be one in a way that reflects the oneness between Him and the Father. This is not superficial agreement; it is a deep relational unity rooted in shared life with God.
Unity in Diversity
Unity is not sameness. The Trinity is three Persons, yet one God. In the same way, the Church includes many cultures, personalities, and callings, yet we are one body.
At ANCC, we see this every Sunday. People from different nations, backgrounds, and stories worship together. This is not accidental. It is part of our call to make Jesus known in all nations and to be a place where everyone is welcomed and loved.
Jesus links unity with mission. He prays for unity "so that the world may believe that you have sent me." Our relationships in the Church are part of our evangelism. When people walk into ANCC and sense genuine love, honour, and reconciliation across differences, they taste something of the Kingdom. Conversely, when they see bitterness, gossip, and division, our message about Jesus loses credibility.
A Pastoral Challenge: Being Planted
There is another side to this that I need to speak into as your pastor. In our church, we have an issue that we need to address with love and clarity. Some of us are trying to belong to more than one church or ministry family at the same time. We listen to different leading voices, treat more than one pastor like our primary shepherd, and move between different houses as if that is normal. This is not healthy.
The Bible talks about being planted in the house of the Lord, not visiting many houses all the time. Sheep need a clear flock and a clear shepherd. Hebrews 13 speaks of leaders who will give an account for the souls under their care. That is very hard to do if a person is half here and half somewhere else. It can also create confusion in your own heart because you are hearing different instructions and visions and trying to follow them all at once.
Deciding Where You Belong
Let me be clear. I am not saying you cannot listen to other preachers, attend a conference, or be blessed by wider ministries. I do the same. We thank God for what He is doing across the Body of Christ. What I am saying is this: it is not healthy to live with two or three "home churches" and different pastoral coverings at the same time. At some point, you need to decide where God has planted you.
If God has planted you in ANCC, then be fully here. Embrace the vision, the pastoral covering, the family, and the correction when needed. Bring your gifts, your time, and your heart. If the Lord is calling you elsewhere, then go with our blessing and be fully planted there. Staying in the middle will keep you from growing and affect the unity of the church.
A Family of Reconciliation
In our declaration, we declare: "I see a church where everyone is welcomed and loved." That means we cannot allow cliques, prejudice, or grudges to take root. We are a family, and families have disagreements, but in a Kingdom family, we choose forgiveness, humility, and reconciliation.
Let Us Pray
Heavenly Father, thank You that in Christ I am part of Your family. Thank You for ANCC and for the love, care, and covering You have given me here. Forgive me for any way I have contributed to disunity through my words, my attitudes, or by trying to stand in more than one place at the same time.
Show me clearly where You have planted me and give me courage to commit fully. Heal any hurts that have made me hold back. Knit ANCC together in a deep, Jesus-centred unity that reflects Your heart. Let our love for one another be a clear sign to Wythenshawe and to the nations that Jesus is real. In His precious name, Amen.