Jesus gave great comfort to His disciples when He said to them, “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). This promise has been at the heart of the Christian faith for twenty centuries now, and it has been the source of great hope as the Church continually looks forward to what lies ahead.

Because His Church would live in light of what He had done and with the promise that something wonderful yet remains, Jesus prayed. At the heart of His prayer Jesus said to the Father, “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one” (John 17:22).

The Church does not wait passively for the return of Christ. Rather, it seeks to live faithfully to Jesus’ prayer that those who are of Christ “may be one.” Why is this important to Jesus? He answers the question, “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them, even as you have loved me” John 17: 23). To let the world know; that’s why unity in a world that tends to disunity is so very important.

Perhaps the way local congregations best represent their God to the world is through the unity they embrace in the midst of the diversity they experience.

Being a community of faith in Jesus Christ means that we are a community in which the prayer of Jesus is being answered. We may be different in language, culture and even convictions, but we are one in Christ. This is our calling, our passion, and our pursuit.