Becoming One: Our Commitment to Unity
Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
EPHESIANS 4:3-6 (NIV)
As our country and our world have been reawakened to the unfortunate reality that racism still exists, we pause to acknowledge this reality and the effects that it has on our communities. At Journey Church, we fervently pray against the spirits of racism, hatred, and prejudice that would seek to divide humanity. We acknowledge that there is more to be said and done to see our cities, our country, and our world healed from the evil of racism and for reconciliation to take place. It is our goal to be agents of change in the days, weeks, months, and years to come. Therefore, we commit to being a church that makes every effort to promote unity in the body of Christ and the world. We recognize that our voice and our response is vitally important. For this reason, we are committed to taking continual steps of learning, lamenting, and loving so we can be a bridge towards reconciliation.
OUR COMMITMENT:
Continue to take every opportunity to pray against the spirit of racism
Build diverse leadership, staff, and executive teams
Ensure diversity in our communicators
Provide education resources and diversity training for our staff
Incorporate new small group curriculum resources that include racial reconciliation and healing in our Freedom curriculum and conferences
Christmas Offering
One weekend a year, we take a special Christmas offering to bring our gifts and our presents to God. There is nothing that God loves more than reaching people that are lost and far from him. So that is exactly what our Christmas offering is about this year. Increasing our outreach and investing in church at home!
Through these two initiatives, we believe that more people will be reached with the good news of Jesus than ever before. God has incredible things in store for 2021. Would you please pray and ask God what kind of gift he would have you to give this year at our Christmas offering."
Next Steps: What Can You Do?
Pray: 21 Days of Prayer
Broaden your circle of friends to include someone of a different ethnicity
Engage in conversation with your family, friends, acquaintances, co-workers, small group, and serve team
Be empathetic to the needs of those around you. (I Peter 3:8-9)
Love others as Christ has loved you. (John 13:34)
Embrace unity. We are all one in Christ. (Galatians 3:28)
Remember we are all created in the image of God. (Genesis 1:26-27)
Scripture
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” - John 13:34“
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.” - Proverbs 31:8“
Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” - Isaiah 1:17
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” - Mark 12:30–31