The Deeply Formed Leader: The Power of Unity in the City of Tulsa
Unity within the body of Christ is a testimony to the power of the gospel. It is our way of showing the world around us that the work of Jesus is greater than every other difference that may seek to divide us.
As this article is being published, I'm out at Sabbath House with about 10 other local pastors in Tulsa for our Unity My City Pastor's Retreat. We're spending two days together with no agenda other than to rest, have fun, and connect. These pastors all represent different denominations, different church models, and different points of view on cultural and political issues. And yet, here we are, together. Committed to creating space for one another, encouraging one another, and bringing unity in our city.
I truly believe the spiritual climate of a city begins to shift when the pastors in the city are unified in a vision to lift up the name of Jesus and to bring the kingdom of God to reality. It's also amazing how the power of friendship and connection can override the major differences we may have.
Years ago, we launched Unite My City in Tulsa and began putting on corporate worship nights and serve days. They were well attended and had great impact but we realized the relationships among pastors was still thin. Covid regulations, racial tensions, and political polarization in America revealed to us that the relationships we had fostered among pastors in our city wasn't strong enough to overcome many of these difficult issues. So, what did we do? We started planning fewer events and we started creating more tables for pastors to sit around to develop genuine friendships.
It's amazing how friendships create the level of trust needed to overcome the most challenging obstacles. It's amazing the organic kingdom collaboration that naturally occurs when pastors stop seeing each other as threats and start to see each other as kingdom partners.
While I am believing this unity will move us to begin strategizing around the major issues our city is facing (homelessness, public education, foster care, etc.), I am also blown away by the kingdom collaboration among pastors. Pastors preaching for one another. Pastors pastoring one another. Pastors being invested in each other's marriage - families - struggles. What a beautiful picture of the kingdom!
It seemed like every year the number of Christians in America was getting smaller and less connected to the church. And all of a sudden, after decades of declining numbers, Millennials and Gen Z are leading a renewal movement within the church. You can read more about it here. Also, when the average churchgoer attends around 1.5 times per month (and is not connected to the church in any other way) it answers the question about so many problems the church is facing.
Sawyer contends that Trinitarian belief, once foundational to shaping all Christian thought and practice, has now faded into the theological background. He helps readers rediscover the Trinity not as a dry abstraction but the source of gospel wonder, worship, theology, and everyday devotion.