UPDATE- Check out the 2009 Recap Video below and this great article w/ pics: http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/north_sound/mar/news/52971477.html
Well, it’s Friday and Summer Jubilee has been over for just about one week. I would love to have shared my thoughts much earlier, but life is moving at a blistering pace right now. Trying to develop a discipline of writing while dodging fiery darts feels very similar to trying to replicate the Mona Lisa on an etch-a-sketch while riding the Zipper at the local drive-by carnival. With God, all things are possible!
Summer Jubilee, for those who are unaware, is an annual event that my wife, Cyndi(@cyndivillamor for my Tweeple out there), and I founded 11 years ago. The two of us, along with a faithful friend, Judi, rallied Turning Point Church to serve our community by giving out free packages of school supplies to 50 kids that first year. It has since grown into an annual “all-free” event that last year saw more than 12,000 in attendance, over 5000 packages of school supplies given away, over 800 free haircuts, more than 800 volunteers and innumerable smiles. Mayors, Police Chiefs, School Superintendents, County and State governing officials have all recognized and embraced God’s move through Summer Jubilee.
Several years ago, while in worship, the Lord said very clearly to me, “I want the other churches here.” So we’ve been inviting them. This year 14 churches from all spectrums and flavors of Christianity came together, united around our common love of Jesus Christ and common mission of loving our community. It’s amazing.
Psalm 133 tells us without question that God will COMMAND the blessing upon brothers who dwell together in UNITY. John 17 makes it absolutely clear that it is the unity of the church that will reveal Christ as the Son of God. “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 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.” (John 17:20-21, NIV).
This is just a quick, “this-is-what-I’m-thinking-in-the-moment” post, so let me summarize: Unity as an end in itself lacks ample motivation to carry us through the effort and sacrifice that is necessary for genuine solidarity. The church will never unify to be unified. However, as a means by which we can please/obey our Father AND as a tool by which the core of the Gospel is accomplished (“so that the world may believe that you have sent me”), unity becomes powerful in and of itself. In fact, once a person tastes genuine Christian unity, motivation to work toward it rarely exists as an issue anymore.
Let me give you three keys to building unity in your church, your marriage or any other part of your world debilitated by division. Over the next few posts, I’ll explain each of them in more detail.
- Grace in the Midst of Offense: Healthy conversation and revelation are short circuited when we allow offense to govern our decision making.
- Communication in the Midst of Conflict: See how the Apostles overcame a satanic attempt to divide the church by listening to Peter’s testimony.
- Testing in the Midst of Confusion: Too often we don’t want our objections answered, we want to be RIGHT! Consider this attitude a 100%, Money-Back Guarantee of division and destruction.
For more information on Summer Jubilee, check out our website: www.summerjubilee.info. Check back here, as well. I hope to have the SJ ’09 Recap Video posted within the week!
Pastor Mike
SUGGESTED RESOURCE: The Bait of Satan, by John Bevere
[1] The Holy Bible : New International Version. 1996, c1984. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.
