“And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds,
not neglecting to meet together… but encouraging one another,
and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:24-25
Last Sunday in the World Cup finals, an estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide watched two great teams go at it tooth and nail. Spain versus Argentina featured incredible team work on one side versus prodigious individual talent on the other, a team with no clear goal-scoring superstar versus the Greatest-of-All-Time goal-scorer who had galvanized his team in the final minutes of the previous three games. In the end, patience, careful execution, smothering defense, and cohesive teamwork won the day. Having lived in Buenos Aires for four months this year, I was pulling for Argentina, but I have to admit that the better team won. The difference wasn’t individual star power but team cohesion.
As I think about healthy church life, I think about the value of working well together, of each of us using our gifts for the common good. I often think about the importance of the many “one another” teachings in Scripture, a phrase that appears nearly 100 times in the New Testament. “Love one another.” “Honor one another.” “Be devoted to one another.” “Serve one another.” “Offer hospitality to one another.” “Bear with one another in love.” “Build up one another.” “Encourage one another.” “Live in harmony with one another.” “Accept one another.” “Pray for each other.” “Bear one another’s burdens.” “Forgive each other.”
As I think about the effectiveness of strong teams and the importance of “one anothering” in the church, I’m deeply grateful for the many servant-hearted folks who comprise the tapestry of our community, connecting, serving, and making things happen. I see formal ministry teams—everything from finance to building renovation, worship to missions, guest relations to visitor follow-up, health ministry to audio/visual technology, adult education to youth ministry, children’s ministry to building and grounds. I see people informally connecting and investing in each others’ lives—moms and kids meeting in the park; senior saints sharing in weekly lunches; mentors meeting mentees for breakfast; a support group for those caring for aging parents; people bringing meals for families with newborns; tutors helping first graders with reading and math; Christians of all ages sharing their faith stories in Bible class; families and empty nesters taking a week off work to volunteer at summer camps and on mission trips.
I’m also grateful as I see our elders working tirelessly on various projects, drawing in volunteer teams to serve together, from our children’s minister search team to our building renovation committee to our finance and budget team. I’m grateful for our present ministry team of Rene Heard, Chandler Darby, and Char Hurley. Though the four of us have only worked together starting this summer, I’m thankful for each of them and their dedication to their ministry areas and the people they serve. I also remember the “cloud of witnesses” who have gone on before us, folks like Carl and Frankie Mitchell or Mel and Emily Pownall, as well as former members who are now elsewhere, like Jack and Tami Williamson or Charles and Darlene Coulston, whose lives continue to inspire us.
What I’m trying to say is that I see you, church! I know we’re not perfect. But I see your love and good works! I see your thoughtful care and tender friendship. I see your faith and generosity. I see your honest grappling and tenacious hope. And I see your teamwork! Thank you Church! To God be the glory, now and forever.
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