Rare and Beautiful
Every now and then, we come across something rare and beautiful that catches our attention because it’s the result of combined efforts that couldn’t be accomplished alone. We call this a collaboration.
We see the results of collaboration and stand inspired: a championship team that flows together flawlessly, a fresh song from artists of different genres, new kicks from the combined efforts of clothing brands, or a pop-up event with all our favorite vendors in town. But what we often fail to see, is that collaboration comes at a cost. It’s often those costs – time, money, energy, preference – that make collaboration-done-well a rare thing in our world.
Did you know Jesus is big on collaboration?
Just before his arrest, Jesus offers a big and somewhat surprising prayer up to the Father. As his departure from his disciples is nearing, fully aware that they and future followers will carry his mission forward in the days ahead, Jesus pleads to the Father: “that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity” (John 17:22-23). Jesus dreamed of a united church - a global movement of believers that collaborate for the glory of God and the good of the world.
Some would call this Jesus’ biggest prayer and some would even say it’s his biggest “unanswered” prayer. Just a brief peak into church history or a quick evaluation of the landscape of the global church, would lead most to conclude that unity isn’t the church’s most famous characteristic. Unfortunately, we’re known more for our divisions, splits and conflicts than for our unity or collaborative efforts.
And yet, in Omaha, we’re seeing the rare beauty of collaboration-done-well. We’re deeply grateful that Jesus’ prayer is being answered in our midst and the fruit is evident.
Our Annual Report is a small, quantifiable sampling of the beautiful fruit being cultivated in our city through united efforts across church lines. We see hours, dollars and people being poured into our city through a commitment to unleashing compassion in the Metro. And related to that, we’ve seen more churches, more new believers, and more generosity being expressed across our region. It appears that the collaborative efforts of Within Reach churches are bearing lasting fruit.
Psalm 133 gives us some insight into the spiritual significance of unity: “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity… For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore” (v. 1, 3).
God’s unique blessing is unleashed when God’s people are unified.
And while that unity comes at a cost, this report helps us see that the payoff is worth the investment. By God’s grace, may this be just the beginning of increased unity leading to increased blessing over our city.
Click here to review the Within Reach 2022 Annual Report
by Micah Eldridge
May 2023