That is the question more than 1,100 churches around the world will seek to answer during June as they participate in One Prayer, an initiative organized by LifeChurch.tv, an Evangelical Covenant Church congregation.
The four-week event, which will begin this coming weekend (June 7-8), centers around the prayer Jesus offered as recorded in John 17:20-24 – 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. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (NIV)
“Pause for a moment . . . think about Christ’s Church,” the website material begins. “Think about the resources God has made available to us. Consider the money we have. Consider the talent, gifts, and passion of perhaps two billion people.
“Now consider the needs around the world,” it continues. “What do you think God could accomplish through a unified church? What if we stopped talking about Jesus and instead displayed His love through a unified and global biblical community?”
Participating churches can download any of 63 video messages submitted by pastors from around the world for use in their worship services. Resources related to the weekly themes also are available for download, as is material for children. There is no cost to join, but registration is required.
The event involves more than sermons. Churches are asked to commit to doing a mission-focused event in their community during the four weeks. Congregations also are encouraged to set aside time for fasting and prayer.
The event offers churches around the world a rare opportunity to participate together, says Katie Moore, director of marketing for the congregation. In addition to addressing similar themes and praying for answers to the same question, congregations also are encouraged to take a special offering the weekend of June 22-23 that will go towards planting 500 new churches in Cambodia, India, Sudan, and China.
“The ripple effect will be felt far outside the local community,” Moore says.
Jason Condon, one of the pastors at Artisan Covenant Church in Rochester, New York, says he is excited about participating in this event that spans the globe. One Prayer also will give the church the opportunity to experiment with using video in ways it has not done previously, organizers note.
The event has come together extremely quickly, says Moore, Leaders first began considering the idea in early March and announced it March 31.
To learn more about the initiative and how to participate, visit the One Prayer website. Visit LifeChurch.tv to learn more about this Covenant congregation and its ministries.
