A Living Mosaic

People - Bugg, Jennifer“May God, who gives this patience and encouragement help you live in complete harmony with each other—each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God.... So accept each other just as Christ has accepted you, then God will be glorified” (Romans 15:5-7 NLT).

I read these words one morning just before I began to work on this edition of Thrive. To me it spoke to the fact that The Nations are Coming to Us. It spoke of the mosaic that many Fellowship churches are or can become—a mosaic of different cultures, preferences, traditions that can thrive for the glory of God.

Sometimes it’s complicated or uncomfortable, this intricate weaving together of ideas, languages and roots. In this edition of Thrive, Mark Naylor suggests that we examine our 'Personal Jerusalem' and gives some ideas for crossing cultural barriers; Colin van der Kuur opens the door to immigrants, and Wagdi Iskander presents his startling testimony of life as a Sudanese Muslim.

You will meet a Montreal church that is a living mosaic of nations and discover several cross-cultural ministries that the Fellowship is involved with here in Canada and abroad. The Fellowship's involvement in Colombia and in training pastors across the world is far-reaching.

We would like to hear the stories of your church and your living mosaic.  Please give us your feedback at eb@fellowship.ca.

May God give you his “patience and encouragement [to] live in complete harmony with each other..., [and to] accept each other just as Christ has accepted you, then God will be glorified.” 

 

Jenn Bugg is the managing editor of Thrive—The EB online.