Hello, Unity on the Mountain. Cynthia and I are just celebrating two years of being here at Unity in Hamilton and we’re looking ahead to what we are becoming! There seems to be energy, excitement and momentum, moving us forward to the possibilities that are ours to claim! As Dr. Seuss would say, “And oh, the places you’ll go.”
And we are going! We are on our way! We are on the cutting edge of becoming an Integral or Ministry Centric Church. Few churches or centres are taking the steps that we are, and that’s understandable. In short, becoming an Integral church means changing the way we think, speak and act about church. In the Integral Church, we each have to take responsibility for moving towards our greatest potential. It no longer rests just on the minister(s) but the whole community.. Integral ministry means that our vision and mission are our guideposts and feedback on our journey. Dr. Gary Simmons, the champion for Integral Leadership and Church Growth says that Integral “Church growth is about increasing ownership, raising consciousness, growing energy and creating a culture of peacemaking.” And that is exactly what we’re doing at Unity on the Mountain. We’re moving towards our highest potential, and fast. But as a community, we aren’t quite sure what that potential is. We aren’t sure who we are becoming or what is ours to do. And not knowing who we are or what’s up ahead doesn’t always feel good. Remember being a teenager and trying to figure that out? Here we are again.
So, to get past the discomfort and into joy, we have to shift our perception and begin identifying and living our strengths, and our reason for being. We have all come here for a purpose. We have all agreed to bring our unique talents into this community and to this world. Following this article, there is a series of questions we’d like you to answer and return to the church office. Please include your name, so that we can respond to you if necessary.
In Proverb 29:18, “Where there is no vision (purpose), the people perish.” We live on the edge of infinite possibility but if we don’t choose a path, we can not move forward. We want to bring our light into such focus that it is like a laser penetrating the darkness. I invite you to make your voice heard in the identifying our path. As we gain understanding about who we are and where we’re going, we will be filled with peace and assurance and will become like a beacon in the night. We are the light of the world, individually and collectively. Let us join together to let our light shine, brightly!
