Our Year to Abide!
Our theme for 2026 is Our Year to Abide and our theme verse is John 15:4a (ESV):
“Abide in me, and I in you.”
This theme, Oue Year to Abide, underscores the importance of our unity in Christ and our unity with one another as we advance the Kingdom of God in Canada and beyond.
Unity is powerful and precious and we need to protect it. On Jesus’ last night before His death, He met with His disciples in the upper room and one of the primary things on His mind was the unity of His Body.
How might we ensure unity in the ministry of our local churches? Here are four quick tips:
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Nurture an attitude of acceptance (Romans 13:1-23). The Apostle Paul is saying that we should not major on the minors. Don’t insist that everyone must agree; when there is a disagreement, we should ask ourselves “is this an essential area?” If it is, it’s worth a dispute.
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Maintain a common purpose (1 Corinthians 1: 10). Purpose does produce church unity. That purpose needs to eb clearly communicated, and often. Purpose keeps the church focused and the by-product is unity.
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Everyone needs to watch their tongue (James 3:1-12). Refuse to gossip. When you hear something, direct it to the appropriate person. If the concern has nothing to do with you, it’s not your problem, nor do you have any part to play in the solution. Walk away – its gossip.
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Support your leaders (Hebrews 13:17). Churches are supposed to make their leaders’ job a joy. This results in a strong and unified church.
Unity, not uniformity, is critical to mission effectiveness. There will always be some tension between doctrinal purity and mission unity—church history teaches us this reality.
May we be ever mindful of pursuing orthodoxy as we “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3, NIV)
Happy New Year! May 2026 be a stellar one for you, your family, your church family, and our wonderful family of faith.