Together One: Unity in Mission, Mission in Unity

by Jacob Quast

Our Lord Jesus in His high priestly prayer (John 17:21), asked His Father to grant that believers (present and future) “may all be one, just as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.” Jesus desires His Church to be united—not only to Him and the Father, but to each other as well. This is important to remember as our church gathers in Convention. For, as Christians united “Together One,” we are strengthened for expanded mission and ministry within and outside the Body of Christ.

As Martin Luther teaches in the Third Article of the Small Catechism, the Holy Spirit “calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers.”

Unity in Mission

The Christian Church is united in its mission to proclaim the full and free remission of all sins through faith in Jesus Christ alone. This is the heart of the mission and ministry of the Church! Period. The forgiveness of sins in Christ is the point of everything we do, both inside and outside the church. By the ministry of the church, we joyfully receive the love of God in the forgiveness of our sins through the preached Word and the blessed Sacraments. In repentant faith, we are united to our Heavenly Father through the forgiveness of our sins, which had separated us from His loving presence.

Our mission is simply a continuation of the ministry which we ourselves have first received. For we know that mankind’s greatest problem is sin, which separates us from God and leads only to eternal death and suffering in hell. In our daily vocations, we are called to share the Gospel with others. We reach out in Christian love, as the Body of Christ, to gather others into Christ’s Body. Whether it is a neighbourhood car wash, youth lock-in, Bible Study, or the Divine Service to which we invite a friend, the goal remains to share the message of the forgiveness of sins in Christ Jesus to hurting souls in need of God’s mercy.

Mission in Unity

Sadly, at times we may forget that we do not engage in this mission and ministry alone. We sometimes fail “to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which [we] have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3). For not only are we united to our brothers and sisters in the pews of our local congregation, we are further united to other congregations and believers in our Circuit, Region, and Synod! “Together One,” we are better able to minister to the needs of those in our community and beyond. We encourage one another through prayer, the gifts we receive in the Divine Service, and the resources we share for the work of the Lord’s Church, locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.

What a great joy and privilege it is for us in LCC to be united in our confession of Jesus Christ. To be united in our ministry of the reception of His gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation poured out upon us in His Divine Service each week. To be united in our mission of love to our neighbours. To be united in our mission to proclaim His blessed Gospel to souls in desperate need of His consolation and love. As the Psalmist declares (133:1), “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!”

Together One

St. Paul encouraged the church at Philippi to be “of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind” (Philippians 2:2). LCC’s Vision echoes this by promoting “a unified, confessional, body of believers, fulfilling the Great Commission.” “Together One,” we strive to reach out in love with the saving Gospel of Christ Jesus.

By encouraging a strong disciple-making culture within our congregations and equipping our ecclesiastical, diaconal, and lay leaders, we are better able to pursue bold domestic and international mission outreach. The work that we do “Together One” is stronger and more effective than what we could accomplish on our own!

Thank God for uniting us “Together One” in LCC to receive His ministry in His Church and for preparing us for the joyful task of proclaiming the Gospel so that all may be gathered into the sacramental life of the Church.

Rev. Jacob Quast is Director of Domestic Missions of Lutheran Church–Canada.

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