of Appalachia, working alongside of church friends and adult lead- ers. My goal in that little exercise? To show them how easy it is for dis- unity to creep into the church and wreak havoc – and most especially, to dull, blunt, or even destroy wit- ness. For adults who either have felt the pain of a church split or of a Christian friendship seemingly be- ing beyond repair, this came as no shock that evening. But for younger brothers and sisters, I suspect that it was a bit surprising. We started so well. How did it get like this so quick- ly? My prayer was that after the message those who needed to get together to work on a reconciliation did. Such reconciliation would evi- dence the unity that our Savior and King prayed for in that great high priestly prayer John records for us in John 17:20-21 “I do not ask for these only, but also


for those who will believe in me through their word, that they 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.”


Called to Unity By Rev. Lee Shelnutt


t the beginning of my next to last message to the Appalachian Mis- sion teams this summer, I reversed the common revivalistic method, with every eye closed and head bowed, raise your hand if on this mission trip someone on your team has already aggravated you to the point where you aren’t sure if you’ll be able to actually continue to work with them for the remainder of the trip. You’ve gotten sideways with them and it could damage the remainder of the mission. say the number was north of 50%. Mind you these were great young folk from great churches and all sincerely loving young children in the hollers


A November/December 2022


Christ was interceding thus on the night in which he was betrayed and on the night of that message in Appalachia, and such unity was crucial for the remainder of that mission.


My text that night wasn’t John 17 but rather Paul’s discussion of es- sential unity in Ephesians 4:1-6: “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord,


urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentle- ness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father


9


December Synod Emphasis


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