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                B. The Building Blocks

1. The Visitation of the Holy Spirit

There is a river whose stream makes glad the city of God,

The holy place where the most high dwells.

God is within her, she will not fall

(Psalm 46:4,5).

Our task is to establish the city of God within the city of man, a bringing of that future into the present.

The diagrams "Leadership and Strategy Processes in a City" show progressions in partnering churches together to establish the Kingdom in every sector of a city. It has been crystallized from seeing similar principles in many cities. Every step in the following processes must of necessity be the workings of the Holy Spirit, as we work with him.

In Acts 4:23-32 the Holy Spirit moved in power after the people had prayed with purpose and unity. In Acts 2:1 they were all in unity, and then the Holy Spirit came. The Holy Spirit must be a present and integral part of all decision making if significant work is to be done in the city. The spiritual unity of the leaders of the church is the key to his presence. The Holy Spirit may not work significantly in a situation where he is grieved. In most evangelized cities, there will already be a move of the Spirit that is bringing the pastors of the church together.

The living out of the word of God is the foundation of our spiritual unity, our walking together.

The basis of unity
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a commitment to the Biblical importance of the relational and spiritual unity of the body of Christ

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a commitment to the Lordship of Christ and the authority of the scriptures

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a mutual and workable acceptance of each others differences doctrinally, and structurally. This works best when each group knows and is committed to their own doctrinal base and yet have an open spirit to others in the Lord. They must be able to disagree and yet willing to accommodate for the sake of wider goals.

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a commitment to share together in complementary areas of ministry giftings. Rather than there being offense at doctrinal and structural differences, there is delight at seeing different parts of the body working effectively.

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brokenness and vulnerability

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trust built up over a period of time working together on smaller projects and goals.

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renunciation of sins of manipulation, power playing, jockeying for positions, seeking glory or control, competition, envy, a sense of inadequacy.


The Arrogance Factor

In one mega-city, disunity was apparent in our first meetings. Several things were evident:

Pride and Woundedness:
The leaders of denominations and organizations were based in this city. They had vested interests and had built their organizations while having to protect their people from some of the others and their teachings.

Geography
There are five distinct sectors of the city. Very few people perceived of themselves primarily in terms of the whole city. The solution seemed to be to recognize different areas of focus as a blessing not a hindrance. Work at developing decentralized processes then network the leaders of these. This has also been a significant factor in Los Angeles with five major valleys of two to three million people each.

Cynicism
We have tried it in our local area and cannot get unity. How then can it occur across the city? We are tired of the constant pressures to put together such processes.

Size
In this city of 1,012,027 people, with about 800 churches, to produce comprehensive unity across denominations is a task beyond most leaders.

In such a city, any number of plans could be drawn up for the city, but apart from the work of the Spirit, they will simply sit in a bottom drawer. Unity and the work of the Spirit precedes unified strategy and planning.

For I know that whatever God does endures forever. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God has made it so in order that man should fear before him

(Ecclesiastes 3:14).

Goals That Produce unity

Beyond simple fellowship there must be some common initiative - not just knowing about and blessing each others plans, but working on something together. Relationally-oriented people will be happy with networks and relationships but this will not be enough to keep the process of growing into a well-functioning part of Jesus' body sustained. But activists will opt out of the process.

It raises the question whether unity catalyzes events, or events catalyze unity.

 © Viv Grigg and the Encarnação Alliance Training Commission
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Last updated: 05/15/09.

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