What is your vision for your ministry and your business?
I was asked this question yesterday while sitting with one of the writers whose work I publish at Spiritbuilding Publishers. I appreciated his question. As I thought of how to answer, my mind went to what someone else said earlier in the day as they stopped to talk to me a few minutes after walking onto the Florida College campus. This brother, who I had never met personally before, began his conversation with me by saying I am known for being a bridge builder. Wow. What a great compliment. Later in the day, as I answered the writer’s question, bridge building was on my mind. I said I wanted to be known as a servant of Christ who is a committed disciple of Jesus and build relationships with all in the church. I don’t want to be committed to a label; I want to be connected to Christ and His people. This is my mission in ministry, and it is the idea that propels the business my wife and I own.
What is the essential element in building bridges between brothers? Love! We must be committed to practicing it. Three years ago, I taught a class on unity at Cornerstone Church of Christ and later published a workbook that focuses on strengthening relationships between brethren. Here is something I wrote about love:
Love is the essential element in effective spiritual living. James Olthius once said, “Loving is not merely one thing among others that we are called to do. Love is not an additive. Loving is of the essence of being human, the connective tissue of reality, the oxygen of life.”[i] If we take love away, we cannot function in God’s kingdom.
1 Corinthians 13.1-3 describes the world without love. Paul urges us to think of what we say, what we know, and what we do. Eloquent words not infused and built on the foundation of love are only noise. Incredible intelligence and knowledge void of kindness, humility, and gentleness is unimpressive … and a deterrence to Christianity. Acts of kindness and service that are driven by selfish motives have a way of turning people off.
Love fills our spiritual life with meaning. It is the supreme Christian virtue. It is the love by which the Father sent Jesus into the world. John 13.1 captures the degree of Jesus’ love: having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The last phrase in the verse is significant. We might say it another way: “Jesus loved them to perfection” or the fullest degree or limit. It is the love by which we are to be known:
John 13:34–35 (CSB)
34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Reflecting on my vision for ministry and business, I'm reminded of the impact of love in bridging relationships within the church. As I navigate both realms, my goal remains steadfast: to serve as a disciple of Christ, deeply committed to building connections and unity among His people.
As I'm learning, love isn't just an action; it's the essence of spiritual vitality. It binds us together, enriches our interactions, and infuses every aspect of our service with genuine meaning. Whether through teaching on unity or publishing resources aimed at strengthening bonds among brethren, my mission is clear: to embody Christ's love in all that I do.
May our commitment to love be the defining characteristic of our spiritual life, shaping not only our relationships but also the very fabric of our brotherhood. For, ultimately, it is love that bridges the gaps, binds us in fellowship, and reflects the heart of our Savior to a watching world.
[i] Um, p. 230.