“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”
Ephesians 4:16
I have been reflecting lately on the beautiful and sometimes unexpected ways the Father brings people into our lives. There are relationships that develop over many years, and then there are those moments when we encounter someone for the first time and sense that God may be bringing our paths together for a purpose beyond what we can presently see.
Throughout my years in ministry, I have come to appreciate that so much of what God desires to accomplish in and through us happens in the context of relationships. We were never intended to walk this journey alone, nor were we created to carry every vision, calling or assignment by ourselves. There is something beautiful about the way the Holy Spirit brings people together, each carrying different gifts, experiences and perspectives, to participate in what the Father is doing.
I have been reminded of this in a very personal way through some of the relationships that have emerged from the recent Kingdom Business Forum here in Calgary.
Over those few days, we had the privilege of connecting with so many incredible people, including a number of young men and women from Generation Z whose hearts for Jesus and passion for His Kingdom deeply encouraged me.
There is something refreshing about encountering a younger generation that is not simply interested in talking about faith, but genuinely desires to live it out. These are young people with creativity, vision, enthusiasm and a willingness to invest themselves in something that carries eternal significance. They recognize that their gifts and talents are not separate from their relationship with God, but can become beautiful expressions of His Kingdom in the world around them.
As I listened to their stories, heard their ideas and began getting to know them, I found myself increasingly encouraged by what the Holy Spirit is stirring in this generation.
We often hear conversations about the challenges facing younger generations, and certainly every generation has its own struggles to navigate. Yet I believe we must be careful not to overlook the tremendous work God is doing in the hearts of young people who are hungry to know Him and make Him known.
What has been particularly meaningful is that these connections have continued beyond the Kingdom Business Forum.
Through the relationships that began there, we have seen a team of passionate and gifted individuals begin to come together around the vision for our Kingdom Media Studio. These young people have expressed a genuine desire to invest their time, creativity and energy into helping us expand the studio and see the vision God has placed on our hearts come to fruition.
For those who have been journeying with Christ For Your City, you will know that we have been investing in the development of our Kingdom Media Studio as a place where conversations, testimonies, teaching and stories of what God is doing can be shared with people across generations, communities and nations.
Our desire has never been simply to produce more content. We want to create opportunities for people to encounter the heart of the Father, to hear stories that awaken faith and hope, and to be encouraged to recognize the Kingdom influence God has entrusted to them wherever He has placed them.
And now, as we continue developing that vision, we are discovering the joy of seeing others come alongside us who carry a similar passion.
I find myself smiling as I consider how the Father brings these things together. What began as an opportunity to gather, worship, listen and build relationships has opened the door to new friendships, shared vision and a growing sense of what might be possible as we walk together.
It reminds me of Paul's words to the Ephesians, where he describes the body of Christ being joined and held together, growing as each part does its work.
I love that picture of the Church.
Each of us has something to contribute, and there is a beautiful interdependence within the family of God. We need the wisdom and experience of those who have walked with Jesus for many years, just as we need the fresh perspectives, creativity and passion of those who are beginning to discover the fullness of their calling.
I believe there is something particularly powerful when generations come together with a shared heart for the Kingdom. Rather than seeing differences in age or experience as barriers, we have the opportunity to recognize the gifts God has placed within one another and make room for those gifts to flourish.
After nearly five decades of ministry, I continue to be amazed at how much we can learn from one another when we remain humble, curious and open to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
And perhaps this is one of the beautiful things about Kingdom community. We do not always know why God brings certain people across our paths, but as we make room for relationship, encourage one another and remain attentive to His voice, we often begin to discover purposes we could not have anticipated.
Sometimes a simple conversation becomes the beginning of a friendship. A shared passion becomes an opportunity to serve together. An unexpected introduction becomes part of a much larger story that God is unfolding.
Of course, not every relationship needs to lead to a project or a particular outcome. People are never simply a means to accomplish a vision. They are sons and daughters deeply loved by the Father, and relationships themselves are among the greatest gifts He gives us.
Yet there are moments when we recognize that God has brought people together around something He is inviting them to build, and I believe we are experiencing one of those moments at Christ For Your City.
As we look toward the future of our Kingdom Media Studio, I am filled with gratitude for the people who are beginning to share in this journey. There is still much to develop, much to learn and much work ahead of us, but what encourages me most is not simply what we might accomplish. It is the relationships being formed along the way and the opportunity to invest in a new generation of Kingdom-minded leaders.
My prayer is that our studio will become more than a place where podcasts and other media are produced. I pray it will be a place where generations learn from one another, where emerging gifts are nurtured, where meaningful conversations take place, and where the stories we share help people encounter Jesus and recognize His activity in their own lives.
Perhaps there is an invitation in this for each of us.
Who has the Father been bringing into your life lately? Are there relationships He may be inviting you to nurture, people He is asking you to encourage, or opportunities to come alongside someone whose gifts and calling are different from your own?
I wonder what might happen in our churches, businesses, neighbourhoods and communities if we became increasingly intentional about making room for one another, listening to the Holy Spirit and recognizing that God often accomplishes His purposes through people walking together in love.
As I reflect on these recent weeks, I am reminded once again that the Kingdom of God is wonderfully relational. The Father is always at work, drawing people together, awakening gifts and inviting us to participate in something far greater than ourselves.
I am deeply grateful for these new relationships and excited to see how the Holy Spirit continues to lead us as we build together.
And to those who have been praying for, encouraging and supporting Christ For Your City, thank you. Your partnership is part of this story too, and we are grateful to be sharing the journey with you.
May we continue to have eyes to see the people God places before us, hearts that are open to His leading, and a willingness to make room for the beautiful things He desires to accomplish through His family.
Together, we have so much more to give.