Unity
Alan Cleveland, Executive Director of Church Strengthening
When Unity Feels Out of Reach
Many, many years ago I walked into a board meeting already frustrated. Tension sat in the room long before anyone spoke. People around the table came from different backgrounds and experiences, and at that moment, different agendas. We couldn’t even agree on the challenges in front of us. As I prayed for patience and wisdom, I wondered, “How could we possibly lead a church when we couldn’t even agree on what needed leading?”
Why Jesus Prayed for Unity
When you think about all the things Jesus could have prayed for in those final hours before the cross, His focus in John 17 is striking. He didn't pray for easy circumstances for His followers. He didn't pray that everyone would agree on strategy or see things the same way. Instead, Jesus prayed for unity – and He prayed for it as the visible proof of God's glory at work among His people (John 17:20-23). Why? Because when believers are one in Christ, the watching world sees something they can't explain or manufacture on their own.
The New Testament Reality Check
When people ask me, “Why can’t we be like the New Testament church?” they usually have Acts 2 in mind when believers shared everything and lived in harmony. Though that sentiment is admirable, that moment in church history was brief. A quick look at the rest of the New Testament tells another story. Corinth was divided. Galatia struggled with false teaching. Even the joyful church in Philippi had Euodia and Syntyche who didn’t get along, so Paul urged them to reconcile (Philippians 4:2-3). Unity has always been challenging and required intentional effort.
A Counter-Cultural Witness
We live in a culture that looks for differences and divides over them, real or imagined. Jesus’ words challenge us: “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). Christian unity is not about warm feelings or complete, uniform agreement. It is a shared commitment to Jesus Christ, His Gospel, and His mission to seek and save the lost.
Looking Ahead Together
In 2026, Converge Great Lakes is emphasizing Gospel-centered unity. We want to help churches move from good intentions to shared direction. Moving from good intentions to shared direction requires practical tools that help teams work through differences constructively. Here are two powerful ways we can help promote unity.
Auxano helps leadership teams gain clarity about vision and direction.
Working Genius helps teams understand how God has uniquely wired each person to contribute.
Both tools strengthen trust, reduce friction, and help churches move forward together. For example, when a team discovers through Working Genius that conflict wasn’t about personality but about different problem-solving approaches, breakthroughs happen.
As I think back on that difficult ministry season, I still feel the weight of what we couldn’t agree on. We didn’t need uniformity – but we did need unity. Somehow, by God’s grace, we made it through. Looking back, I see it less as our achievement and more as one small answer to Jesus’ prayer for the church. Unity isn’t about us getting along. It’s about God’s glory being revealed through broken people who refuse to give up on each other.
Where does your church need to take a fresh step toward unity?
If you sense challenges, or if your team could use help getting aligned, reach out to us. Whether you're launching a vision process, resolving staff tension, or preparing for a major transition, we have tools and coaching to help. We would be honored to support you through coaching, clarity tools, and team development resources.
Connect with us at info@convergegreatlakes.org or visit convergegreatlakes.org to take your next step toward unity.