We live in a place where ethnic division runs deep. The history of terrible violence between two particular ethnic groups has led to continued mistrust over generations. The majority group continues to deny the significance of the history, and the minority group often feels insecure about their sense of identity and acceptance in the broader culture.

How does the Gospel speak into a situation like this? In Ephesians 2 we have an example of two groups that would normally be opposed to each other but are united by the Gospel. Is this kind of unity achievable today? In our community we have seen first-hand the Gospel working this redemptive effect on people’s hearts and behavior. Our members come from both ethnic groups, worshipping together every week and living life together as the body of Christ. A neighbor from the minority group who visited our community was shocked that such unity was possible- she had never seen anything like it in her life! One community member from the minority group recently told us that now that she is a believer, she can actually envision marrying someone from the other group. This would have been inconceivable to her before she started following Christ. A young man from the majority group marveled at the fact that he is part of a tight-knit home group with older women from the minority group. The power of Christ’s love is at work in our community, and it is glorious to behold.

One of the most striking aspects of this unity is how natural it is. The friendships and day-to-day community life we see is a natural outgrowth of our focus on Jesus. We have fixed our eyes on Him as the author and perfector of our faith rather than trying to address years of ethnic discord on our own. The Holy Spirit is moving in our community, bringing beauty from ashes. What a joy to serve Him and to witness His light shining in the darkness!