Inclusivity And Unity

Bible reading: Acts 10:44-46, 11:18

The Holy Spirit is given freely to all who place their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. No human boundary determines who may receive Him. Still, the deep divides in society can cause many to feel too unclean or insignificant to come before a Holy God. The Gospel declares the opposite: in Christ, all are invited, accepted and made worthy to approach Him.

Testimony: A Martyr’s Legacy of Unity

Julio Ruibal grew up in Bolivia, came to Christ dramatically in Los Angeles, and returned home to La Paz where revival broke out so powerfully that he was soon preaching to tens of thousands in stadiums. The secular press called him “the Apostle of the Andes.” Bolivia’s president loaned him his personal jet to reach more cities faster.

But in 1978, Julio and his wife Ruth felt called to Cali, Colombia — one of the most violent cities on earth, controlled by the Cali drug cartel. For seventeen years they planted a church, served the poor, and fought for something the city had never seen: unity among its deeply divided pastors.

In 1995, Julio organised the first ever united all-night prayer vigil in Cali. Over 25,000 people came. When the stadium lost power mid-service, no one panicked. The crowd simply gathered in small groups and began to pray and sing. Afterwards, the mayor declared: “Cali belongs to Jesus Christ!”
On December 13, 1995, Julio was shot dead by cartel assassins as he left a pastors’ meeting. He was 42. At his funeral, 1,500 people gathered. The pastors withdrew together and made a covenant: “Let Julio’s blood be the glue that binds us in the Holy Spirit.” Over 200 signed. Within months, six of the seven top drug lords had been arrested. The city was transformed.

One man laid down his life, and a city was born again.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)

Read more…

Let us pray

Praise God for the salvation of all nations.
Pray that cultural, racial and denominational barriers in your nation be broken in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ask for cross-cultural Gospel breakthroughs: united city prayer, parents praying at schools and youth seeking God together.

Step Out

Intentionally connect with someone from a different denomination or culture this week.