I attended Texas A&M University, which is well known for maintaining traditions to form a strong sense of community among its students (past, present, and future). Before even stepping onto campus, students attend a summer camp learning the history and comradery around these strongly held traditions. For those who have never quite fit in anywhere, the school’s traditions unite them to a place and people in which they finally belong. A connection is formed for the rest of their lives, where a simple flash of their Aggie ring gains recognition from fellow Aggies across generations and continents.

This belonging to a lifelong community reminded me of our bigger and better community of believers. God said it is not good for man to be alone (Genesis 2:18), and we see evidence of this as people connect in all kinds of groups in sports, around hobbies, at schools, for religious practices, and even online. But there is something unique to the community of Christ followers. While it is exclusive in requiring people to believe the one Way, it is the most inclusive community in the world, open to every human being no matter their age, gender, ethnicity, language, social status, or ability.* And because the universal Church is timeless, our community includes saints of old we can read about and future saints we can dream about.

But not only is the Church unique in its inclusion. It is also beautiful in its expression. Jesus said the world would know we are His by our love for one another (John 13:35). With over 50 “one another” commands in the New Testament, we have many ways to show the world what it is like to be a member and active participant in the community of believers. As we forgive, encourage, carry burdens, and pray, Jesus is magnified and glorified to a watching world.

Global workers understand this well. We leave our “one another” local communities and go to foreign lands. We invite others into the joy of belonging to the universal Church all because it is the most radically unique and beautiful community they’ll ever be a part of.

*Taken from Kyle Worley in Season 2, Episode 6, Confronting Christianity podcast