About two decades ago, my family and I moved to Central Louisiana. Our goal was to take a job here temporarily and eventually relocate to the big city of Baton Rouge where I went to school. But to my surprise, my whole family fell in love with Central Louisiana and we’ve been here since then. We made Central Louisiana our home because the citizens are good, the crime rate is low, the school system is good, the economy is promising, the food is good, the atmosphere is great for raising kids, and the area is centrally located in the state. To us, Central Louisiana is naturally positioned to be blessed by God. However, most of what God will do in any community is often tied to the level of the unity in that community. So, today, I call for more unity in Central Louisiana.

What is unity? It is oneness of purpose or commonality of goal. According to Psalms 133:1-3, the unity of a community may well precede God’s blessing or God’s oil on that community. Therefore, we must all be striving for unity in Central Louisiana in order for it to become what it is destined to be. Unity is not uniformity. For example, my wife and I are different and quite unique in many aspects but we are both heading in the same direction and working towards the fulfillment of a common goal. So, being different does not mean that something is wrong. In fact, our diversity is actually a blessing and not a curse. We don’t have to agree on everything. You can have your views, I can have mine, and we can still breathe the same air. We just need to learn to love each other, respect each other, and celebrate our positive differences. We must be careful that we don’t lose civility in our conversations and our working together lest we become like those who have lost the ability to disagree and still get along. The pursuit of unity doesn’t mean that we cannot be unique and different. A person who is unwilling or reluctant to embrace our community diversity is simply an individual dealing with personal insecurities.

Just think about it for a minute. Can you imagine what will happen to our community if each family, church, city government, parish government, state government, and even congress is more unified? Can you imagine how productive each company in our community will be if there is unity in the company? Can you imagine what will happen if the black community are united? Can you imagine if all the races will work together in unity? What a wonderful world this will be.

1 John 5:7. says “for there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” I believe that the verse is a reflection of the spirit of unity between the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. The Bible is saying in no uncertain term that the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost are united. No wonder why Jesus prayed for his disciples that God will make them one as he and the Father are one John 17:22. Likewise, in Genesis 11:6 during the construction of the tower of Babel, God himself stated that there is nothing impossible to humanity if they are united.
Regrettably, there are too many people walking around angry and mad in disunity. A times, I wonder what on earth are they mad about? Some will say that somebody made them upset a long time ago. But, what does that have to do with today? I think that each of us just needs to get over our past anger, hurt, fear, pain or whatever; and rise above it to achieve true community unity.

I love the fact that we have all kinds of people in Central Louisiana from different cultures, background, viewpoints, religion, denomination, race, sex, color, national origin, etc. Our diversity is actually a gift from God. Despite our uniqueness and/or difference, we can capture a common goal. Frankly, I long for that day when all of God’s children will dwell together in true unity as a community. With God all things are possible. Luke 1:37.

If we are going to have huge success that we are destined for, we must continually and actively create an atmosphere of unity in our family, church, city, parish, state and our nation. To achieve that kind of goal, we must remove self out of the way and actively seek for what is best for all. Unity means having a sense that what we all need together is much bigger than our own individual agenda.

I am not suggesting that one should not take a stand for the truth you believe. There is actually nothing wrong with that. Neither am I saying that the truth doesn’t matter, so let’s just love each other. No, taking a stand for the truth that you believe doesn’t necessary make you divisive. We can be one and yet be free to have varieties of opinion. But when the chips are down, we ought to be together. When the need arises, we ought to be on the same page as a community.

The best way for any family to move forward is through unity. No marriage can truly survive without unity. One spouse cannot be pulling and the other one pushing against it. Regrettably, too many married couples are just tolerating each other instead of working together as a team. As a result, the society has to pay the price for the consequences of family dysfunction and breakdown. No wonder why Amos 4:4 says “how can two work together unless they agree?”

Likewise, one of the best ways for any church to grow is to constantly promote unity within its congregation. The early Christians enjoyed an incredible church growth because they were in one accord, with one mind and in one place. Acts 2:1 I believe with all my heart that the same anointing is available to every church in our community today. Any church that will dare embrace and promote the spirit of unity in their congregation will experience a true revival and enjoy an incredible church growth. Regrettably, I have seen some churches struggle needlessly because of lack of unity. The most segregated hours of the week today is still on Sunday morning. It is because we have allowed flesh to run our churches instead of the Holy Spirit. Even with our doctrinal differences, we can still find a common goal to enhance our beloved community.

Today, like Apostle Paul in Philippians 2:2-4, I pray that our community will continue to be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. That we will let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. That each of us will look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Furthermore, I pray for more unity in our life, family, church, business, city, parish, state and our nation In Jesus Name.