Where Unity Begins
Where Travelers Gather Before the Journey Continues
A Home Shaped by Shared Devotion
As I reference elsewhere, unity wasn’t something I learned from a pulpit or a theological debate. I learned it at home/ My father was Catholic. My mother was Protestant. They worshiped differently, prayed differently, and held different convictions, but they shared a deep devotion to Jesus. As a child, I didn’t have words for “unity,” but I saw it in action. I saw two people who loved Christ more than their traditions, respected each other’s convictions without trying to change them, and believed that belonging to Jesus mattered more than fitting into a category.
Their shared devotion shaped me. It taught me that unity doesn’t start with agreement. It starts with a shared center, a common allegiance to Christ that is stronger than our differences.
That’s the heart of Basecamp.
The Trail Markers of Unity
The Together pillar explored why unity matters. Basecamp explores how unity begins.
Scripture gives us three foundational passages, three trail markers, that show how unity is formed, practiced, and sustained. These will guide a series of three blog posts.
1) John 17: Unity Begins with Jesus’ Prayer - coming soon
The night before His crucifixion, Jesus prayed that His followers would be one. Unity begins not with our effort, but with His desire.
2) Ephesians 4: Unity Is Practiced Through Humility and Love - coming soon
Paul shows us what makes unity possible: humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another in love.
3) Colossians 3: Unity Is Sustained by Christlike Character - coming soon
Paul also states that unity grows when we “clothe ourselves” with compassion, kindness, forgiveness, and peace. These are the character traits of Christ Himself.
These passages form the backbone of the unity series. They are the trail markers that guide us through Basecamp.
Unity Begins With Shared Devotion
Every journey has a gathering point. Hikers meet at basecamp not because they have identical gear or identical backgrounds, but because they share the same destination.
Christian unity works the same way.
We don’t gather because we agree on everything, but because we belong to the same Christ.
Our unity begins with shared devotion. This shared allegiance to Jesus is deeper than our traditions, stronger than our disagreements, and more lasting than our preferences.
This is the foundation of Basecamp.
Unity is formed, not forced. It grows when believers center their lives on Jesus: His prayer, His posture, and His character.
A Simple Practice of Shared Devotion
Think of one believer you know from a different tradition or background, someone whose worship style, church culture, or theological emphasis is different from yours.
Hold their name in your mind and pray:
“Lord, bless them. Strengthen them. Thank You for the part of Your heart they reveal. Make us one in You.”
That’s it. Unity can begin with a simple, short prayer. A single act of blessing or a single moment of remembering that we belong to one another because we belong to Him.
Welcome to Basecamp. The fire is lit. The circle is open. The journey continues.
In His fields, Jon
