We had the wonderful privilege to gather together with all of Israel’s Baptist churches last week during Israel’s Independence Day, allowing everyone to take a day off from their busy schedules to enjoy each other’s company. It was a day of building relationships, worshipping Jesus together, and spending time in prayer for the body of believers in Israel and for the nation itself.

I was asked to share a few words with the gathering, and so I spoke from John 17 in which Jesus taught the disciples on the importance of unity. Jesus asked them three important questions to align their thoughts and actions towards unity, keeping them from evil and making them holy. These three aspects depend on the workings of the body of Christ and the different body parts working together.

Jesus is the head of the body, leading and delivering instructions to the rest of the body, but we as His children need to obey, and realize the deep need we have for each other. Some parts of the body might remain hidden and less visible than others, but that doesn’t mean they are of less value or meaning in God’s eyes.

Unity in Christ is so important, and more so these days than ever before. HomeJTK’s vision and purpose are to work together with the body of Christ in Israel and abroad and to foster reconciliation in Israel among Jews and Arabs while building strong bridges of peace and cooperation.