There is an African proverb that says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” This saying implies that if I want to advance beyond my reach, I will only accomplish that goal when I do it with another person.
Collaboration is both essential and relevant to the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the 21st century. We need each other. No man or woman is an island; we were created by God to be social, interactive and collaborative beings.
In order for the mission of the church (which is the body of Christ) to be effective and successful, every member must be engaged. It requires the old, the young and in between to engage. It requires the white, black, brown, red and yellow to engage. Therefore, collaboration is the process and the mechanism by which the mission of the church will be effective and successful. Collaboration between members in the church, between church and church. Collaboration between church and conference, between conference and union. Collaboration between union and division, between division and the General Conference—all are vitally important because they reflect the nature of the triune God and how He designed His body to function.
Unity and diversity
The theology of collaboration in the mission of the church rests on two essential themes: unity and diversity. The theme of unity is very prevalent in the Scriptures—from the oneness of the Trinity, to the fellowship of the members of the church, to the persistent petitions to ‘love one another.’
The theme of diversity is likewise present in the Scriptures through various images of the roles, gifts and functions in ministry. The Scriptures say that one plants while another waters and one sows while another reaps, so that both the sower and the reaper may be glad together.
“It appears that in both the Old and New Testament the elders of the church felt the necessity of close collaboration and counsel in matters pertaining to the work of God, for we find them having councils from time to time. There was a meeting of the elders in the days of Samuel (1 Sam. 8:4); the same thing was true in the days of David, for we find him taking counsel with the leaders with reference to plans for God’s work (1 Chron. 13:1). The Bible, the Spirit of Prophecy, and the Church, 170
Here are the four reasons why collaboration is essential and relevant to the mission of the Adventist Church.
- Collaboration encourages the church to love and do-good works as we near the return of Christ. “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near” (Heb. 10:24-25 NLT).
- Collaboration equips the church for growth and edification. “From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love” (Eph. 4:16 ESV).
- Collaboration expresses harmony within the church to speak with one voice to God’s glory. “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 15:5-6 ESV).
- Collaboration extracts the impact of love in the Church indicating to everyone that we are Christ’s disciples. “So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples” (John 13:34-35 NLT).
Imagine the impact in our society today if churches and members would collaborate together to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with their neighbors and friends.The number of souls that could be reached and saved for the kingdom of God would be astounding. Remember, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
