Happy New Year! Reviewing 2023 and Anticipating 2024
Today we’d like to take just a moment and reflect on this past year and share some exciting steps for what is to come for 2024.
Better Together launched in February of 2023 with a vision to call congregations and classes throughout the Christian Reformed Church to unity across disagreements for the sake of mission.
Over the last 10 months here are just a few of the highlights:
Highlight #1: God and his faithfulness!
As we’ve engaged in this hard work of trying to span divides God has been faithful. Through this work the Holy Spirit has provided us a challenging way to strive for unity even in a broken and divisive context. Through it all God’s faithfulness continues and so we are thankful.
Highlight #2: You!
We get deep into a list without acknowledging you. Our subscriber base of nearly 1,000 individuals who care dearly about the unity of the church and are passionate about a kingdom mission that is bigger than any one divide.
Highlight #3: Increasing Engagement!
We are thrilled that this effort, which began as a small seed of hope has been able to engage so many with a call that is different than the divisive rhetoric that surrounds us. Over the last 10 months we’ve engaged with thousands. Here are just a couple of key stats:
Engagement at www.Thirdway.Church - Nearly 20,000 unique visitors
Including 35 posts on The Better Together Blog
Engagement via Social Media Platforms:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/BetterTogetherAThirdWay/
Featuring 127 posts which reached 160,000+
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BetterTogetherAThirdWay
Featuring 8 videos with 2,500+ views
Engagement through media outlets:
As we approach 2024, we are also excited about how the Holy Spirit will lead us forward.
Here are a couple of exciting efforts we are looking forward to:
Anticipation #1: Continued Partnership in Prayer
We invite you to join us for our monthly prayer gatherings via Zoom. Together a faithful group seeks the Holy Spirit’s leading and encouragement as we seek unity together. We are thankful to the Better Together Prayer Team for their faithfulness in prayer!
Anticipation #2: Growing Unity and Resisting Division
We will continue to echo the call for congregations and classes across the Christian Reformed Church to allow space for disagreement so as to preserve unity and expand mission.
One of the ways we’re doing this right now is by encouraging churches to consider adopting a communication to Synod 2024 that shares two key points. It (1) objects to requiring all leaders in local churches to agree with the decisions of Synod 2022 & 2023 in regards to same-sex marriage and it (2) protests any changes to the gravamina process in church order that outlines how one can express a confessional difficulty.
Currently we are thankful to report that we’ve heard that this kind of communication is being considered in churches across at least 12 of the denominations 49 classes. If you’d like to learn more about how you or your congregation can communicate these concerns, see this link:
https://www.thirdway.church/blog/churches-in-protest-a-communication-to-synod-2024
Anticipation #4: Equipping Pastors, Leaders, and Congregations to Build Unity and Partner in Mission
We will continue to publish resources and provide opportunities for equipping by way of our blog, email, and social media communications. We’re looking forward to helping resource those doing this difficult Kingdom work.
Anticipation #3: A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT COMING SOON!!!
We’d love to share more - be on the look out for an exciting announcement from Better Together in the next couple of weeks. We will be thrilled to share how God is blessing this effort. More to come!
Finally, again, thank you for your partnership, for your prayers, and for your passion for unity in the church of Christ for the sake of his kingdom mission.
From all of us here at Better Together, may you have a very Happy New Year!
