Did you know that Christianity

is the largest religion in the world today?

I was reading some statistics and thought that some of the other major

faith groups might be larger, but Christianity is the largest, claiming

one billion adherents out of an approximate five billion people.

Wouldn't it be interesting if we had unity to the point that Christians

worldwide could agree on some very basic doctrines and could unite on

issues to change the world? Wouldn't it be interesting to seriously

evangelize to the point that much of the world could know Jesus as the

savior of the world?

I can't speak for the rest of the world, but I do know that here

in Fayette and Coweta counties the pastors of many different denominations

are doing something about this. It may not seem like much to many people,

but we have a very healthy "unity movement."

This group of prayer warriors, made up of pastors and lay people, meets

each week on Tuesdays at 8 a.m. at IHOP in Fayetteville for breakfast.

From this group, a Coweta County group is now organizing.

At this breakfast, we have fellowship and uplift one another in the faith.

Rarely have I heard any "theological differences" discussed.

I have heard, though, pastors and lay people sharing prayer needs and

ministry needs with one another.

If your pastor is not meting with this group, encourage him to attend.

We will all be blessed by that happening.

What has happened to me personally is that now when I pass a Christian

church, regardless of the denomination, I raise my hand to God and ask

that the Holy Spirit will reside there and that the pastor and the congregation

will accept His leading.

Does this sound scary to you to ask the Holy Spirit to reside there? If

not the Holy Spirit, then whose spirit? The Bible says we are the body

of Christ with one faith, one baptism, and one Spirit.

"Uno is the basis for the word "unity." What I love about

our "unity movement" is the fact that it is open to all denominations

and to all races and all genders. I strongly feel we are just beginning

to see what God will do with a people who tear down the walls of separation

and start loving one another.

I was just reading in my Baptist denominational newspaper, the Christian

Index, about Billy Graham's daughter, Ann Graham Lotz. As you may

know she is conducting a crusade here in Atlanta entitled "Just Give

Me Jesus." It will be next weekend, Aug. 25-26, at the Phillips Arena

in Atlanta. If you need any additional information call 678-441-9133.

We have a long way to go with unity, but the benefits are enormous. Many

people look at other Christian churches not as brothers and sisters in

Christ but as competition. They are not happy to see another church come

into the county. It's like it is a "members only" club.

If you don't believe it is this way then ask yourself, "How

do I feel when I drive by another church?" Do you say a silent prayer

to God thanking Him for that church and asking Him to save the lost, or

do you say, "Who do they think they are, building a church there?"

Practice love and unity. Do you remember the "youth group" song

we used to sing; "We are one in the spirit, we are one in the Lord.

One day our unity will be restored and they will know we are Christians

they will know we are Christians by our love!"

The Rev. Dr. Knox Herndon is the pastor of His House Community Church

(SBC) and a substitute school teacher in the Fayette County School System,

and a former Army chaplain. The church is currently meeting in the American

Legion Log Cabin across from the fountain on the Square in Fayetteville,

but not for long. It will move to a new location near Senoia in August.

Prayer line 770-719-2365; e-mail [email protected]. )