This week we had the privilege of hosting Edwin Fillies, leader of the Burtigny, Switzerland base. While the students of the DTS experienced Edwin’s engaging and challenging teachings all week long, the rest of our students and staff were challenged during our Thursday evening Community Meeting when he shared on the topic of “what is community and why is it important?”

So why does YWAM choose to live in community? It certainly isn’t an easy pursuit. With over twenty nations represented in the staff and students this quarter alone, creating authentic community among all is not an easy feat. But YWAM lives in such a community because it is part of the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

Edwin expanded saying that living in community is in God’s design for four reasons:

We are in community so we can experience healing. There is power when we are together, confessing our sins to one another, and praying for one another, that God heals us. There is something about being in fellowship where the healing of God is poured out. When we are vulnerable and recognize that we need others, He shows up.

We are in community so we can grow together. Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so a person sharpens his friend.” In the midst of diversity, we grow. God doesn’t just want us to tolerate what is different. He wants us to embrace it! Living together in community doesn’t just mean keeping peace through toleration. God says we miss some of the greatest riches when we tolerate rather than embrace others.

He puts us in community to celebrate. When we learn then we are able to celebrate our differences around the Lord’s Table, we can share in each other’s hardships and also celebrate together our triumphs. We’re simply designed to experience fellowship and celebrate relationships.

He puts us in community so we can fulfill a mission. So that, “the recognition of the Lord’s sovereign majesty will fill the earth just as the waters fill up the sea!” (Habakkuk 2:14).

We live in community for one common reason despite culture, background, race, nationality, age, language, and gender. And that is Jesus. And that is the church. And that is why it will be both challenging and interesting to live in community.

He is what unites us.