District council season is one of the highlights of my year. I have heard countless encouraging reports from district and network gatherings, marked by meaningful fellowship and spiritual encouragement.

The richness of our Fellowship strengthens and refreshes us for the journey ahead. District council season reminds me that unity positions us for revival, strengthens us for mission, and allows us to accomplish far more together than we ever could alone.

Unity and Revival

We are praying for another Great Awakening in our nation — a fresh move of God that brings many souls into His Kingdom. The Assemblies of God World Prayer Center is facilitating a nationwide prayer movement, mobilizing churches across the nation to pray on July Fourth for a fresh outpouring. Scripture suggests that unity is often a catalyst for revival.

Luke wrote, “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place” (Acts 2:1). What follows is the account of a Spirit-empowered movement that transformed lives and turned the world upside down.

What does it mean that they were “all together”? In his four-volume commentary on Acts, Craig Keener suggests that the unity expressed here continues the thought from Acts 1:14, where the disciples were in one accord and joined together constantly for prayer. It then “foreshadows and prepares for the fuller ideals of community realized after the Spirit’s outpouring” described in Acts 2:41–47.

The Early Church walked in remarkable unity around the mission Jesus had given them to make disciples of all nations. Unity among believers positions us to receive all that God desires to do through His Spirit. In turn, the work of the Spirit deepens and strengthens our unity.

The psalmist paints a powerful picture of the connection between unity and anointing when he writes, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe” (Psalm 133:1–2).

Just as the Early Church walked in unity and received power through the outpouring of the Spirit, we too must pursue unity and position ourselves for what God desires to do in our generation.

Unity of Purpose

Throughout church history, believers have recognized the powerful connection between unity, Spirit-empowerment, and missional effectiveness.

Throughout church history, believers have recognized the powerful connection between unity, Spirit-empowerment, and missional effectiveness.

The founders of the Assemblies of God understood this principle well. Rather than building a hierarchical structure, they united around shared doctrine and a common passion to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. Their goal was not unity for its own sake, but unity in pursuit of a world reached for Jesus.

During the second General Council in November 1914, attendees renewed their commitment to labor together in fulfilling the mission. A resolution prevailed that read, “We commit ourselves and the Movement to Him for the greatest evangelism that the world has ever seen. We pledge our hearty cooperation, prayers, and help to this end.”

Their commitment to unity was not driven by organizational convenience but by deep missional conviction. They believed that partnering together would produce a greater harvest than any could accomplish alone.

From the beginning, we have linked arms around the mission of proclaiming this Pentecostal witness at home and around the world in fulfillment of the Great Commission. Together, we are stronger, more effective, and better equipped to fulfill our mission.

An Example from Nature

God’s design for unity and working together is woven into creation itself. One of the clearest examples can be seen in the annual migration of birds.

Each year, birds travel thousands of miles to reach their breeding grounds. Why undertake such an arduous journey? They migrate to fulfill God’s design to reproduce and multiply. In fact, they do it in obedience to God. Genesis 1:22 says, “God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.’”

Similarly, God has given humans a mandate to multiply and fill the earth. But He also commissioned us to reproduce spiritually — to make disciples of all nations. We can learn a thing or two from how birds migrate.

Most migratory birds travel in flocks, often flying in the V-formation. Scientists estimate that flying together in this formation increases energy efficiency by 20–30%. Each bird receives aerodynamic lift from the bird flying ahead of it. Trackers placed on birds have demonstrated the flocks that flap their wings in unison are more effective in their migration journey.

The application to disciple-making is unmistakable. God has designed us to labor together in reaping the spiritual harvest. We can either help lift others toward greater effectiveness or become a hindrance to the mission.

Traveling together extends the benefits beyond energy conservation. As a group, birds are better able to detect and defend against predators. While our battle is not against flesh and blood, we do face a very real spiritual adversary. Working together with others provides greater protection.

Birds traveling together share resources and increase the likelihood of reaching their destination. Even species that spend much of the year alone join others for the migration because they are stronger together.

God has not designed us to minister alone. He has created us to serve together in unity. Just as birds migrate together to fulfill their God-given purpose, the Church must link arms in unity if we hope to see a spiritual awakening in our generation.

Practical Guidance

If birds instinctively understand the value of traveling together, how much more should we, as followers of Christ, intentionally pursue unity? Scripture provides practical guidance for strengthening the bonds that unite us.

1. Make every effort. Scientists tell us that the natural tendency of the universe is to progress from order to disorder. Anyone who has raised young kids and tried to keep your house clean, knows this principle firsthand. Restoring order requires intentional effort.

Unity must be pursued with the same intentionality. Paul urged the Ephesians to live a life worthy of the calling they have received, and then in the same passage, he said, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3; cf. verses 1–6).

Make every effort — because unity rarely happens by accident.

2. Practice unity and diversity. Unity does not mean uniformity. Paul tells us there is one Body and one Spirit, “but to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it” (Ephesians 4:7). God, in His wisdom, has given us all different gifts.

When we are secure in God’s design for our lives, we can celebrate the gifts of others without comparison, insecurity, or jealousy.

Returning to our illustration from nature, species of birds are created to thrive in different environments. A shorebird has a long beak so it can dig into the mud for critters to eat. A seabird has webbed feet to swim underwater, and a hawk has large wings to soar high in the sky, looking for prey below. Similarly, God has uniquely gifted each of us for different assignments and opportunities.

When we are secure in God’s design for our lives, we can celebrate the gifts of others without comparison, insecurity, or jealousy.

3. Bring back graciousness. Proverbs 16:24 says, “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Scripture calls us to season our conversations with gracious and life-giving words. In Ephesians 4:2, Paul instructs believers how to deal with each other: “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

Graciousness has become increasingly rare in our culture, and nowhere is this more evident than in political discourse. In my lifetime, political discourse has become marked by hostility, suspicion, and personal attacks. Of course, there has always been vigorous debate on issues, as there should be. 

The Church must take its cues from Scripture rather than from the culture around us. This is especially true on social media, where words travel quickly and remain visible long after they are posted. We undermine our gospel witness when we publicly attack, belittle, or malign one another. Jesus said that people would know we are His disciples by our love for each other (John 13:35).

One of the simplest expressions of graciousness is choosing to give others the benefit of the doubt regarding their intentions. It is easy to assume the worst before taking the time to understand someone’s heart, motive, or perspective.

4. Be a connector. Some of my greatest blessings in ministry have been the relationships I have built with fellow ministers. When I first attended a district council in Alaska during 1998, I barely knew anyone. I felt like I didn’t belong.

Thankfully, my pastor intentionally introduced me to others and helped me build meaningful relationships. Those relationships have encouraged, strengthened, and sustained me throughout my ministry.

It is easy to forget what it feels like to be a newcomer in the room. Let’s intentionally look for those on the margins and help them become connected to the life of our Fellowship.

A Visible Expression of Unity

As I reflect on another district council season, I am reminded that our Fellowship is far more than a series of annual gatherings. It is a visible expression of the unity Jesus prayed for, the unity that characterized the Early Church, and the unity our founders embraced in pursuit of the Great Commission.

We pursue unity because Jesus commands it. We pursue unity because it strengthens our witness before a watching world. We pursue unity because we are more effective together than we could ever be alone. And we pursue unity because we long to see another Great Awakening in our nation.

May we continue linking arms around the mission our Lord has entrusted to us, making every effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit and positioning ourselves for the great work God desires to accomplish in our generation.

This article appears in the Summer 2026 issue of Called to Serve, the Assemblies of God’s ministers’ letter.