One of the most freeing truths of the Christian life is that Jesus never asks us to impress him. His invitation is not to perform or prove ourselves, but simply: “Follow me.” Discipleship begins not with mastery but with belonging – learning to live in communion with Christ and with one another.
In After Whiteness, Willie Jennings describes how our wider culture, including the church, often prizes the ideal of the self-sufficient individual: competent, controlled, and always capable. Many of us have felt the pressure to lead in that way. Yet Jennings offers a necessary reminder: the Christian life is not built on self-sufficiency. It is shaped by belonging.
Belonging is not passive or sentimental. It is the slow, courageous work of showing up honestly with our gifts and our needs. It grows when we listen to one another, honor each other’s stories, and practice grace in real relationships. It forms when we share meals, pray together, ask for help, and learn to see Christ at work in people who are different from us. These simple, ordinary practices are where the Spirit forms a people – not scattered individuals, but one body.
In this season of our life together as the Fairway District, I find myself returning to the truth that leadership grounded in Christ is not about showcasing competence. It is about cultivating community. Ministry deepens when trust grows. Churches become healthy when people feel known and valued. The witness of Christ becomes visible when we choose connection over isolation and compassion over self-protection.
Belonging is central to the gospel. It tells the world that in Christ, no one stands alone. It reminds us that our faith is not something we carry by ourselves but something we share and discover together. This is why belonging matters so deeply – not because it feels good, but because it reflects the character of the God who gathers, reconciles, and restores.
My prayer is that our congregations will become places where belonging is practiced with intention and joy. Where people who are weary from performance culture can rest. Where newcomers sense genuine hospitality. Where long-time members rediscover the gift of community. And where all of us hear Christ’s quiet assurance: You are welcome. You are loved. You belong.
“So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” (Romans 12:5). May this truth shape our life together.
