Celebrate Diversity

​Greetings from Columbus, Ohio!

I have really been enjoying the National/Global Vineyard Conference. It really has been a picture of heaven with so much diversity in one room worshiping King Jesus, not just in English but also Spanish, German, Dutch, Portuguese, & Swahili! This week has provided me with a healthy reminder as to why I love this tribe called The Vineyard so much. I know it sounds cliché-ish but it really is a beautiful thing when we celebrate diversity rather than just merely tolerate one another's differences. It has been stressed this week that we actually NEED One another & our various differences; from our gifting's to our various theological views to our cultural perspectives...we need to both recognize & create space for these differences to be expressed & celebrated. The last thing in the world I want is to create a church culture at the SPV which encourages people to be, believe, think, & act like me (I'm not sure the world could handle that). So I'm not exactly sure the best way to accomplish this but maybe it begins with a simple encouragement to you all that it's not just OK to be yourself but it is absolutely essential for the health & vitality of our faith community.

Much love to all,
Chris