Tiffany had seen crime impact her small hometown in many ways. By 2023, however, the town recorded a 31 percent drop in homicides and a 37 percent drop in crime overall. What happened? A partnership. Working together, the city’s Public Safety Enforcement Group—including the police, local schools, and the church—combined efforts to turn the tide for all citizens.
“We say it’s a marriage,” Tiffany stated, with all members of the city partnership joining in to help citizens. The school district’s Wraparound Wellness Centre, which she leads, involves school social workers, nurses and staff to support kids impacted by crime or accidents. Other agencies share their strengths. Police commit to talk more with people on the street—and listen.
The psalmist David wrote, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1). “Harmony,” David added, “is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon” (v. 3 NLT). David was referring to people who share a unifying faith in God. Rather than divided by doctrines or politics, we are one. The concept may feel elusive, yet it blesses all. It’s a beautiful goal for believers to show concern for one another—especially in our neighbourhoods desperately in need of the love of Jesus.
By Patricia Raybon
REFLECT & PRAY
Where do you see a lack of unity? How might God be prompting you to promote unity by living out your faith?
Father, please help me by the power of Your Spirit to work for unity in my community.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1). Unity is a theme found throughout the Bible. In Jesus’ prayer to His Father, He asked that all believers in Christ “be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity” (John 17:22-23). He knew believers would require God’s help to keep them unified in the face of quarrels, controversy, and persecution, and their witness of Him would be hampered by disunity. The apostle Paul called believers to “stand firm in the Lord” ( Philippians 4:1). This is best accomplished when the church is unified. It requires “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience,” forgiveness, and above all “love, which binds [us] all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:12-14). Unity is embodied when individuals in the church use their spiritual gifts and abilities to benefit the whole (1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4).
Alyson Kieda
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