As Women of the Way, we seek unity in the Body of Christ as we focus on Who unites us rather than what divides us.
We are One Body with many parts. We are One Church with many voices.
Join me in welcoming Misty Bevill, founder of SHINE, as she shares her voice on unity!
When God Changed My Ministry
In my years of leading women’s ministry, I have learned many valuable lessons. For years I had taught women’s bible studies and youth studies to bible reading, Jesus loving, prayer warriors. But about 4 years ago, God called me into a new women’s ministry where my God given abilities to teach and minister would be put to the test. I was being called to step out of my’ little comfort zone’. I would begin ministering to women in need at a local homeless shelter. Many of them have never heard of Jesus, or any of the bible stories that many people know. By my estimate, 90% or more were not only not believers, but they were angry or indifferent of how He was working in their lives. Many blamed Jesus for their current situation. Many of these women had also suffered different types of abuse. Some of them wouldn’t let you physically near them. Some would even turn their chairs around and put their back to you. As Christians, we are called to let ALL we do be done in love, even when the ones you are trying to love don’t want to listen.
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:35
Showing Love to All Souls
God never says that we should only show love to those who are Christians, or only those who love us back. These beautiful souls that I have been ministering to have just as much of a right to Salvation through Jesus as I do. He died on the cross for their sins- as well as mine, and even yours.
“We must have love, not only show love, but have love as a firmly rooted habit. Love is a distinguishing characteristic of being in Christ’s family.”
( Zondervan NIV Matthew Henry Commentary-1992)
Unity Rooted in Love
I haven’t, by God’s grace, ever delt personally with a lot of the issues that many of these women live with in their daily lives. Many suffer with addiction, mental health problems, loneliness, hopelessness and of course homelessness. Teaching these women that through Jesus, we all have UNITY in Him, is such a beautiful journey. He sees all our sins EQUALLY. He never sees someone as less worthy of His love because they are an addict or they have a sketchy past full of mistakes. We ALL are called to fall on our knees with repentance before his throne of grace EQUALLY. No race, gender or any other dividing factors matter. We are all UNITED in our need for forgiveness and grace.
United in God’s Mission
God, having created all nations and races of people, loves every single one of us the same; Even those who don’t know him personally yet. UNITED in God’s mission, we are to
” Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything God has commanded you…”
(Matthew 28:19)
United in Prayer
The scriptures say that “Where two or more are gathered in his name, that he is there among them.”(Matthew 18:20). To break this incredible scripture down even further; When two or more people of any race, any gender, and background of believers come together UNITED in prayer to the one true God- he himself is present there with you. How incredible!
Our God is a God of 100% UNITY. God very easily could have only allowed the Jewish people salvation through him. But, he chose for the message of salvation to also be offered to the Gentiles. This act unified the Jews and Gentiles into the certainty of one day joining Jesus in heaven.
No Division Among You
There is no division of any kind in the character of God our father. Our brother in Christ, Paul the apostle, wrote to the Church of Corinth, “I appeal to you brothers and sisters in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no division among you but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought (1Corinthians 1:10)
The Opposite of Unity
Satan’s goal in our lives and in our ministry is to cause division in any way possible. Division is of course, the opposite of UNITY.
We must not forget that we, as believers, are all called in different ways to join and to edify the one, unified body of Christ. We each have an important role to fulfill until the day of the Lord’s return.
“For just as each one of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
Romans 12:4-5
Hold fast to UNITY in your lives sisters of Christ! The day of the Lord’s return is near.
~Misty
Misty Bevill is a native Texan and has lived in Alabama with her husband and
two children for the past seven years. Misty is the chairperson for SHINE
Womens Ministry in the Huntsville, Alabama area. She also currently serves
on the leadership team for her Womens Ministry at her home church. Misty
enjoys singing in her church choir, teaching women’s Bible studies and
spending time with her family. Misty also has a dog and three cats who
bring her much joy.