A Message from President Rockey

President Rockey's December 2025 Message

Shared Identity and Purpose

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,

who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

As I sit to write this final Eblast of a four-part series built around the Florida Georgia District’s Vivid Description (Vision) and Four Ministry Targets, the words of Psalm 133, keep running through my mind. How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

This month we consider our Fourth Ministry Target; Foster a Sense of Shared District Identity and Purpose. My fellow servants of Christ, unity in purpose is the foundation of effective teamwork. When we unite under God’s direction, we align to His will. It is easy to become distracted by personal or congregational ambitions or different goals, but true unity comes when we put aside our own plans or differences and focus on God’s mission. Yes, the Lord calls us to live together in harmony.

Unity is not about agreeing on everything or doing things the same way but about agreeing on one key thing: following Christ’s command, to love our neighbors and make disciples! When we work together toward a single purpose, we are not only more likely to accomplish that shared purpose, but it also creates a stronger identify and community of believers.

In the early church, “All the believers were together and had everything in common” (Acts 2ff), which made them incredibly effective in spreading the Gospel. I love how Acts 2, ends, “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved!” You see, their unity was not just in action, but in their vision of God’s Kingdom. As we work together, we must remember that as those “compelled by Christ’s love,” our purpose is to serve the Lord, love one another and live out our shared purpose of disciple-making!

Unity within the church is essential for fulfilling our mission and “bear fruit that will last.” Just as a soccer team grows from disorganized play to coordinated teamwork focused on a common goal, the church (and the FLGA) must grow in unity by aligning our members around a shared purpose.

Having the same mind of Christ and a unified purpose is crucial for the church’s health and effectiveness. Members are called to uphold this unity through mutual care, support, a commitment to standing upon the Word and Sacrament, and recognizing that maintaining harmony is the responsibility of us all. Distractions such as quarrels over preferences, or secondary issues threaten this unity and must be resisted, just as a soccer team must avoid losing focus due to distractions on the field.

Our primary focus should be advancing the Gospel and seeing new believers added to God’s Kingdom. Practical steps toward unity include engaging in honest conversations, prayer, taking being part of the Body of Christ seriously, and overlooking personal preferences to foster a community that visibly reflects Christ’s love and purpose. When the church functions as a well-coordinated team, it effectively fulfills its mission and demonstrates the power of unity in Christ.

A fellow servant of Christ, rejoicing in our shared purpose,

James