Vision in Community
Acts 11
We’re now more than seven months into our Kingdom Expansion journey at All Nations Church. Where at the start of 2025, Pastors Steve and Esther shared their vision about what they felt God desires to do in us individually and as a church family. But as life goes on, I know it’s easy to lose sight of that vision and our part in it. So, let’s take this moment to pause, reflect, and ask: are we still aligned with what God is doing?
To help us reflect, consider the ambiguous image below. At first glance, you might see a monkey in a tree full of motion. But look again. Can you see a lioness’s face subtly formed in the outlines? Or even a gorilla face outline to the right and other hidden figures? It’s an ambiguous image as its meaning depends on where you choose to focus. Alone our focus is limited in what we can perceive, but in community we see better.
The same is true spiritually. In Acts 11, we see the early church being challenged to look again to see God's Kingdom in a way they hadn't before. Peter returns to Jerusalem after his encounter with Cornelius and is criticised for associating with Gentiles. He responds by recounting the vision he received from God; a sheet lowered from heaven with unclean animals, and a voice declaring, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean” (Acts 11:9). This wasn’t just about dietary law it was a divine invitation to see people differently. “The Gospel,” as John Stott once said, “is good news for people who know they are bad.” That now included the Gentiles.
As Peter shares his vision and story, the church's understanding expands. Meanwhile, many believers scattered by persecution begin preaching to Greeks in Antioch based on this new revelation. Barnabas is sent to from Jerusalem to confirm this new move of God and encourages this unexpected growth. Later bringing Paul to help disciple this vibrant, multicultural church where believers were first called “Christians.” By the end of the chapter, the church in Antioch is not only thriving spiritually but also sending resources to others in need.
This is Kingdom Expansion in action; diverse communities, unexpected growth, Spirit-led generosity, and Gospel transformation. At All Nations, we’re seeing similar momentum through our Reach mission initiative locally and globally. Many of you are actively serving, giving, discipling, and loving communities in Jesus’ name. I believe like Antioch; we’re becoming a church marked by grace and mission.
To those already engaged with what is happening in our church family, thank you. You are part of God’s unfolding story. To those yet to step in or who’ve lost focus, this is your moment to look again. What might God be doing around you that you’ve missed?
As A.W. Tozer once wrote, “The man who would truly know God must give time to Him.”
As we come to the latter half of 2025 let’s take time to realign:
With focus, through prayer and Scripture.
In community where strength and direction come.
With discipline, making space to listen and obey God.
By Rudo Chirata