{"id":635894,"date":"2025-02-07T02:24:13","date_gmt":"2025-02-06T15:24:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/?p=635894"},"modified":"2025-02-07T02:24:13","modified_gmt":"2025-02-06T15:24:13","slug":"reflecting-gods-heart-with-lucinda-dooley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/it\/blog\/2025\/02\/reflecting-gods-heart-with-lucinda-dooley\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflecting God\u2019s Heart with Lucinda Dooley"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ci spiace, ma questo articolo \u00e8 disponibile soltanto in Inglese Americano<\/a>.<\/p>

The vision of our church to be a healthy church changing lives through Christ resonates deeply within my heart. It is both complex and beautiful. Among the many aspects of a healthy church, our relationships with one another stand as a vital pillar. Guided by the Bible, we see a clear path forward\u2014one that begins with the second greatest commandment: to love our neighbor as ourselves.<\/p>\n

As we step into a new year, it is the perfect time to pause and reflect on what this means. For our global church that spreads across 28 countries, this vision carries an added depth and wonder. When I think about it, the image of Revelation 7:9 comes to mind: \u201cevery tongue, tribe, and nation\u201d in unity worshipping before the throne. Achieving this requires a deep commitment to stewarding unity and fostering belonging, both within our church and beyond. To explore this further, I sat down with our Global Senior Pastor, Lucinda Dooley, whose passion and leadership in this area are both inspiring and challenging. She offered invaluable insight into how we can cast a vision for 2025 rooted in unity and belonging.<\/p>\n

God\u2019s Heart for Unity and Belonging<\/strong>
\nWhen asked to capture her heart for unity and belonging, Lucinda immediately shifted the focus back to God: \u201cI think it would not be my heart\u2014it\u2019s God\u2019s heart. And if it isn\u2019t our heart, we should be asking why. God sent His Son for the whole world. If it\u2019s God\u2019s heart for the world, it should be ours. God\u2019s heart is for reconciliation, so we should be working toward reconciliation with Him and one another. Equality is God\u2019s heart\u2014we are all one in Him.\u201d<\/p>\n

This foundational perspective helps us shape the way we approach unity and belonging. Lucinda reminded me that this work is not about our efforts, expertise, or research\u2014though these are important\u2014but about reflecting God\u2019s heart and aligning our hearts with His. It is about discipleship more than anything else. It is about all of us coming together in humility, wanting to mature with our stewardship of the foundational truth that every one matters to God.<\/p>\n

Lessons from Lucinda\u2019s Journey<\/strong>
\nI asked Lucinda about some of her early-on sparks for unity and belonging. She shared about her early ministry in South Africa:
\n\u201cWhen we moved to South Africa, we had an opportunity to build church as young, passionate, and raw leaders. We wanted to create a church where every person, from every background, could feel like they belonged. From the minute we landed, we made it a priority to lean into unity and belonging. It was my first time intentionally thinking about how to build a church where everyone feels at home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lucinda also reflected on her personal experiences growing up:
\n\u201cMoving from Northern Ireland as a young girl, I remember people saying mean things about my accent. It impacted me and it made me realize I never wanted to do that to anyone else. Later, when I was living in Australia and as the country became more culturally diverse, I saw firsthand how unity and belonging was needed and could impact an entire nation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lucinda had never shared these stories with me\u2014it revealing to me God\u2019s direct equipping, for her to years later step into the roles her and Phil Dooley have now been entrusted with. These early experiences shaped Lucinda\u2019s deep commitment to creating spaces where everyone feels at home, both in the local church and on a global scale.<\/p>\n

Jesus\u2019 Prayer for Unity<\/strong>
\nWhen I asked Lucinda how John 17:20-23 resonates with her as a leader, she described the profound significance of Jesus\u2019 prayer:
\n\u201cThat scripture resonates a lot with me. It\u2019s one of a couple recorded prayers of Jesus, and if He were in the room praying, wouldn\u2019t you lean in to hear what He\u2019s saying? He prayed for perfect unity among us, that we would be one just as He and the Father are one. It\u2019s a different kind of unity than the world\u2014it\u2019s a divine unity where each person seeks to glorify the other, just as Jesus glorifies the Father and the Spirit glorifies the Son. This kind of unity is what God wants for us, and it\u2019s something we must choose every single day\u2014forgiveness and grace are key.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lucinda\u2019s perspective reframes unity not as a task or strategy\u2014although important, but as a reflection of God\u2019s divine nature and as a response to Jesus\u2019 prayer.<\/p>\n

Practical Steps Toward Belonging<\/strong>
\nLucinda also shared some practical ways that the Hillsong community can embody the Kingdom value of our church–Welcome Home:
\n\u2022 Be Intentional<\/strong>: \u201cWe must stay very intentional about creating spaces of belonging. It doesn\u2019t happen by accident.\u201d
\n\u2022 Step Out of Comfort Zones<\/strong>: \u201cUnity requires stepping out of your comfort zone. Go beyond a friendly hello\u2014extend an invitation, share a coffee, and truly connect.\u201d
\n\u2022 Create Spaces<\/strong>: \u201cIf we want others to feel at home, we must intentionally create that sense of belonging, even when it\u2019s inconvenient.\u201d<\/p>\n

She emphasized that the work of belonging starts with a heart posture\u2014a genuine love that says, you belong here.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A Vision for the Future<\/strong>
\nI finished by asking Lucinda about her vision for our church\u2014she shared the following:
\n\u201cMy dream is for churches all over the world to reflect the heart of the Father\u2014a place where every person feels at home, where wholeness and life in Jesus are evident. I long for unity and belonging to become so engrained in who we are, that we no longer have to talk about it. It would simply be who we are\u2014a reflection of God\u2019s heart for His people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lucinda\u2019s words paint a powerful picture of a Church rooted in love, reconciliation, and unity\u2014a Church that reflects the vision of John 17:20-23 and Revelation 7:9.<\/p>\n

Anchoring in the Heart of God<\/strong>
\nLucinda\u2019s passion and perspective remind us that the world will know we are Jesus\u2019 disciples by how we love one another (John 13:35). Unity and belonging are not optional\u2014they are essential to the Church\u2019s mission and testimony. As Jesus prayed for us to be one, let us live in such a way that His prayer becomes our reality. May our love for one another reflect His glory and draw others to Him.<\/p>\n

Together, let\u2019s build a Church that reflects the heart of the Father\u2014a place where everyone belongs. By stepping out of our comfort zones, creating spaces for others, and showing genuine love, we reflect God\u2019s heart to the world. As we continue to embrace unity and belonging, we have the sacred privilege of showing others who Jesus is. In 2025 and beyond, let\u2019s steward this vision with intentionality, changing lives through Christ\u2014one relationship at a time.<\/p>\n

Written by:
\nHillsong Global Unity & Belonging
\nMaria Hansen-Quine<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ci spiace, ma questo articolo \u00e8 disponibile soltanto in Inglese Americano<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Explore four ways we all can foster unity and belonging in our churches.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14609,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49,15414],"tags":[14385,206],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/id\/blog\/2025\/02\/reflecting-gods-heart-with-lucinda-dooley\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"it_IT\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"[:en]Reflecting God\u2019s Heart with Lucinda Dooley[:] - Collected\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"[:en]Explore four ways we all can foster unity and belonging in our churches. 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