I want to ask you a question. It might feel bold—maybe even personal.
Have you ever felt it?
That breathtaking moment when God-centered unity becomes more than an idea, and you know you’re part of something bigger than yourself?
You may have experienced this kind of unity across our God-given differences on a serving team, in your marriage or another close relationship, or during worship at one of our local or global locations.
For me, unity is full of everyday moments of raising children from all over the world. As a mom through both birth and adoption, it is deeply personal.
For me, unity across cultures and languages is part of the privilege of serving on a global team. We all come together with humility and boldness, with our different backgrounds—centered on Jesus and His call for us to build a healthy church changing lives through Christ.
For me, unity across our God-given differences is standing shoulder-to-shoulder in a packed church in downtown Los Angeles. People of every age and stage—Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z, even Gen Alpha—crowded into an old church building to worship the one true God. Side by side, singles and married, parents and children, students and grandparents—from every background making space for one another with love and value: Asian, Black, White, Hispanic, Indigenous, Pacific Islander, and multiracial. British, Canadian, Australian, Mexican, Chinese, American, Filipino, Ethiopian, Brazilian—and too many nations to count.
On September 7, 2025, two churches, Hillsong California (LA & OC) and Oasis LA, gathered in unity. What unfolded that evening was more than a gathering. More than a celebration. It was a Revelation 7:9 moment:
“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:9 NIV)
It was a Kingdom worship party—and thousands of us will never be the same.
Have you ever been in a moment like that?
Moments like these remind me: unity in our God-given differences is not an accident. It is the very thing Jesus prayed for, the early church modeled, and God is still working out across His Church today—inviting us to participate.
At Hillsong Church since our early beginning we have said Welcome home, you belong here. We meant it then and we mean it now. This key value has always been based on Jesus and the authentic, endless, go-out-of-His-way welcome home He role-modeled. The implications of the life He lived are foundational to us His disciples—as we gather, grow, and go.
Adding unity to our values is holy work indeed, of the Kingdom as a whole. It’s a Kingdom heart posture—upside down to the world, but right-side up in God’s Kingdom. We see this described in the Beatitudes, where Jesus blesses the meek, the merciful, and the peacemakers—virtues that are in part key to unity and belonging.
What makes the Beatitudes even more powerful is where Jesus first spoke these words.
Matthew tells us it was in “Galilee of the Gentiles” (Matt. 4:15)—a region known for its mix of cultures and people. From the very beginning, Jesus cast His Kingdom vision in a place where cultures and backgrounds met. Unity wasn’t an afterthought; it was at the heart of His message.
Here’s just a glimpse of what Jesus said in the Beatitudes:
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matthew 5:5, 7, 9 NIV)
Jesus prayed for the Church— every denomination in every nation, every generation, every language, every ability, and every background. Which includes Hillsong Church, in every single one of the thirty-six countries God has positioned us, called us to, and entrusted us with.
“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:22–23 NIV)
Across the globe, there are reports and testimonies of God increasing our unity. We can see it. We can feel it. And when we are the ones physically in the room, it changes us. Even when we try, it’s hard to put into words what the Holy Spirit does.
I’m confident that just like we saw in Acts with the early church, unity is one of the co-requisites. The staff teams and pastors and the people of both LA churches have a genuine love for each other. Unity is regularly prayed for and spoken out as it says in the Psalms:
“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! … For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” (Psalm 133:1, 3b NIV)
When unity in our God-given differences is lived out, God’s blessing flows—not just within the church but also as a witness to the world around us.
Here’s part of how we are seeing unity outworked in LA:
- Love and care are genuine, not a checklist
- There is no competition—only collaboration
- Comparison doesn’t divide; it fuels encouragement
- Encouragement and building each other up happens often
- A 1 Corinthians 13 love is intentionally practiced
- Relationships are rooted in the Imago Dei—the image of God in every person
- Differences and similarities are celebrated—across cultures, languages, genders, generations, and abilities
- Shared mission is prioritized over personal preference
- Generosity flows freely—in time, words, and resources
And this is not just happening in one place, it’s happening in many of our global churches.
Hillsong Conference this past summer in Sydney was no exception. People came not just from across Australia, but from all over the world, gathering in one accord—focused on our love for God. We felt it in the messages, and we experienced it in worship.
What we saw and are seeing is a commitment to unity and belonging centered on Christ. A church where people of all ages and backgrounds participate fully in the body of Christ—in line with how Jesus prayed (John 17:22–23), with what the early church modeled (Acts 2, Galatians 3:28), and with what heaven will be like (Revelation 7:9).
This is who we are called to be: a church marked by unity and belonging, centered on Christ. A church where the world sees God’s love through the way we love one another.
A church that says with every word and action: Welcome Home. You belong here.
Written by:
Unity & Belonging Program Manager
Maria Hansen-Quine
2 окт 2025
