{"id":635905,"date":"2025-03-25T16:57:40","date_gmt":"2025-03-25T05:57:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/?p=635905"},"modified":"2025-04-04T10:30:43","modified_gmt":"2025-04-03T23:30:43","slug":"with-chris-mendez-the-kingdom-work-of-unity-and-belonging","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/ru\/blog\/2025\/03\/with-chris-mendez-the-kingdom-work-of-unity-and-belonging\/","title":{"rendered":"With Chris Mendez, The Kingdom Work of Unity and Belonging"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u0418\u0437\u0432\u0438\u043d\u0438\u0442\u0435, \u044d\u0442\u043e\u0442 \u0442\u0435\u043a\u0441\u0442 \u0434\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0443\u043f\u0435\u043d \u0442\u043e\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043e \u043d\u0430 “\u0410\u043c\u0435\u0440\u0438\u043a\u0430\u043d\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u0410\u043d\u0433\u043b\u0438\u0439\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439<\/a>”.<\/p>

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

When our family moved to a new area, we weren\u2019t just looking for a church\u2014we were searching for a place to belong. As a multiethnic and multiracial family through birth and adoption\u2014and parents of nine children, many with additional special needs\u2014we\u2019ve often asked, Is there a place for us here?<\/p>\n

We visited several churches, hoping to find a community where our children would be embraced. At Hillsong Church, we experienced something different. My kids weren\u2019t just greeted\u2014they were known. The youth leaders, staff, and key team made us feel like family, not visitors.<\/p>\n

We didn\u2019t just hear the words Welcome home. You belong here. We experienced them. And that changed everything.<\/p>\n

Recently, I sat down with one of our global lead pastors, Chris Mendez. Alongside his wife, Lucy, Chris has led with boldness and deep conviction\u2014championing unity and belonging in Australia and Latin America.<\/p>\n

Ever since I\u2019ve known Chris, his passion has been unmistakable. I wanted to start by understanding his story.<\/p>\n

What I didn\u2019t expect was the incredible God-story behind his why.<\/p>\n

As the son of immigrant parents in Australia, Chris experienced cultural tensions and discrimination firsthand. Growing up in a Latino home while navigating Australian culture daily, he often wrestled with identity. But at the age of 21, everything changed.<\/p>\n

Through a radical encounter with God, Chris received a revelation of Kingdom culture\u2014as described in Revelation 7:9 (NIV):<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter 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. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The Holy Spirit revealed to Chris that God\u2019s Kingdom is for everyone\u2014every age, every culture, every background.<\/p>\n

What a powerful Kingdom way for us all to live.<\/p>\n

Jesus and Unity<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Chris emphasized that unity and belonging go beyond race or culture\u2014division can come from classism, economics, theology, or more.<\/p>\n

Chris pointed to Jesus\u2019 ministry as the ultimate model of unity and belonging. We explored several moments in Scripture that powerfully illustrate Jesus\u2019 heart for unity and belonging.<\/p>\n

    \n
  • John 4:1-42<\/strong> \u2013 Jesus and the woman at the well. Jesus broke gender, ethnic, social, and religious barriers to bring reconciliation. He sought out the marginalized, valued the unseen, and created belonging.<\/span><\/li>\n
  • Luke 8:43-48<\/strong> \u2013 Jesus and the woman with the issue of blood. She should have been shunned, but Jesus called her daughter and boldly restored her worth.<\/li>\n
  • Luke 17:11-19<\/strong> \u2013 Jesus and the lepers. Lepers were the ultimate outcasts (Leviticus 13:45-46), yet Jesus did the unthinkable\u2014not only healing them but restoring their place in society.<\/li>\n
  • John 17:20-23<\/strong> \u2013 Jesus prays for our unity. He prayed that we would be one as He, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are one\u2014so that the world would know God.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Chris put it powerfully:<\/p>\n

    \u201cThe way we do church, lead, and treat people\u2014either we are answering Jesus\u2019 prayer for unity, or we are not.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u201cJesus constantly went to the people no one else would go to. How can we not be challenged by that?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    The Role of the Holy Spirit in Unity<\/strong><\/h2>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Unity is supernatural.<\/p>\n

    It\u2019s not just a human effort\u2014it reflects God\u2019s glory (John 17) and the move of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2).<\/p>\n

    Chris pointed to the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit:<\/p>\n

    Acts 2:5-6 (NIV):<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \u201cNow there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

    Chris shared:<\/p>\n

    \u201cThe first outpouring of the Holy Spirit wasn\u2019t just about power\u2014it was about unity. The Holy Spirit brought understanding, togetherness, and belonging.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

    These verses remind us that unity isn\u2019t an extra\u2014it\u2019s part of God\u2019s blueprint for His Church.<\/p>\n

    Welcome Home<\/strong><\/h2>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Chris reminds us: \u2018Welcome Home\u2019 isn\u2019t just a slogan\u2014it\u2019s a way of life.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cThe way I live my life should mirror how Jesus welcomed me.\u201d<\/strong><\/em>He challenged us to stop living with magnifying glasses\u2014scrutinizing others\u2014and start living as mirrors that reflect Jesus\u2019 love.<\/p>\n

    \u201cI received a \u2018Welcome Home.\u2019 Now I need to mirror that. We can\u2019t get so familiar with Christianity that we forget we were once welcomed. It\u2019s not \u2018come as I need you to be,\u2019 but \u2018come as you are and let Jesus transform you.\u2019 \u201c<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    Intentional Leadership<\/span><\/h2>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Chris has led in Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Uruguay (Latin America), so I asked him about leadership. He emphasized that unity and belonging require intentionality:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cPastors need to identify the main challenges in their context and be intentional about addressing them. It starts with a heart check\u2014do we treat people differently? Do we unintentionally create divisions based on status?\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    Fostering Kingdom culture starts with leaders actively resisting favoritism, classism, and personal preferences. It requires ensuring our ministries reflect God\u2019s heart for all people.<\/p>\n

    For those who have the conviction but lack boldness, Chris\u2019 advice is simple:<\/p>\n

    \u201cBe intentional. It starts with leadership, language, and the way we do things.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    He added:<\/p>\n

    \u201cSome people struggle with unity and belonging because they\u2019re still operating out of a cultural or denominational mindset instead of a Kingdom mindset.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    \u2018It\u2019s not about my Latino heritage or my Australian nationality anymore\u2014it\u2019s about the Kingdom. That\u2019s my identity now.\u2019<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    \u2018When you have a Kingdom revelation, you realize unity isn\u2019t optional\u2014it\u2019s foundational.\u2019\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Unity and Belonging: A Kingdom Mandate<\/strong><\/h2>\n

     <\/p>\n

    As Hillsong continues to grow globally, Chris sees unity and belonging as central to our future:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \u201cWe started as a local church with a global impact. Now we are a global church with a local impact.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

    With new locations in Colombia, Fiji, and Bali, Hillsong carries a clear message: All are welcome in God\u2019s Kingdom.<\/p>\n

    \u201cUnity brings belonging, and belonging brings unity. They are intertwined. If we keep building healthy churches that embrace every background, we will be a force in this space.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    The Invitation to Unity<\/h2>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Chris\u2019 words leave us with reflection:<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    • Are we answering Jesus\u2019 prayer for unity?<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Are we being intentional about fostering unity and belonging?<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Are we allowing the Holy Spirit to shape us into people who reflect the<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Kingdom?
      \nUnity and belonging aren\u2019t ministry initiatives. They\u2019re a Kingdom calling.<\/strong>
      \nLet\u2019s live it out\u2014together.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Written by:
      \nUnity & Belonging Program Manager
      \nMaria Hansen-Quine<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

      <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      \u0418\u0437\u0432\u0438\u043d\u0438\u0442\u0435, \u044d\u0442\u043e\u0442 \u0442\u0435\u043a\u0441\u0442 \u0434\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0443\u043f\u0435\u043d \u0442\u043e\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043e \u043d\u0430 “\u0410\u043c\u0435\u0440\u0438\u043a\u0430\u043d\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u0410\u043d\u0433\u043b\u0438\u0439\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439”. When our family moved to a new area, we weren\u2019t just looking for a church\u2014we were searching for a place to belong. As a multiethnic and multiracial family through birth and adoption\u2014and parents of nine children, many with additional special needs\u2014we\u2019ve often asked, Is there a place […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":54193,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[49,15414],"tags":[],"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\/pt\/blog\/2025\/03\/with-chris-mendez-the-kingdom-work-of-unity-and-belonging\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"ru_RU\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"[:en]With Chris Mendez, The Kingdom Work of Unity and Belonging[:] - Collected\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u0418\u0437\u0432\u0438\u043d\u0438\u0442\u0435, \u044d\u0442\u043e\u0442 \u0442\u0435\u043a\u0441\u0442 \u0434\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0443\u043f\u0435\u043d \u0442\u043e\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043e \u043d\u0430 “\u0410\u043c\u0435\u0440\u0438\u043a\u0430\u043d\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u0410\u043d\u0433\u043b\u0438\u0439\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439”. When our family moved to a new area, we weren\u2019t just looking for a church\u2014we were searching for a place to belong. As a multiethnic and multiracial family through birth and adoption\u2014and parents of nine children, many with additional special needs\u2014we\u2019ve often asked, Is there a place […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/pt\/blog\/2025\/03\/with-chris-mendez-the-kingdom-work-of-unity-and-belonging\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Collected\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-03-25T05:57:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-03T23:30:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"clementbarbu\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/de\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/de\/\",\"name\":\"Collected\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/de\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"ru-RU\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/pt\/blog\/2025\/03\/with-chris-mendez-the-kingdom-work-of-unity-and-belonging\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/pt\/blog\/2025\/03\/with-chris-mendez-the-kingdom-work-of-unity-and-belonging\/\",\"name\":\"[:en]With Chris Mendez, The Kingdom Work of Unity and Belonging[:] - Collected\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/de\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2025-03-25T05:57:40+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-03T23:30:43+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/de\/#\/schema\/person\/d8b48d5cebe11a54a51d34dcb772f21a\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/pt\/blog\/2025\/03\/with-chris-mendez-the-kingdom-work-of-unity-and-belonging\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"ru-RU\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/pt\/blog\/2025\/03\/with-chris-mendez-the-kingdom-work-of-unity-and-belonging\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/pt\/blog\/2025\/03\/with-chris-mendez-the-kingdom-work-of-unity-and-belonging\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"With Chris Mendez, The Kingdom Work of Unity and Belonging\"}]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/de\/#\/schema\/person\/d8b48d5cebe11a54a51d34dcb772f21a\",\"name\":\"clementbarbu\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"ru-RU\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/de\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/92566ba1b40d5d584a0dffa5aa3ff81c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/92566ba1b40d5d584a0dffa5aa3ff81c?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"clementbarbu\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/ru\/author\/clementbarbu\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"[:en]With Chris Mendez, The Kingdom Work of Unity and Belonging[:] - Collected","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/pt\/blog\/2025\/03\/with-chris-mendez-the-kingdom-work-of-unity-and-belonging\/","og_locale":"ru_RU","og_type":"article","og_title":"[:en]With Chris Mendez, The Kingdom Work of Unity and Belonging[:] - Collected","og_description":"\u0418\u0437\u0432\u0438\u043d\u0438\u0442\u0435, \u044d\u0442\u043e\u0442 \u0442\u0435\u043a\u0441\u0442 \u0434\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0443\u043f\u0435\u043d \u0442\u043e\u043b\u044c\u043a\u043e \u043d\u0430 “\u0410\u043c\u0435\u0440\u0438\u043a\u0430\u043d\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u0410\u043d\u0433\u043b\u0438\u0439\u0441\u043a\u0438\u0439”. When our family moved to a new area, we weren\u2019t just looking for a church\u2014we were searching for a place to belong. As a multiethnic and multiracial family through birth and adoption\u2014and parents of nine children, many with additional special needs\u2014we\u2019ve often asked, Is there a place […]","og_url":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/pt\/blog\/2025\/03\/with-chris-mendez-the-kingdom-work-of-unity-and-belonging\/","og_site_name":"Collected","article_published_time":"2025-03-25T05:57:40+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-04-03T23:30:43+00:00","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"clementbarbu","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/de\/#website","url":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/de\/","name":"Collected","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/de\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"ru-RU"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/pt\/blog\/2025\/03\/with-chris-mendez-the-kingdom-work-of-unity-and-belonging\/#webpage","url":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/pt\/blog\/2025\/03\/with-chris-mendez-the-kingdom-work-of-unity-and-belonging\/","name":"[:en]With Chris Mendez, The Kingdom Work of Unity and Belonging[:] - Collected","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/de\/#website"},"datePublished":"2025-03-25T05:57:40+00:00","dateModified":"2025-04-03T23:30:43+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/de\/#\/schema\/person\/d8b48d5cebe11a54a51d34dcb772f21a"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/pt\/blog\/2025\/03\/with-chris-mendez-the-kingdom-work-of-unity-and-belonging\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"ru-RU","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/pt\/blog\/2025\/03\/with-chris-mendez-the-kingdom-work-of-unity-and-belonging\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/pt\/blog\/2025\/03\/with-chris-mendez-the-kingdom-work-of-unity-and-belonging\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"With Chris Mendez, The Kingdom Work of Unity and Belonging"}]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/de\/#\/schema\/person\/d8b48d5cebe11a54a51d34dcb772f21a","name":"clementbarbu","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"ru-RU","@id":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/de\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/92566ba1b40d5d584a0dffa5aa3ff81c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/92566ba1b40d5d584a0dffa5aa3ff81c?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"clementbarbu"},"url":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/ru\/author\/clementbarbu\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/635905"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/54193"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=635905"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/635905\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":635937,"href":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/635905\/revisions\/635937"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=635905"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=635905"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hillsong.com\/collected\/ru\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=635905"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}