One Body, many parts
What does it mean to be part of the Body of Christ? What part do we as Open Doors staff, you and our persecuted brothers and sisters, play in it? What does the Body of Christ look like in the context of Open Doors and the function we each have?
We are all familiar with the well-known text from 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 that talks about the Body of Christ. What would we be if we thought of ourselves as distinct components of the Body?
As part of the communications team, I imagined I would be an eye, helping to oversee and bring clarity to our messaging. And as a communications team, along with our digital and relations teams, we would serve as the eyes and mouth as we seek to clearly and faithfully share the story of our persecuted family.
What about you and the rest of my colleagues?
The head would be Christ, as He is the source of why we do what we do, and He directs our steps.
Next would be our board, which would serve as the guiding force, as the brain of our organisation, providing counsel and ensuring we stay aligned with our mission to serve the persecuted Church.
Then there’s our executive director, who would serve as both the brain and the neck of our organisation, carrying the vision from the Head to the rest of the Body through her leadership, helping us know where to focus our attention.
Our church engagement team, under which our volunteer team, volunteers and speakers fall, along with our field colleagues and partners, would be the hands and feet. Our volunteers and speakers move outward to share and advocate for our persecuted family. In contrast, our field colleagues and partners move alongside our persecuted family, physically supporting and empowering them amid persecution. Our travel team also forms part of these feet, making it possible for the Body in Southern Africa to go and visit the persecuted part of the Body.
We all know the importance of our veins and arteries to keep blood flowing through our bodies. That would be our finance team who oversee and move the much-needed funds to our persecuted family, ensuring that every part of the Body gets what it needs to function. Our fundraising team is closely connected to this effort, inviting support and making sure resources flow to where the need is most pressing.
How about our ICTS team? They would be our nervous system and the junctions between our neurons, keeping us connected through technology as staff, partners, and field colleagues, and ensuring the smooth operation of technological systems.
We need a place to work, so our operations team would be our spine, muscles and skin, maintaining and protecting the building and infrastructure that allows us to work safely and effectively. They also ensure that everything we need reaches every part of the Body, whether as partners, presenters, or volunteers.
We can’t forget the heart, which represents people and culture in our organisation, bringing us together, fostering unity and caring for the well-being of the Body as we serve our persecuted family.
And there are all of our partners, like you, who are our lungs, giving us much-needed oxygen through your prayers, donations and encouragement. As prayer warriors, you are the immune system, offering strength and protection through covering our persecuted family and work in intercession. As donors, you form part of the veins and arteries, giving vital resources to our persecuted family.
And of course, there is our persecuted family, who amid difficult circumstances are the hands and feet for the Gospel out in the battlefield of our faith, scarred with the struggles of persecution but glowing with the glory of the truth of the Gospel.
Seeing ourselves in this way brings to light how each of us has a unique role to play, not only in serving our persecuted family, but also in the Body of Christ.
We can’t function without each part, as it says in 1 Corinthians 12:21-23:
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honourable we treat with special honour. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty.
If there were no lungs, how would we breathe life into our persecuted family? If there wasn’t a head, what meaning would this work have? If there were no hands and feet, who would know about what our persecuted family is enduring and who would be there to support them?
Every role is unique, yet every role is essential. No one is too small, no task is insignificant. When each part does what the Lord has called it to do, the Body moves in harmony – seeing clearly, speaking boldly, acting faithfully and with love and purpose to help shine the light of Christ in all circumstances.
May we each ask ourselves: What part do I play in this Body? Am I called to give? To pray? To share the story? To go?
Whatever your part is, it matters, and every action counts as we work together to help the Body shine Christ’s light in the darkest places.
We give thanks for every partner and colleague who faithfully plays their part in this Body. Thank you for being living, breathing, active members. Your contribution, whether leading, creating, supporting, going, giving or praying, is vital to continuing to strengthen our persecuted family.
We couldn’t do this ministry work without you.