How singing the same song unifies a church with differences

The book of Revelation promises people of every tribe, nation and tongue will worship Christ together in heaven.  

The disciples of Highlands Church, a Converge Southwest church north of Los Angeles, depend on God to fulfill that promise. What God is doing has promise for every church — God’s people have always displayed diversity along spiritual, generational and cultural lines. 

That historical reality of every church is why Highlands Church isn’t passively waiting. They live among Koreans, Armenians and numerous other people groups, races and ethnicities who don’t know Jesus.

Since churches across the country often include several generations in the building, people in your church might also have different expectations of music, sermons or ministry activities. 

Through worship music, Highlands believers had the same experience your church can. Dozens of disciples had a powerful time singing of God’s faithfulness as they thanked God with one heart. 

That’s how any church can focus on the Lord with one heart. 

That unity is growing because the church recently released Everything Changed, a song about thanking God for what he’s done in their midst.  

“We were able to unify the generations by singing a song that reflected their story,” he said. “These songs are true to us.” 

But the church’s worship music studio aims for more than praise; it’s a key effort within the church’s revitalization strategy. 

A renewed mission for a diverse city

The 79-year-old church had a legacy of worshiping God, obeying Jesus and making disciples. But in recent years, they felt inspired to prayerfully start a season of renewal so the church could reach its potential. 

A key step, pastor Johnson explained, is writing their own songs of praise and thanksgiving.  

“This is our encounter with God,” he said of singing Everything Changed. 

Highlands is praying and connecting with some of the millions in its city. The church aims to use worship songs, biblical teaching and compassionate ministry to reach those who have yet to encounter Christ. 

“How can we begin to place Jesus back in the center of all things in our little area of Los Angeles?” Johnson asked. “If Los Angeles turned its heart to the Lord and God did a massive move like he’s done before, it would change the entire world.” 

And that would bring Revelation’s promise a little closer to completion.