Our Daily Bread: We Are FamilyChikamu

The Family in the Faith

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! -Psalm 133:1 NIV

I (Fidel) grew up in a Hispanic church in Phoenix, Arizona. That church became my family. There was a saying at that church: “If there’s food, people come.”

I think there’s something special about coming together and being part of a community, especially for Latinos because we value family and fellowship.

In 2018, my family and I moved from Phoenix, Arizona, to Fort Worth, Texas, to be a part of the launch team for Mercy Culture Church.

Before the launch, our family experienced a challenging time because there was no Latino community to fellowship with. We missed those family moments with our previous church!

My longing for our church reminded me of what the psalmist David said: “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1)

To me, unity was the most beautiful thing about the Latino community of our church.

We were family. We were all together. We laughed. At times we cried together, Still at other times, we disagreed but we reconciled. It’s what happens in a family. This is often how our churches are too; families in the faith.

When we meet with the same purpose, we’re in unity with each other, and that’s “good and pleasant.” It’s wonderful to be together!

Even when my wife, Estrella, and I join a new community and we find unity, we rejoice in how wonderful it is to be with our brothers and sisters again.

If you have lost the love that is experienced when you meet in unity, don’t let yesterday’s pain steal tomorrow’s blessing.

When we don't forgive, we stop growing spiritually. God wants you to have joy in your life, and your local church—your church family-- is waiting for you.

I encourage you to check your heart before God and fight for the unity of your community.

May the words of Psalm 133 be fulfilled in your life, by His power: “For there the Lord bestows his blessing” (v. 3)

May the joy of God pursue you.

Fidel & Estrella Rostran

What is robbing you of the joy of gathering together with others? Who do you need to forgive, to be one again in unity with brothers and sisters?

Dear God, thank You for the unity in our family in the faith. I ask You to help me start building new relationships with brothers and sisters.