This is possibly my favorite video from The Nines leadership conference that happened all around the world online on 09/09/09 (and it started at 9:09am). Scott Williams is the Campus Pastor for the Northwest Oklahoma City Campus of LifeChurch.tv. Check out what he has to say about diversity in the church.

20 "I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word;

21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

22 "The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one;

23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.

John 17:20-23 (NASB) - emphasis mine

Look at verse 20. "Those also who believe in Me through their word" are all Christ-followers since the disciples. That means that all of the people who follow Christ were prayed for by Jesus as written here in this verse. That means Jesus prayed for Christians living in the year 2009. He prayed for me and you.

OK. So Jesus prayed for Christians living in the year 2009. So what?

Look at verses 21-23. Jesus prayed that we would "all be one", "may be one", and that we be "perfected in unity". In his prayer he said that if we did these things there would be a result.

Look at the two "so that" statements. "The world may believe" and "the world would know that You (God the Father) sent Me (Christ the Son)".

Feel free to comment below.

Blessings,

Rob