Finding Unity in a World Divided
- Micheal Durnin
- Aug 7
- 1 min read
Updated: Aug 12
EKB World Ministries was born from a deep study of Ephesians, a letter from the
Apostle Paul centered on unity. In chapters 1- 3, Paul invites us to embrace God’s deepest desire: a personal relationship with Him. In chapters 4-6, he challenges us
to come together as the mature, unified Body of Christ, spanning the globe.
Ephesians 4: 4-6 (NIV) declares, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you
were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Yet, despite this call to unity, division persists. According to the Center for the
Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, there are
approximately 49,000 Christian denominations worldwide today, a number
projected to grow to 64,000 by 2050. These denominations, often shaped by
cultural and organizational differences, reflect how the enemy excels at keeping us
separated and in conflict.
In 2024, EKB World Ministries hosted its first unity conference in the garage of
our campus in the Philippines, bringing together 80 pastors from 50 churches
across 16 denominations. This gathering marked a powerful step toward Paul’s
vision of unity.
Our first EKB conference held in the garage of our Campus in 2024 with 80 pastors
from 50 different churches and 16 denominations of Christians.
Let me share some of our story to illustrate this challenge of bringing unity. In
2015, God called my wife, Deb, and me back to the mission field during a vacation
in the Philippines. Having served in dental and medical outreach for nearly 20
years, we assumed this would be our focus. But God had other plans. A family
crisis in 2012 had led us to step back from the mission field to care for three
children, and following that, we were unexpectedly called back to mission work in
2015 on a vacation trip to the Philippines. So began this new chapter in our lives.
Our friends Jon and Jan Porter soon joined us in the Philippines. While Deb and I
continued our dental outreach, Jon and Jan taught children to play Christian music
on the ukulele. Their ministry flourished, and within three years, 500 children
performed on stage at the annual Jesus Reigns Festival on the island. Kids sharing
the love of Jesus from many denominations is relatively unheard of here in the
Philippines. Meanwhile, we built deeper relationships with local pastors through
Jon and Jan’s work.
The COVID-19 pandemic halted our efforts, preventing a safe return until 2024. To
our joy, we found that the local pastors’ passion for unity and the Gospel had only
grown stronger during this time. Our 2024 unity conference, attended by 80
pastors, reflected a shared hunger for deeper faith and connection.
We believe a growing awareness of the enemy’s tactics—division, conflict, and
deception - is emerging. The good news? This darkness is being exposed to the
light, where it cannot survive. Our faith assures us that victory is already won
through Christ.
Jesus Reigns Festival 2019 (500 Children)
I challenge you to reflect: Where are you divided, in conflict, or out of balance in
your life? My 70+ years have taught me that surrendering control and focusing on
Christ’s example transforms everything. I’ve experienced wealth and poverty, and I
can testify that life’s true meaning lies not in money but in serving others in Jesus’
name. Through service, we find a path to unity and discover joy - a deeper, more
enduring gift than fleeting happiness.
The enemy, the father of lies, will use any means to distract you from God’s plan
for your life. Change is hard, but as Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to see in
the world.”
If you’re inspired to take a step toward unity, visit our growing resource center at
[EKB World Ministries] ( https://www.ekb.world ) or contact us at info@ekb.world.
We’d love to connect, share our passion for faith, and work together to foster unity
in our hearts, families, and communities.
I think the greatest gift I can give you today is a link to the Bible Project on
YouTube. If you are not familiar with this resource, it is a great way to experience
an overall review of any book in the bible. It is extremely well done, captivating,
and motivates us to know more. Please check out the link below for the book of
Ephesians. God Bless my friends!!
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