Even when 2 numbers in a date are the same they are only effective and meaningful when united in purpose e.g. today - 12-12-16...which stands for December 12th, 2016 or 12th December, 2016 - depending on the date format in your region. Imagine if the 12th day wanted to also be the month? We'd be "missing a day" - if that was ever possible. Now that is a simple example of complementing to complete versus competing...
Over the years I've watched with amazement how some churches have replicated programs they see other churches run successfully. I'm not saying that you should not learn from others - no not at all. However, who said that everyone has to have the same programs in order to win more souls for Christ?
Romans 12: 3- 8 - 3 Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. 6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly. (NLT, italics mine)
1 Corinthians 12: 4-11 - 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but they are all from the same Spirit. 5 There are different ways to serve [ministries] but the same Lord to serve. 6 And there are different ways that God works through people [kinds of action; activities] but the same God works in all of us in everything we do [all things in all people]. 7 Something from the Spirit can be seen in [The manifestation/disclosure of the Spirit is given to] each person, for the common good. 8 The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak with wisdom [message/word of wisdom], and the same Spirit gives another the ability to speak with knowledge [message/word of knowledge]. 9 The same Spirit gives faith to one person. And, to another, that one Spirit gives gifts of healing. 10 The Spirit gives to another person the power to do miracles [works of power], to another the ability to prophesy [prophecy]. And he gives to another the ability to know the difference between good and evil [discernment/distinguishing of] spirits. The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak in different kinds of languages [or ecstatic utterance; tongues] and to another the ability to interpret those languages [interpretation of tongues]. 11 One Spirit, the same Spirit, does all these things, and the Spirit decides what to give [distributes just as he wishes to] each person. (EXB, italics mine)
Ephesians 4: 11 - 13 - 11 And [His gifts to the church were varied and] He Himself appointed some as apostles [special messengers, representatives], some as prophets [who speak a new message from God to the people], some as evangelists [who spread the good news of salvation], and some as pastors and teachers [to shepherd and guide and instruct], 12 [and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church]; (AMP, italics mine)
These 3 passages make it clear that it's God's desire that we have diversity of operation or shall I say, different Channels of Ministry as a local church and as a Corporate Church (i.e. all churches together). Just like each 12 in today's date has it's unique purpose and doesn't give up or lose it's uniqueness when combined with the rest of the date, we must each know our unique purpose and not be a "Copy-cat" church. We must find and develop that unique mandate God has given our church and complement to complete what other churches are doing for the benefit of the kingdom. We lose souls and even more when we compete.
