“One in Spirit and of One Mind”

ChinaSource Team • January 14, 2026

Yellow lanterns hanging and shining brightly. January news from ChinaSource.
Image credit: Photo by Zhen Yao from Unsplash. Licensed for use by ChinaSource.

“Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” Philippians 2:1-2 

How reassuring it is that we have been called to humility in Christ and have been given the example of his life lived among us in the flesh, having already set his eternal incarnational course in the heavenlies. His example and the virtual presence of Immanuel by his Holy Spirit are given to us so that we can walk out our relationships daily in grace and truth.

In Your Relationships…

While introducing The Great Incarnation Hymn, or simply The Christ Hymn (Philippians 2:5-11), Paul says, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 2:5) and then he shows us what that looks like in the life of Jesus. It was well over fifty years ago, but I remember where I was and what I was doing when this passage fully captured me, and I began to grasp the meaning of our Lord’s incarnational presence and love for me and the world. His choice to become the Son of Man forever has always melted me, because in his relationships he spared nothing and gave everything to be my Savior, Lord, closest brother and friend.

Make My Joy Complete…

Personally, it has been more challenging to engage and embrace the wider context of this passage, because in Philippians 2:1-2 Paul stunningly completes one of the most powerful relational riffs in the New Testament by saying, “Make my joy complete by being like minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” Amazingly, this is not unattainable hyperbole, even though in this age—especially in the area of being one in spirit and of one mind—one could easily conclude that it is. In his “Letter of Joy,” Paul believed and trusted that oneness in Christ and mind was not only God’s will for the Bride of Christ, but would be an essential discipleship piece that would make his joy complete.

Of all the things Paul could have written to the church at Philippi that would genuinely make his joy complete, he said “being like minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind” would do the trick. The profound nature of the doctrine of incarnation is that Jesus took on human form to sacrifice everything, not only so we can have an abundant and eternal relationship with him, but so that we could know eternal friendship and community with one another as well.

I am so grateful to God that when our founder, Dr. Brent Fulton, and friends began ChinaSource twenty-eight years ago, they had this truth in mind. Jesus came to bring humankind to himself, but also to draw us together in him (Galatians 3:28). The vision of ChinaSource is to see “the church in China and the global church learning and growing together, engaging in ministry that powerfully advances the kingdom of God” and “being one in spirit and of one mind.”

Looking Ahead…

As we begin 2026, this is a desire, and prayer that we can all share; a unified global church of one mind, constantly being renewed in the image, love, likeness, and mind of Christ, “comforted by his love, sharing common things together in his Spirit, in tenderness and compassion” (Philippians 2:1).

In the days ahead ChinaSource will be privileged to introduce some exciting ways we can serve and grow together in our love for Jesus, for one another in China, the diaspora, and across the globe. I think you will be greatly encouraged by how God is guiding ChinaSource to facilitate collaborative and partnering priorities making us “one in spirit and of one mind,” and bringing joy to the nations.

Kerry Schottelkorb
President

Ways to Pray

  • Praise the Lord, and many thanks to those of you who supported and/or prayed for God’s favor on our year-end “Cultivating Resilient Faith” campaign. A total of $109,000 was provided to support strategic initiatives that will bless the church in China in 2026. See The Lantern, December 2025. We are honored to partner with you and grateful to Immanuel for his provision.
  • Please pray that the church of Jesus Christ—together with the global church—will grow in oneness of spirit and be of one mind in Christ in 2026.

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Written, translated, or edited by members of the ChinaSource staff.