“In 2011 the UN General Assembly passed a resolution to proclaim 30 July as International Friendship Day with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities.” You can read more on the UN website here.
A recent report from the Evangelical Alliance (EA) in the UK showed that our friendships matter, both with Christians and non-Christians alike. It revealed that 53% of non-Christians said they know a practicing Christian, which is down from 68% in 2015. It also found that 54% of Christians say they don’t know any non-Christians well enough to share faith with them. Read more of the Talking Jesus report from the EA here.
Phil Knox of the EA sees hope: “I wholeheartedly believe that a connection to the best of friends and investing in relationship with one another is the antidote our lonely and fractured world needs. I am seeing green shoots of growth as churches begin to model and communicate this to the world. Friendship changes everything. [A friend] has observed that one of the reasons we suffer as a world in the area of friendship is just plain neglect.” Read more on the EA website here.
It is sad that the UN thinks that we need a day to remember the importance of friendship. As Christians, we know that the answer is JESUS. But maybe it is a good opportunity to pause, and pray, and think seriously about what we are doing to cultivate our own friendship with Jesus, and build friendships with other people so that they can know Jesus too.
Set aside some time on 30 July to pray for yourself, and for the world, to know Jesus as friend and Saviour. And join us on the last Friday of every month as we fast and pray for the Inspire Movement to continue being a beacon of hope and friendship in this world.
Listen to Jesus.
- What does he want to tell you about your friendship with him?
- How do you feel the Spirit stirring you to cultivate friendships with others?
- What do you need to do to respond to Jesus’ invitation today?
Listen to Jesus.
- Do you hear him speaking a word, showing you a picture, sharing wisdom for the Inspire Movement?
- How do you feel the Spirit prompting you to share friendships in the Inspire Movement? Maybe join the Prayer Team; participate in an online learning community; be a part of a fellowship band; find out about the community of Inspire Missioners; become a regular donor…
- What do you need to do to respond to Jesus today?
