In homes and churches across North America, hundreds of people in Charis Fellowship congregations joined in the first-ever WeAreOne broadcast on Sunday night, July 26, 2020. The event was advertised as the largest gathering in the Charis Fellowship history and that did not disappoint. Livestreamed via Facebook, YouTube, and other media, as of Monday morning, more than 3,400 views had been recorded on Facebook, and more than 3,000 views on YouTube. Those numbers did not take into account the groups who gathered in sanctuaries, church parking lots, and homes to experience the broadcast together.
The event was scheduled after the national conference of the Charis Fellowship (formerly the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches) was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It had been slated to be held in Winona Lake, Ind., during the previous week.
WeAreOne featured Dan Gregory, Emily Tellez, and Tom Avey, who spoke on the Fellowship’s core values of Truth, Mission, and Relationship. There were video updates from church planter Dayne Caraway and inner city pastor, Stephen Joyce. Teams from Grace Fellowship Church in Pickerington, Ohio (Keith Miniear, senior pastor), and Grace Community Church, Fremont, Ohio (Kevin Pinkerton, lead pastor), led in worship. Sprinkled throughout the evening were greetings from Charis Fellowship congregations around the continent.
The broadcast concluded with a virtual choir singing a blessing over the Fellowship. More than 25 churches submitted video that made the compilation possible.
Pre- and post-service programming was featured Wade Rininger and Andrew Wood, who serve on staff at Renew Church, outside of Toronto, Ontario. They welcomed viewers, provided updates on ministries, and encouraged viewers to share the broadcast with their friends.
This week, a series of free online cohorts and workshops sponsored by Charis Fellowship ministries are available. They range from practical sessions on how to share your faith, to updates on various ministries. Click here for a complete listing.
The full-length recording from Sunday night may be accessed on Facebook or YouTube, or click on the link below. Various clips from the broadcast are also available.