Discussions between four megachurch pastors about the most important thing the church should pray for has sparked a global collaboration that means at least 600,000 people will hear sermons on this topic throughout June.

What's interesting about this experiment is how it can applied on different levels, such as among churches of a particular denomination or congregations in a particular geographic area.

In the process, churches may learn from each other and see more unity of the kind Christ prayed about in John 17.

Answering the question

The question these four asked: If you could ask God to do one thing for the Church, what would you ask? "Lord, make us (what?)" The responses:

• Craig Groeschel of LifeChurch.tv in Oklahoma City: "Make us one".
• Ed Young, Jr., Fellowship Church, Dallas: "Make us wake up."
• Jentezen Franklin, Free Chapel Worship Center, Gainesville, Ga.: "Make us passionate."
• Perry Noble, NewSpring Church in Anderson, S.C.: "Make us intentional."

Their discussions prompted another idea, to answer the question in a video sermon that each of them would air in the others' pulpits. As they blogged about it, one prayer for four churches spread to approximately 1,000 churches participating.

In addition, other pastors wanted to submit their own sermons. As a result, the final count of video messages may range as high as 160.

Consequently, starting June 7-8, hundreds of thousands of Christians will see messages about one prayer four consecutive weekends.

They will also have a chance to take action. In week three each participating church will take a special offering, with funds going to international organizations that will help start churches in places hostile to Christianity. In week four, clusters of local churches will work together on community projects.

Spreading the vision

Although the deadline for submitting video contributions is past, there is nothing stopping pastors outside this network from creating their own pool of participants. Thanks to video and computer technology, they can swap sermons and invite guest preachers into their midst without spending one dime on gasoline.

"The idea is brilliant," says Steven Furtick of Elevation Church in Indian Trail, N.C., one of the 1,000 participating churches. "This is the most exciting time in human history to advance the gospel. With all our technology, it would be unpardonable not to leverage that for the unity of the body of Christ."

Elsewhere in this week's posts on Church Central is a story about good leadership habits, starting with vision. This kind of project demonstrates why vision is so vital. There are a million reasons not to bother with this kind of ambitious effort, but none of these leaders allowed that to slow them down.

Likewise, pastors seeking to bring unity to their communities and states can use the same kind of vision to forge closer cooperation within the body of Christ.

"Jesus promised that when two or more gather in his name, he would be there," Groeschel says. "He also explained that the sign of our unity in Christ is our love for one another. Now a thousand-plus churches and hundreds of thousands of Christians will gather in his name to make a difference".

Or, as Jesus put it in John 17:20-21, "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you."