Six months ago a first-timer showed up at Atlanta Unity Church in Norcross, Georgia. He had been to Unity and Unitarian churches before, but this time he felt at home. He loved that Unity has not thrown Jesus and the Bible out with the bathwater! Dr. Allan Gathercoal is founder and president of Flying Doctors of America. He was a traditional Christian minister who had taught church missions, church growth and church planting in seminary, but he found the traditional church too confining and not honoring enough of other religions. Twenty years ago he went on retreat to ask God for a new direction. Flying Doctors emerged, and since then he has been traveling the world serving those who have needed help for medical and dental concerns. But he was missing a church family. He found us when we were looking for more that we could be doing.

Allan took a quick assessment of our ministry and pronounced that we had many wonderful things going for us: the message, the music, the place, the youth education, the adult education. But he saw that spiritual social action was missing. He is convinced that by doing good works the church gets energized, the youth get energized, and the church grows. His simple message for church growth is: Bring them in, build them up, and send them forth. For the past six months, I have been mentoring Allan in Unity and he has been mentoring me in missions. These are not missions to knock on doors and “convert” people. These are missions to do good in the world.

Allan has a love of Peru and is married to a Peruvian. He has built an orphanage in Cusco, the heart of the Incas. The first week in October will see the Flying Doctors doing good works in the community. The second week in October will see 14 beautiful souls from Unity going to the orphanage to volunteer by painting and working with children. Allan says, “There are 3000 to 5000 English-speaking expatriates in Cusco from the United States, Canada and Europe. Start praying about having Unity there!”

What we have is the genesis of something wonderful for Unity. There are a number of other Unity churches who are reaching out into their own communities and across the oceans. This is a great new energy in Unity. For too long we have been the best-kept secret. We see ourselves now as reaching inward so that we can go out into the world with a message and works that transform the world.

This article originally appeared in the December 2008/January 2009 issue of Contact magazine.


Update on Atlanta Unity Church's Trip to Peru

Since the time this article originally appeared in Contact magazine, Rev. Strickland provided an update.

Sixteen people went on our trip to Peru. After arriving in Cusco, a group of us went to visit the main orphanage we would serve. The police run it because there is no social service agency available to handle the poorest children who are abandoned on the streets of Cusco. The orphanage is grossly under-funded.
 
Many children of all ages and both genders live in one room. Their bathroom and kitchen situation are awful. After first seeing the orphanage, our group held a meeting to decide what we could do. It was truly miraculous! Some people bought food. Some bought kitchen equipment. Others bought furniture. Others were to clean the toilets and showers. All paid their own way and all contributed funds to make the purchases.

The next day we went to the orphanage with the intention of “lighting the place up.” We packed toys and gifts and played with the children during a big celebration. For several days, we did what we could to make the place better.

It was so easy to see God in those children. It was more difficult to see God in the police. It was a joy to see God in each other.

After that orphanage, we brought gifts to a wonderful school in the countryside. The children walk eight to 10 hours at the beginning of the week to go to school. They walk those same eight to 10 hours home at the end of the week. The families share their crops. The mothers take turns going to the school to cook meals. A benefactor has built wonderful, clean buildings. The children are eager students and their families are involved and caring.

We saw the contrast between the clean and beautiful boarding school versus the police-run orphanage.  It is our desire to return again and do more in both places.

During this trip, we came together as a group. None of us had ever been on such a trip before, but we found God in ourselves on that trip. It has energized our congregation and us. At one time or another everyone on the trip suffered from fatigue and illness, but we picked each other up, we supported and loved one another. We are better people as a result of our trip, and we made a difference in the lives of others, if only for a short time.

Would we do it again? Absolutely! I am proud of Unity. I am proud of Atlanta Unity, and I am proud of anyone who steps forward in faith to do what needs to be done, especially when he/she does it without thought of return.

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