Every journey begins by leaving something behind. The first word that God says to Abraham and Sarah is leave. Leave your country - that would be hard. Leave the place where you have discovered security and identity and honor. Leave the place where tradition is passed from one generation to the next, the place of mutual protection and respect.
Every journey begins by leaving something, something that is treasured and valued.
Abraham and Sarah left country and family and parent's house to go to this promised land. Jesus left the relative safety of the Galilee to go to Jerusalem. Paul left his life as a Pharisee of the Pharisees to become an evangelist. Thomas and Alexander Campbell left their native land, the church of their birth, and an understanding discipleship that defined faith as correct doctrine. Those who gathered in Cincinnati 150 years ago left behind the notion that congregations could fulfill their mission apart from one another.