He Called Me Sister

Do you feel like part of the family? Come talk to a mentor.

“I’m praying not only for them but also for those who will believe in me because of them and their witness about me. The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, so they might be one heart and mind with us. Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me”. (John 17:20-21, The Message)

It was a simple conversation in a crowded room with a man from another country. We had met only once before, almost a year earlier. I knew a few details of his Christian experience; he knew none of mine. As we stood surrounded by people, he prefaced his remarks with one word: Sister.

In his culture it is common and comfortable to address a Christian with the term “brother” or “sister.” It also happens in some other cultures when Christians gather. But to me that evening, the word took on the brilliance of neon. I am his sister. He is my brother. We are connected to each other and to the Father. The family tie is unbreakable.

This powerful connective moment has happened before in my life and always with a person from another culture. It is as though God wants to strike me with the importance of plural pronouns in His Kingdom. “Don’t you (all) know that you (all) are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in the midst of you (all)?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)

While we are individually accountable to respond to God’s invitations, once we are in the family, we are one unit.  Jesus’ prayer for us just before His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane almost aches with His desire that we relate as brothers and sisters, that we work out in daily experience what Christ accomplished in reality. The Apostle Paul put it plainly: “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28)

When Jesus’ disciples asked for a lesson on prayer, it is significant that Jesus began with “OUR Father…” “Our” is a personal pronoun that packs a Kingdom punch.

Question: Do you feel like you are part of God’s family? If you don’t, ask the Lord to guide you to good church, small group or new friends.

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4 Responses to “He Called Me Sister”

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• Sharon says:

  February 7, 2012 at 4:47 pm

  dear k niemi– prayer–father God i do agree with her for her to find a good church and a church family, lead her to the right chsdurch for her to love them and for them to love her and that it is spirit filled, give her visions and dreams on where to go near by so she can get there, bring other christians that go a good church that is spirit filled i pray all of this in JESUS name amen i am praying for you love sharon
• K. Niemi says:

  February 1, 2012 at 8:55 am

  Please agree with me in prayer that Our Lord will guide me to a church body where I can become part of a “church family”. How I miss the fellowship I have share in the past when I was part of such a group. Now, I am in my mid 60′s, disabled, living on a very small social sec income as a widow. I feel very alone, have family who are working, raising their children, and too busy and too far to be able to share time with me. Recently, I believe the Lord has been quickening my spirit that I really do need to become an active part of a church family. There are many churches in Genesee County of Michigan where I live on the edge of Swartz Creek near Flint. However, it is not that easy to find a church that is Spirit-filled, but not a group trying to “work up” the Spirit with loud emotionalism, etc. In the past, I have been in a non denomination fellowship that really followed the Word, functioned as a true family. That fellowship was in a different town where I used to live. I was brought up by my grand parents who were Mennonites but had become Methodist preachers for over 60 years. A really loving Mennonite group near here was my church home for many years, but they had to close down due to their members going off to college, moving out of the area, or passing on in their old age. Since then, I moved to be near my daughter (after my dear son, Rob, (age 31), died) because she said she would be able to help me. So I went to her church, Nazarene, which was fine, until things changed there drastically and she moved away.

  My heart longs to be part of a “church family” again. Ty for your prayers.
  If you know of any groups in my area, feel free to call me at [it is our policy not ot publish personal contact information] or email me. ty again and may the Lord be with you in your ministry.
• Mary says:

  January 27, 2012 at 7:08 am

  We lived in Mexico for a number of years and I ALWAYS loved the fact that the Christians there called each other brother and sister—-and that I was included as one of them. It is SO encouraging and precious to know that even though our biological family might be far away, we are part of an eternal family wherever we may be.
• Barbara says:

  January 27, 2012 at 6:03 am

  Growing up I used to feel like the black sheep of the family. When I recieved Chirst into my heart I felt like a little lamb that was made whiter than snow. I had to learn that when I professed Christ as my Lord I was then adopted into God’s family and have many beloved sisters and brothers in Christ. However, they too can do some serious harm so we must always remember to do our best to get along as the “Body of Christ” with one another so there might not be no black sheep in the family. We need to open our hearts and lives to one another, helping, aiding, reaching out in GOD’S love as true followers of Christ. “Our” Father desries for His will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven and part of such is loving one another…action (good deeds)speak loader than mere words that say, I love you dear sister/brother..I’ll be praying for you….Let’s all stop the chitter chatter and arise to helping one another as Chirst would have us. If there is someone new to your church welcome that person into your group, if there is someone that is sitting alone go over and sit next to them.