By Naomi Meints ’25

For as we have many members in one body, but all members do not have the same function. So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another

Romans 12: 4-5

I’ve been thinking about community recently. This chapter of Romans discusses the guidelines for sustaining a godly community. Other pieces of advice from this passage include “let love be without hypocrisy,” “be kindly affectionate to one another,” and “rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” All of these are equally important, however, the point about the different functions of members in a community particularly resonated with me. 

As I reflected on these Bible verses, I could see so many connections to how I spent my past summer working at camp. I’ve worked at a camp in the Boundary Waters of Northern Minnesota for two summers now, and it has taught me a lot about the value of outdoor ministry and living in an intensive Christian community. Everyone lived on one island, about an hour from the closest town of Grand Marais. We shared living spaces, ate together at long tables, and relied on each other for comfort and shenanigans since we didn’t have access to Wi-Fi. Everyone had a different role in our little forest community. Some were guides who left frequently to lead trips of kids through camping trips in the Boundary Waters for several days. Others were base staff who lived on the island full time and kept things operating behind the scenes, whether it was kitchen, maintenance, or administration. Whatever their role was, this place would not be possible without all of the people, and the talent they bring to what they do. Likewise, no community is possible without a variety of gifts. Everyone I have met shines in their own roles and does some type of unique service.

Whatever their role was, this place would not be possible without all of the people, and the talent they bring to what they do. Likewise, no community is possible without a variety of gifts.

For me, the only thing more important than highlighting the diversity of a community is highlighting what brings us together. This verse states that, in a community, we are all equal before God, but we also share a bit of each other’s lives. There is something beyond us that brings people together, and sometimes brings us to strange and unexpected spaces like this!

This verse reminds me of a story attributed to cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead. As a young anthropology student, I’ve always enjoyed and resonated with this story. Supposedly, she once claimed the earliest evidence of human civilization is a 15,000 year old fractured femur. This is because, unlike in the animal kingdom, this individual would’ve been given the time and resources to heal. Where this injury would’ve been almost certainly lethal for any other animal, this person healed with help from those around them helping them rest, move, and eat, when they can’t do so on their own. Those around them went out of their way to provide for, hunt for, and take care of the injured person. They chose to do extra for their fellow human, without gain for themselves. This person survived exclusively because of the kindness of those around them. 

According to this theory, the very thing that makes us human and allows us to build culture is community. It is the need to care for others, and provide for everyone around you without expectation or exception.

According to this theory, the very thing that makes us human and allows us to build culture is community. It is the need to care for others, and provide for everyone around you without expectation or exception. We are individually members of one another, we share pain and happiness together when we live in community. I feel very blessed that I was able to feel the ways that God’s love appears in ourselves when we live closely together. Especially, when we have no choice but to rely on each other, when we have to rely on our nature. I would love it if more people got the chance to experience outdoor ministry and living in an intentional community. However, even if you aren’t living in a camp in Northern Minnesota, there is nothing stopping us from bringing these godly, community ideals into our everyday lives, wherever we are. We are all, always, the collective body of Christ, and we bring different talents to different places everyday. We must strive to bring the ideals of a godly community to all of the places where we are called. It is our nature.