Welcome to Chapter 11 of ROW Against the Flow: Standing Shoulder to Shoulder. This chapter focuses on the power of unity and mutual support in our spiritual journey. It reminds us that we are not meant to face life’s challenges alone but to walk together in faith, standing firm with others who share our commitment to Christ.

Chapter Focus: The Strength of Spiritual Community

In this chapter, you’ll discover:

• The biblical call to bear one another’s burdens and encourage each other (Galatians 6:2).
• How standing shoulder to shoulder fosters resilience, accountability, and shared victory.
• The importance of deep, authentic relationships that go beyond the surface—where we support, pray for, and challenge one another.
• Practical ways to cultivate and nurture community within your church, workplace, or small group.

You’ll find inspiring stories, biblical insights, and actionable steps to build and maintain strong spiritual friendships and partnerships that help you persevere and flourish against life’s currents.

Let’s Reflect Together

• Who has stood with you shoulder to shoulder in your faith journey?
• How has community strengthened or challenged you lately?
• What steps can you take to deepen your connection with others in your spiritual family?
• In what ways can you offer support and encouragement to someone else facing their own battles?

Feel free to share your experiences or thoughts. Your story could encourage someone longing for fellowship or inspire others to strengthen their community walks.

What’s Next?

• Continue reading in the full book or download the PDF to explore more chapters.
• Invite friends or groups to join the journey, emphasizing the importance of unity.
• Keep growing together as you row against the flow—knowing that together, we’re stronger.

Thank you for embracing the call to stand shoulder to shoulder with fellow pilgrims. May your relationships be a source of grace, strength, and joy in the journey.

Chapter 11: Standing Shoulder to Shoulder

Healing in community is not the end of the journey—it’s the beginning of a new kind of courage. When wounds are tended and burdens shared, God’s people are equipped to stand together in the face of spiritual opposition. True resilience is not forged in isolation, but in the trenches of faithful friendship and communal resistance. The strength to endure and overcome is born when we lean on each other, offering and receiving support as we face the battles of life together.

The Gift and Call of Encouragement

Let’s take a moment to reflect on encouragement. When I encourage you, I’m lending some of my courage to you at a time when you’re just not feeling it. And then, when I’m struggling, you can return the gift, offering encouragement to me. Together, we build each other up and send one another forward into the mission of Jesus—to walk where Jesus walks, stop where he stops, and love whom he loves. This mutual encouragement is at the heart of Christian community.

And let us hold unwaveringly to the hope that we confess, for the one who made the promise is trustworthy. And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works, not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near. — Hebrews 10:23-25

The Power of Standing Together

Independence is prized in our culture, but in spiritual warfare, isolation is dangerous. In Still Waters: A Prayerful Guide to Following Jesus as Shepherd, I note that stragglers are easily picked off. Many of us think of ourselves as lone travelers, but this is highly dangerous in the spiritual realm. The enemy’s oldest strategy is to divide and isolate, whispering lies that grow louder when we’re alone. Scripture offers a different vision: God’s people are called to lock arms, carry one another’s burdens, and fight side by side.

Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor. For if they fall, one will help his companion up, but pity the person who falls down and has no one to help him up. — Ecclesiastes 4:9–10

Grief, Loss, and the Ministry of Presence

Today marks the 21st anniversary of the birth of my daughter Ella. Heather is at the graveside and I’m here with you. Just now, I looked up from my computer to see a dear Christian neighbor walking up with a bouquet of 21 roses and some cupcakes in memory of our girl. I’m processing the loss, and so are our neighbors and so many other friends. With some choked-back sobs, I receive the reminder from Jesus that we’re not in this alone and shouldn’t even try to press on by ourselves. Our grief has knit us together with so many others and provided a conduit for love, empathy, and community. What the devil meant for evil, God has meant for good.

United in the Fire

Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were more than survivors—they were a band of brothers, forged by adversity and bound by faith. When the heat was turned up, they stood together, refusing to bow to fear or compromise. Here they are again called by their Babylonian names.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to King Nebuchadnezzar, “We do not need to give you a reply concerning this. If our God whom we are serving exists, he is able to rescue us… But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue that you have erected.” — Daniel 3:16–18

Their unity was their strength. When one faltered, the others stood firm. When fear threatened, they prayed as one. Their story is a living testimony: not merely resisting Babylon, but creating a small outpost of Yahweh’s kingdom in the very heart and the heat of empire.

Living the Story: Graceland, Sierra Leone

Recently, I had the privilege of traveling to Sierra Leone with my friends Britan and Cyrus, bringing the message and practices from the first nine chapters of this book into new territory. Cyrus, always ready for an adventure and passionate about photography, joined me for sunrise and sunset excursions. One morning, before dawn, we journeyed to a remote village with a heavy history—a place once known as Rofinka, which means “starvation” in the local Timne language. The name itself was a curse, spoken years ago by a wandering madman who, after being turned away while begging for food, walked naked through the village, loudly proclaiming “Rofinka, Rofinka, Rofinka!” The villagers, perhaps out of resignation or dark humor, adopted the name. Over time, it became woven into their identity, to the point that when someone was desperately hungry, they would say, “Well, I do live in Starvation.”

Entering the Village: History and Hesitation

We arrived with Dr. Roland, who leads a ministry (impactalife.org) in the region and whose own family history is deeply tied to the village. For Roland, this was not just another stop—it was a return to a place of personal pain, as his grandfather had been the village chief, a man who wielded spiritual power through animistic practices. The weight of generational wounds and spiritual darkness was palpable. As we entered, we noticed women preparing cassava leaves and rice over open fires, getting ready for the market. The everyday rhythms of life continued, but there was an undercurrent of heaviness. The cooking fire was next to a sorcery hut. Even Dr. Roland was hesitant, burdened by memories and the spiritual legacy of the place.

A Moment of Bold Prayer

Our friend Cyrus nudged us to engage with the community. After a brief conversation with the elders, he encouraged me to pray for the village. Always up for a new experience with my “Yes on the table,” I found myself suddenly leading the prayer—speaking words of blessing, calling on the Creator, and asking in the name of Jesus for a new story and a new name for this people. “Would you give them a new name, like love or hope or peace?” As I prayed, I kept my eyes closed, but a crowd had been gathering. I must have been praying aloud for a while. What began as a simple prayer soon drew a crowd; elders and townspeople gathered, some curious, some hopeful. We prayed for God’s presence to break the curse of “starvation,” to bring unity, love, and provision. We asked that the village would no longer be defined by lack or shame, but by the abundance and grace of God. On the way back to breakfast, Cyrus dreamed of a day when someone would come to this village and ask its name. “Why is this village called the community of love?” “Well, we used to be called Starvation, and then this pastor showed up one day and prayed for us, and we decided that we didn’t want to be called that anymore.”

The Power of Renaming: From Rofinka to Graceland

Weeks after our visit, the ministry team from Mankneh—committed to holistic outreach, community development, and gospel witness—spent enough time and shared enough love that the elders had a question for them. “What do you think we should be called?” The village decided on a new name: “Graceland.” This act of renaming was not just a symbolic gesture to me. It was a declaration of God’s power to rewrite stories, break generational curses, and bring light where there was only darkness. The smiles on the villagers’ faces as we prayed, the openness of the elders, and the sense of hope that lingered after our time together were all signs that something real had shifted. The story of Graceland is now a living testimony: a community once defined by a curse is learning to walk in blessing, dignity, and new identity as they encounter Jesus and His people.

Reflection

1. What names or labels have you or your community carried that need to be surrendered to God?
2. Where is God inviting you to pray for a new name, a new story, or a new beginning?
3. How can you, your group, or your church stand together to break cycles of shame and speak blessing over places of pain?

Prayer

Father, for every place and person who has inherited a name of shame, lack, or pain, we ask for freedom and a new identity. Bring Your light to Graceland and to every “starvation village” in our lives. Make a clear distinction between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light. May many see, fear, and put their trust in You. Amen.

Living the story of Graceland is a reminder that when we stand shoulder to shoulder—praying, blessing, and believing together—God can bring hope and transformation to even the most unlikely places.

The Enemy’s Tactics: Divide and Isolate

The enemy’s oldest strategy is to divide and isolate. He sows suspicion, shame, and comparison—anything to keep us from locking arms and standing together. When we are alone, our wounds fester, our defenses weaken, and our resolve crumbles.

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that forsakes the living God. But exhort one another each day, as long as it is called “Today,” that none of you may become hardened by sin’s deception. — Hebrews 3:12–13

We all go through the “fire,” even if we’re not being executed for our allegiance to Yahweh. All around the world, many of our brothers and sisters are suffering for speaking the name of Jesus—these are our family, the body of Christ, enduring the fire of persecution. But even when our trials aren’t persecution, we still encounter fires of a different kind: the dissolution of a marriage, the death of a loved one, the mental breakdown of a family member, or the loss of a job or dream. These are the furnaces of our everyday lives.

In these moments, the question is: Can you see Jesus walking with you? We’ve learned that He is magnetically drawn to our brokenness—He walks with the brokenhearted and now we see that He is with us in the fire. I’ve heard so many stories, both in Scripture and from fellow believers, that back up this claim: Jesus is ever-present in our trials and faithful to provide courage and comfort. Sometimes the fire is not removed, but His presence transforms it. Sometimes we come out without even the smell of smoke; other times, we bear scars that become testimonies of His faithfulness.

The Early Church Prays for Boldness

When they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind and said, “Master of all, … grant your servants to speak your message with great courage…” When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God courageously. — Acts 4:23–31

You can’t get much more bold than to speak of Jesus in the face of opposition to His claim of universal dominion. Speaking truth in love to power is the essence of the Jesus life. The early church knew they needed more boldness—of course they did. That’s a very difficult proposition, but together in prayer, their courage grew.

Real-World Application: Courage in Partnership

My assignment from King Jesus is to multiply disciplemakers to all nations, and one of my main enjoyments in life is to train disciplemakers. We end up spending lots of time in and for our city while we walk the streets and cover our city with prayer. It’s amazing how having someone alongside emboldens you to pray big things for a neighborhood. We end up being led to pray for homes and marriages to come alive, for relationships to become restored, that Jesus would be elevated as Lord. The prayer and the partnership embolden us to take the next step to share our experiences with Jesus when we meet people along the way.

Reflection

1. Where have you tried to stand alone in your struggles?
2. Who are your “battle companions” in this season?
3. Share a time when someone’s presence helped you persevere or heal.
4. Is there a burden you’re carrying that you need to bring into the light with someone else?
5. Can you reach out and pray for someone who is fighting alone?

ROW Application

• Repent: Confess any pride, shame, or fear that keeps you from reaching out for help.
• Obey: Take a step to invite someone into your struggle or offer support to another.
• Worship: Thank God for the gift of community and for the ways He shows up when we stand together.

Next Steps

• Journal: Who are the people you can call when the battle gets fierce? What’s one step you can take to deepen those relationships?
• Community Action: Schedule a time to pray with a friend or group this week. Share honestly and ask for prayer.
• Scripture Memory:

Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor. For if they fall, one will help his companion up… — Ecclesiastes 4:9–10

Prayer Focus

Lord Jesus, Thank You for calling us out of isolation and into Your family. Forgive us for the ways we have tried to fight alone, for the pride or fear that keeps us from reaching out. Knit us together as a community of courage and compassion. Give us eyes to see those who are struggling and hearts willing to stand with them. Strengthen our unity, deepen our honesty, and make us bold in prayer. May we resist the schemes of the enemy not as individuals, but as a body—shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart. Fill us with Your Spirit, that we might bear one another’s burdens and become a living testimony of Your love and power. In Your name, Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Standing shoulder to shoulder, we become more than survivors—we become a community that resists, endures, and brings the hope of Yahweh’s kingdom into the heart of every battle.

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