This article was initially published at churchleaders.com

When I helped develop Angie’s List (now Angi’s), a database enabling users to search for home service contractors, I knew those listing their services weren’t necessarily happy being displayed alongside their competitors. Yet something unexpected happened as more opted in: they built a community benefitting millions of people looking for home help. This, in turn, benefitted the service providers as well.

In my work with other large chains (Blockbuster, Boston Market, and Einstein/Noah Bagel, to name just a few), I became fascinated with a concept I call “collective might,” which is simply the idea that joining together unlocks benefits we wouldn’t have access to individually. In biblical terms, “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor” (Ecclesiastes. 4:9).

In business terms, a collective might involve consolidating contributions (money, information, goods, and services) to benefit from scale—merging and streamlining so everyone wins.

Collective might is central to the mission of the Church today. God designed us to collaborate. In a time when leaders are tired, weary of division, and unable to scale how they want to serve, leveraging the power of collective might—with each of us playing our unique part—is the best way forward. Collective might doesn’t just apply to large-scale ecosystems like the Church, but rather, it can be released at every level—from cities and associations to any given church and its members. 

For collective might to be released, certain factors need to be present, namely relationships and connectivity.

This led us to start Gloo, the platform that releases the collective might of the faith ecosystem. Every day, we connect ministry leaders to people, opportunities, content, and more so they can ultimately change more lives. 

One example is He Gets Us, the most prominent national ad campaign inviting people to explore Jesus. The campaign’s message—that Jesus understands our human struggles—shows up online, at sporting events on billboards, and in TV ads, including two spots in the 2023 Super Bowl, which reached over 100 million people.

One group alone couldn’t handle the creative, marketing, funding, prayer, and connection points needed to power a movement that reaches people at this scale. Gloo stepped in to create more connections between the campaign and churches who want to get involved. This significant effort has only come to fruition through multiple participants contributing their talents, skills, and resources.

Collective might create opportunities that may otherwise not have existed. At Gloo, we work with partners who connect with new people through outreach ads, content, prayer, and events. When individuals intersect with these partners and respond with questions about faith,or a need for prayer or support, we connect them with nearby churches or ministries.

With more than 200,000 connections made, we’ve only scratched the surface of our potential. These connections showcase the power of collective might to create opportunities to help every person be all they were born to be.

A pastor recently shared a text that he received from a church volunteer responding to people who reach out through the He Gets Us campaign. It read, “Hey man, I got my first call for prayer. It went well. Thank you for the opportunity to serve in this way. I haven’t been able to meet with someone like this and pray with them since the pandemic began. Strangely, I feel alive again!”

One word sticks out: strangely. The volunteer was surprised by this new way to be part of God’s work. When we release collective might, we create new opportunities and an environment where people can feel alive again.

Everyone’s calling is different. You may serve on the frontline of a ministry, helping people grow through a small group or a recovery program. You may be a church planter in rural America or a bustling city. Maybe you’re an influencer pushing out great content. Or perhaps you’re a donor looking for ways to steward well for kingdom impact. Regardless, we need each other to release the power of our collective might. If two are better than one, then know that you have a role to play.

Connect with friends or colleagues and see where you can contribute your time, talents, or treasure. And watch as God does things you never thought were possible.

Join Gloo to get connected today.