Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,
Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ!
As we join with Christians around the world in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – January 18-25, 2026, we rejoice in the theme taken from The Letter of Paul to the Ephesians:
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling.”
Ephesians 4:4
This theme speaks deeply to us as the Sword of the Spirit, an international community of covenant charismatic Christian communities. We are a people from many nations, languages, and traditions, yet bound together by one covenant and one Spirit. What unites us is not human effort, but the grace of God poured out through Christ and sealed in us by the Holy Spirit.
At this time in history, when division, confusion, and hostility often mark the world, the Lord is calling us to be living witnesses of His desire for unity. Our covenant life, our commitment to one another, and our ecumenical mission are not small things – they are signs to the wider Church that Jesus’ prayer, “that they may all be one” (John 17:21), is still alive and being fulfilled in our day.
As we celebrate this week, let us remember three encouragements:
- Hold fast to the hope of our calling – The unity we long for is not simply organizational, but spiritual and eternal. It is rooted in the hope of resurrection, of the Kingdom fully revealed, of Christ all in all.
- Deepen our love for one another – Unity is not only proclaimed but lived. Our relationships across communities and traditions must reflect the humility, forgiveness, and charity of Christ Himself.
- Be bold in witness – The world longs for hope and reconciliation. When we live as one people in Christ, across barriers of culture, denomination, and background, our very life together becomes a proclamation of the Gospel.
Beloved brothers and sisters, take courage! The Spirit who unites us is faithful. The God who has begun a good work in us will carry it on to completion. As we pray with the whole Body of Christ this week, may we be renewed in our mission to build covenant communities, to strengthen bonds of unity, and to shine as a sign of God’s Kingdom on earth.
With love in Christ and confidence in His Spirit!
Manny de los Santos
International President
Sword of the Spirit
This article by Manny de los Santos is excerpted from the Sword of the Spirit Week of Prayers for Christian Unity, © 2026.
See links to the week of daily prayers, reflections, and personal witnesses:
- Verse for the year
- Introduction
- From the International President
- Day 1: Sunday, January 18 – Our Calling
- Day 2: Monday, January 19 – Bearing With One Another in Love
- Day 3: Tuesday, January 20 – The Bond of Peace
- Day 4: Wednesday, January 21 – Called to One Hope
- Day 5: Thursday, January 22 – One Faith, One Baptism
- Day 6: Friday, January 23 – One Lord and Father
- Day 7: Saturday, January 24 – God’s Gift Given in Baptism
- Day 8: Sunday, January 25 – Growing Into Christ
- Spanish translation in PDF format.
Top image credit: Sunset with cross on hill, spiritual landscape and reflection concept. AI generated. ID 348068545 © Volodymyr Konko | Dreamstime.com Used with permission.
Manny de los Santos is a leader in the Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon Community in Manila, Philippines. He currently serves as the International President of the Sword of the Spirit.