There isn't a right or wrong way, I laughed, as multicoloured buttons of all shapes and sizes rolled across the table. It's what you want to do with them.

In London we enjoy celebrations. So, we decided to hold a Sisters' Day with a difference, drawing on the various backgrounds, gifts and interests of members and friends. Instead of focusing on building up 'the church', we used the day to welcome in friends and colleagues.

In the afternoon we split into different groups - a mystery hike, teddy-bear making, and a kiddies painting corner. My card-making zone revealed some great creative talent from Korean, Eung-ju.

Meanwhile Susan headed the kitchen party, discovering that Jana, from the Czech Republic, was a dab hand at making scones.

The dining room was transformed into a formal English tea party, featuring lace cloths, silver cake-stands and Mrs Carol Wain as the hostess with the mostest, ringing the bell and dispensing cups of tea from a cat-covered teapot. One of the youngest sisters there, seven-year-old Joy, said: "I liked the little cakes with pink icing and making the teddy-bear best."

"The Nations" was the theme of the evening. Sue introduced it by speaking of God's gift of "joy in His house of prayer" to the foreigner (Isaiah 56:6-8), and then many shared on some aspect of their culture. Mayumi, from Japan, raised a big laugh as she demonstrated differences in personal space, starting with a bow (Japanese), advanced to shaking hands (English), and then suddenly flinging her arms round Sue in a demonstration of what Brazilians do, allegedly. In contrast Nina, from Lithuania, wept as she recalled what it was like to live under a communist regime. Afterwards we offered 'leaves' to one another - symbols of the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:2)

In 1995 London Jesus Fellowship Church was given a prophecy: "You will call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that knows you not will run to you." Now we have over thirty nations in our congregation.

Like the buttons, we are all different. God wants to make something beautiful with us. Not all of these women will stay with us. Not all are believers in Jesus. But, as we move out into other areas of London, and beyond, we can communicate the creative love of God, and demonstrate the unity that is found only at the cross of Christ.