Canadian House Church Resource Network
N E W S L E T T E R S
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WELCOME! to the 6th edition of the
CANADIAN HOUSE CHURCH RESOURCE NETWORK
N e w s l e t t e r
June 2002 edition
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CANADIAN HOUSE CHURCH RESOURCE NETWORK:
1. Update on Regional Conferences on House Churches
* Upcoming WOLFGANG SIMSON visit in the Planning Stages
Events -
· Guelph Vineyard Seminar
· What's Happening in Montreal?
HOUSE CHURCHES AS A VITAL PART OF DISCIPLING
THE NATION/S
2. Stories of What God is Doing In and Through House Churches in Other Nations
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· INDIA: Chicken in Court / House Churches
MUST READS
3. It Isn't the Form - Why House Church Isn't the Answer
4. FAITH IN THE WORK PLACE
5. Ten Myths About Church Leavers
6. A Bigger Ghetto or a Brighter Bride
7. Theology of Everyday Life
GREAT COMMISSION PERSPECTIVES
8. House Churches and Their Vital Roles in the Great Commission - (locally and
overseas)
* Missions Resource Links
* Serving as Senders Resources
* Tentmaking/Business Resource Links
* House Churches and the Great Commission Links
CITY REACHING
9. ALPHAS as a Potential Nursery for House Churches
10. Reaching our Cities with House Churches and Cell Groups
11. a) Ethnic Harvest Ministry Resources
b) Ethnic Worship & Arts Focus
c) Ethnic Worship & Arts Focus e-Newsletter (free)
d) Great Commission Worship & Arts Center - Surrey
e) International Worship & Arts Network
RESOURCES
12. Testimonies of House Churchers - Opportunity
13. Topics: Studies for House Churches
14.. Beyond Tithes and Offerings - book
15. Marks of A Church - Powerpoint Presentation
16. Canadian House Church Online Database
17. Sample Core Values of A House Church Movement
18.. Canadian House Church Resource Newsletter - now available in text format
19. Keeping Your Contact Info With Us Current
20. Canadian House Church Resource Network PowerPoint presentation
21. Save the World - Plant a House Church - Training Manual to download
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1. UPDATE ON REGIONAL CONFERENCES ON HOUSE CHURCHES in Canada
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Upcoming WOLFGANG SIMSON visit in the Planning Stages
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We have been keeping you updated on cross-Canada plans about having Wolfgang
Simson, author of HOUSES THAT CHANGE THE WORLD, coming to speak and spending
some time in a number of Canadian cities for a week in 2003. Though the dates
are not finalized, the new tentative dates are the 7 days up to and including
Nov.19-21, 2003. We will keep you posted. Wolfgang will likely be visiting 4
cities during his stay. We are sorry he won't be able to visit everyone who
wishes to have him due to the limited time he will have here. Thank you for
understanding.
EVENTS
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Report on "The Church in Your House" Seminar
Sponsored by Guelph Vineyard Christian Fellowship - April 12th/13th, 2002
- by Allen Remley
===============
Guelph Vineyard Christian Fellowship has been seeking the
Lord about the merits of a house church structure for the past year. One step
in that process was to invite house church planters Tony and Felicity Dale from
Austin, Texas to present a week-end seminar to the Vineyard congregation.
Part of the promotion for the seminar included advertising
on the Dale's House2House website. This resulted in 60+ people gathering from
great distances to hear the Dale's speak. Participants came from Pennsylvania,
Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island!
Topics covered included:
------------------------------------
House Church DNA / Evangelism and the "Man of Peace" Principle / Making
Disciples: Steps to Producing Biblical Leadership / Transitioning Traditional
Structures into Emerging House Church Networks / That The World May Know-A Call
To Mission in the Power of the Holy Spirit
The Dale's use a team-teaching approach and both gave highly engaging talks.
There were many highlights that people commented on:
- the various stories of house church plants that Tony and Felicity had initiated.
- the necessity of keeping things simple and "duplicate-able".
- the critical role of prayer in beginning and sustaining house churches
In private conversations the Dale's spent time with various
leaders discussing and advising them on their individual questions. This advice
was always given with humility, freedom and much "hard-earned" wisdom.
Leaders at Guelph Vineyard felt that the seminar was a pivotal event in their
church's history and look forward to the fruit coming from it.
For more info, contact: Allen Remley - alkarem@hotmail.com
===============
What's Happening in Montreal?
===============
From the "Montreal Melange" -
A newsletter featuring church planting work in Montreal, Canada - Vol.4, March
2002
By: Phillip & Kandace Connor, St.-Laurent, QC CANADA - pkconnor@bellnet.ca
"…Growing a few people at a time
When we sent out our last newsletter we only had the Chinese house church going.
Since then God has brought other Christians into our lives who are interested
in being a part of a house church. One couple, R. & R. (originally from
Panama), would like to start a Spanish speaking group. We have been meeting
with them and they are ready to begin - God even brought some of their friends
to study with us last Sunday!
Another group started with a couple of post-graduate, second-generation Asian friends. E. (Vietnamese from France) and N.K. (Korean from Montreal) have a desire to make the good news of Jesus applicable and accessible to their friends. They are great about inviting their friends to come and discuss the Bible. In April we will be starting a Bible study especially for their friends, so we pray that this will be the beginning of a new house church. E. and N.K. are also a part of our team going to Southeast Asia in August.
Good friends
We met and Indian family on a canoeing trip in August. A couple of years ago
they immigrated from the state of Gujarat in India. Since then we have become
good friends and have enjoyed meals at each other's homes. They are of the high,
priestly caste and so are devout Hindus. We were a little surprised the first
time we ate dinner at their house when they opened the cupboard near the table
and presented a plate of food to their gods. They are very open to discuss spiritual
things, so we have enjoyed sharing with them about what we believe and hearing
about their beliefs. At Christmas we gave them a Jesus film in Gujararti. This
made a big impression on them because it was the first film they ever saw in
their local language. M. told us that she wanted to see it many more times to
be able to understand it better. We are thankful for their friendship and pray
that one day they might know the One God who is above all others.
Summer's coming, eh?
…There are a few special events already on the calendar.
? MAY - A group from a Massachusetts church is coming over a long weekend to
prayerwalk and reach out to international peoples here.
? JUNE - College students from Alabama are focusing on the Vietnamese community
when they come for a week in the middle of the month. They will be prayerwalking
in specific areas as well as preparing bilingual French/Vietnamese gospels of
Luke for a mass mailing. These will be sent to the majority of the 30,000 Vietnamese
here and will include a card offering a free Jesus film.
? JULY - World Changers (volunteer teenagers from all over North America) are
coming again. We will be working with one "crew" at a multi-ethnic
apartment complex and pray that we will be able to establish relationships there.
? AUGUST - We will be heading up a team of 6 to Southeast Asia in the later
part of the month. There we will meet friends of friends, prayerwalk, and develop
relationships in which to share the hope that is in us.
? ??? - There will possibly be a combined summer retreat for all the house church
groups. This would be a time for them to meet one another and really see the
potential for churches in all ethnic groups in the city. "
*** website in progress
#### HOUSE CHURCHES AS A VITAL PART OF DISCIPLING THE NATION/S ####
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2. Stories About What God is Doing In and Through House Churches Around the
World
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INDIA: Chicken in court / house churches
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F R I D A Y F @ X: Issue 5, February 1, 2002
FridayFax archive
In Madya Pradesh a poor man, H., was charged with evangelistic activity and appeared in court. He took a chicken to the hearing. When the judge asked why he had brought it, he explained that he would sell it in order to buy the bus ticket for the 30-mile ride back home. The judge immediately dropped all charges, because he considered it impossible that such a poor man could be involved in any evangelistic activity. A policeman testified that Harilal is so poor that his hut does not even have a door - there is nothing in it worth stealing. However, H., who really is poor and can neither read nor write, "is one of the region's most effective church planters," according to Victor Choudhrie.
Church planting movements spread
Choudhrie also reports that house churches were planted in 1,200 villages in
central India during 2001, and in a total of 2,600 central Indian villages since
1997. The actual number of churches is much higher because many villages have
more than one house church. The house church planting movement, relatively new
to India, has also begun to take foot in other Indian states such as Maharashtra,
Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Orissa. Despite harsh punishments for Christian baptisms
in Madhya Pradesh, Chatisgarh and Orissa, some 25,000 people have been baptised
in the last 4 years. "The increasing persecution of Christians and the
rural population's bitter poverty don't make for an easy life in any way, but
they do not stop the spread of Christianity," says Choudhrie. Source: Dr.
Victor Choudhrie
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MUST READS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @
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3. It Isn't the Form - Why
House Church Isn't the Answer
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5. Ten Myths
About Church Leavers
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"Despite the almost mantra-like status of the statement "people are leaving the church" there still appears to be little understanding about who is leaving, when they leave, why they leave, and what happens to them and their faith after they leave. Of course everyone has their own view on these issues but few, especially our church leaders, have taken the time to sit down and talk with an actual leaver or two"
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6. A Bigger
Ghetto or a Brighter Bride
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"Mike McMillan is an ardent follower of Christ who calls into question the ghetto-like nature of much of our so called 'Christian' activity. Should we, he asks, be putting our energies into building a bigger ghetto, or becoming a brighter Bride?"
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7. Theology of
Everyday Life
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8. HOUSE CHURCHES and their VITAL ROLES IN THE GREAT COMMISSION (locally and
overseas)
- Grace Wiebe (Feb, 2002)
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Historically, believers that have met in homes for New Testament-style fellowship/equipping of the saints have been vital carriers of the Gospel into their neighborhoods, the marketplace and beyond. In New Testament times they trained, equipped and supported missionaries, as well as funded the advancement of the Kingdom of God. They also provided for needs in the Body more extensively than the Church has been able to do since it institutionalized.
I believe there are several key reasons why they were able to be so much more
effective in the pushing forward of the Kingdom then than the Church has been
since.
In addition to what has been stated in an earlier article
on house churches being
a vital part of discipline the nations, I would like to stress some ways
house churches can potentially help to more effectively free up the Church to
BE the equippers, trainers, selectors, senders, supporters of missionaries and
advancers of the Kingdom of God locally and internationally.
Some years ago while I was the Personnel Director in the Canadian HQ of the international (interdenominational) mission that I'm with (which seeks to plant indigenous house churches among Muslims), there were a number of things that I felt could potentially be improved upon regarding the advancement of the Kingdom of God if the Church that gathers in homes would begin to see her vital role in the Great Commission - not only locally but also overseas.
Though house churches may be small and may seem insignificant,
as they're networked together they can become a massive force in seeing the
purposes of God carried out.
The traditional church, as it stands, is not able to accomplish these things on her own. All who 'seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness' are needed to work together to see the purposes of His heart come to pass through His Spirit and power!
TRAINING/EQUIPPING
It's been sad for me, in my work, to see how many missionary
candidates have not really been discipled one on one, in a small group or in
the areas of their gifts, etc. It seems that 'discipleship' in our traditional
churches means quite another thing than it meant in the New Testament. Today,
discipleship generally means a Bible study, prayer and some discussion on perhaps
a weekly basis, in addition to regular church attendance. Or perhaps also attending
a Bible college/seminary, etc. The focus is mostly on academic learning.
Biblical discipleship, however, is more concerned about a holistic approach with training in cerebral aspects, but which also includes skills/ministry/gifts training, development of godly character and spiritual disciplines in hands-on situations in everyday life. It is also very relational, with usually a more experienced believer mentoring/discipling a less experienced believer. The relationship is very two-way and a blessing to both parties. The example of Jesus discipling His disciples shows how discipleship was a total life experience. Jesus took His trainees with Him wherever He went and got them involved. (A very helpful article on a more holistic approach to training/discipleship can be found here. I believe this is one reason why short term missions/ministries are continually increasing in popularity. Most people these days seem to WANT to be mentored/discipled and be INVOLVED as a WHOLE PERSON, and short term/summer teams can provide that type of opportunity, albeit short term.
Missions are often needing to send missionaries to 'disciple' others who, themselves,
have never really been discipled themselves. This is not to criticize institutional
churches, but to encourage us to consider how much more effective missionaries
could be if they WERE discipled in a way more closely resembling New Testament
discipleship. How grateful I am for the 'spiritual mothers and fathers' that
God has given me the privilege of having in my life to mentor/disciple me in
various ways over the years! I believe there is a tremendous call for this in
these days.
I believe that in the future, house churches and house church networks can,
more effectively than we as traditional churches/missions have tended to in
the past, provide the kind of training and development that missionary candidates
need prior to being sent abroad or even to local ministry involvements. As it
says in Eph. 4, God has provided the Church with pastors, teachers, prophets,
apostles and evangelists to prepare/equip God's people for works of service.
So often the potential of that has been stunted by the structures that hinder
the type of growth and development possible through a house church model. In
a house church environment it is much more feasible for everyone to get involved
and develop/exercise their gifts as they minister in conjunction with people
with other gifts and as they learn from those more mature in their giftings.
One example of a very important aspect of training often
lacking in the background of missionary candidates is in the area of interpersonal
skills and/or in learning to work together as a team. Being a part of a house
church/house church network can greatly help to develop all of these areas if
there is a willingness to learn and grow in accordance with Scripture.
Unresolved interpersonal conflicts are one of the main reasons missionaries come home early or 'crash and burn'. It is vital to learn how to have biblically healthy relationships in our families, teams and churches if we want to be effective in ministry and if we want to see healthy house churches birthed and reproducing. House churches can potentially provide a place to learn how to develop in the area of interpersonal skills in a way which usually can't be experienced in the traditional church model.
'SERVING AS SENDERS'
In my parent's generation, most missionaries seemed to be
sent out by their denominations. People tended to support missionaries/missions
through their churches/denominations. Often they wouldn't even know the missionary
personally. People didn't seem to have the same desires as the current generation
in wanting to be much more personally involved with 'their missionary'. Many
today are also inclined to want to more actively participate in the ministry
of 'their missionary' and to feel like they are a partner in what is happening,
rather than just sending money and praying.
This is a great encouragement to many missionaries because
often missionaries that are being supported by bigger churches or by denominations
do not feel very connected to their support base. They sometimes end up feeling
more like just one of a number of missionaries from that church. This can be
very painful for a missionary who is really feeling the need to connect after
being away a long time. Missionaries 'home on furlough' often have to spend
a lot of time and energy -- during what should be some 'down time' for them
-- seeking to raise more prayer and financial support, sometimes across several
nations. Often schedules at their churches are so tight that they may only have
an hour or so with their pastor and may only have a few minutes to share their
vision and reports in a service. While I trust the pastors are doing the best
they can to accommodate them, this can be very disheartening to a missionary
whose heart is full and who desperately wants their support base to understand
a bit of what they've experienced, both the highlights and the struggles. But
often people in their congregations don't know them well enough to know the
kinds of questions to ask, or perhaps they don't feel comfortable enough to
make more than a few polite comments when they do connect.
From a missionary's perspective, support is not only needed
in terms of finances and prayer, but is also greatly needed in terms of spiritual
support / encouragement, loving accountability, friendship, nurturing, face
to face nitty gritty prayer, etc.
A missionary home from 'the field' is already experiencing
much grief in having to leave a people, country and friends they love. They're
also experiencing the stresses of re-entering their home culture. Often they
are feeling very disoriented because much has changed since they left their
homeland, including friendships / relationships. They want to deeply connect
with people close to them who know them well enough that they feel they can
be open and honest with them. People who have been supporting them all along
and will continue to support them while they're trying to regroup and regain
strength before returning overseas again
In such a situation a missionary's house church or local
house church network can be a strong support base and really help to more deeply
and more quickly rejuvenate them.
A house church can be a wonderful support in helping to train,
equip and prepare missionaries to go, as well as be a huge encouragement to
them while they're on the field. Perhaps even people from the house church or
network can visit them on the field, or a team from the house church or local
network can go over to help with a specific ministry or project.
A missionary's house church/network can also be a huge encouragement
to a missionary when they have finished their assignment overseas and are back
in their home country, as well, helping them to get back on their feet in a
country which has become foreign to them in many ways.
Home churches/networks can meet many needs which a traditional church is not as able to meet.
CANDIDATE SELECTION PROCESS
Frequently, in reading the references of potential missionary
candidates, I noticed that the pastor or missions leaders don't really know
the missionary candidate or even know the missionary very well - for whatever
reason. Consequently, it can sometimes be difficult to know whether the applicant
is adequately equipped to go on a specific assignment. This would not likely
be the case where a house church/network sent out a missionary. There could
be much more assurance that there is loving mutual accountability, that the
relationships are deep and the candidate is well known. If specific areas would
need more work before a person was ready to go overseas, that could be more
easily remedied.
If a house church network would decide to develop their own missionary training/sending/selection process, it could be kept so much simpler than it is in most churches/missions simply because of the depth of the relationships and the intimate knowledge of the person.
PLANTING A MODEL WHICH THEY'VE ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED
Over the years the mission I've been serving with has developed
ways to intern and train planters of house churches on site. But we began years
ago by sending over many missionaries who were attempting to plant house churches
who had never been a part of or perhaps even witnessed a house church in action
(simply because there were not many around to observe or participate in). It
is very difficult to try to reproduce something one hasn't seen or experienced.
Because of the increasing numbers of restricted access nations
into which missionaries are not allowed officially, I believe that in coming
years it will be even more necessary to see house churches planted. It will
be crucial to train/send church planters who will know how to start a house
church because they have been part of one themselves -- people who have started
one or more in their home town before going overseas. Internships locally or
overseas can become a major way to raise up/train future missionaries/church
planters.
Another way house churches can be vital to equipping, training and sending missionaries or equipping people for local ministry is by working together with other local house churches who also have a heart for evangelism and reaching the city/nation/beyond. They can also work together with other local churches, missions/ministries who are working with local unreached groups - ie. ethnic peoples, prostitutes, street people, widows, handicapped, elderly, single parents, teens, apartment dwellers, unwed mothers, prisoners, the poor and needy, etc. Teams of people from house church networks can provide opportunities for on-site mentoring and opportunities to learn how to minister to specific groups of people in a hands-on way with people one is vitally connected with.
FINANCING GREAT COMMISSION VISION THROUGH HOUSE CHURCHES
Coming from a couple decades of involvement in missions,
the last 12 years being full-time with a faith mission, it has become increasingly
clear that it's become almost impossible to see necessary funds continue to
come in to meet the multiplying needs of the churches, the poor and needy, refugees,
widows and orphans, etc., and to accomplish the Great Commission if we as believers
expect all or most of it to come from traditional sources of missions giving.
I used to struggle with some resentment towards churches
in general because of this growing lack, but as God worked in my heart in this
regard, He began to show me that not only did my attitude need to change, but
my perspective needed to change. Rather than focusing on traditional churches
to finance the Great Commission, I felt He wanted to show alternate avenues
of providing for the financial needs in seeing the Kingdom of God advancing
internationally. I've been greatly encouraged in reading Scriptures which talk
about God's restoring of the wealth of nations to His Church in the last days
in order to see His purposes coming about. I believe we are in the transition
into that time.
Church's budgets are stretched to the max with their growing
staff, congregations, programs, ministries and accompanying building projects.
So for them to be able to set aside the kind of money that can potentially meet
the growing needs of seeing the Great Commission accomplished is pretty well
impossible as things stand.
The current generation does not have the same view of missions
as our parent's generation often did. I believe God is wanting to change our
paradigm in this also, and is encouraging us to think creatively about ways
that we can work together to participate in what God is doing throughout the
earth today. Obviously God is able to provide to get His purposes accomplished,
so what is needed must be available. But I believe much has yet to be released
that is currently being held back, and that house churches will be one of God's
ways to help release vast amounts of resources into the purposes of God in the
coming years. Just the practical aspect of meeting together in homes will significantly
free up funds because of the low overhead costs, since there isn't a building
to pay for. Most often house churches don't have a paid pastor and instead have
multiple leaders who are perhaps 'tentmaking' in order to earn their living.
This can also free up the Church to use her money and resources to do the things
on God's heart.
How much more feasible, financially, to send a missionary from your house church or local house church network, send a summer team, start up a local home for unwed mothers or a soup kitchen, perhaps, with the additional funds saved and generated from a house church/network. And how much more joy for the house church/network when they are so much more closely involved with the missionary and the ministry! It would truly be a partnership on a much richer level than most people experience who support a missionary from a traditional church or denomination.
DEVELOPING TENTMAKING MODELS
If we truly believe that the life of Christ is to be integrated
into every aspect of our lives, 'tentmaking', as we see modeled in the New Testament,
can also potentially become an effective ministry into the marketplace - locally
and internationally. Imagine the ministry that could potentially develop by
discipling Christian business-people and reaching the lost through our businesses!
There is a growing need for missionaries heading to restricted
access nations to have a viable and legitimate entry strategy which not only
provides a visa and some income but which also provides enough flexibility so
that they don't necessarily have to work a 40-hour week - a strategy that allows
more time for them to be involved in reaching out to their neighbours/church
planting, as well as benefit the nation they're living in. One way to do the
above is to develop an effective tentmaking business in one's home country first
before going overseas where it could potentially be reproduced.
If house churchers who are tentmaking here or who have their own businesses here could potentially train missionaries in business to help prepare them for overseas tentmaking roles, it could be another way to help move forward the Great Commission and potentially provide a business platform for future national believers of the country a missionary is reaching out to.
In Muslim countries, for example, although we seek to see new believers staying within their communities in order to give them a platform to continue to share the Gospel with their people, they're often ostracized to the point where they can easily be completely cut off from their families/communities and thus also from an income. If they can then potentially gain some employment through the business, it can help not only them but potentially help to finance what God wants to do through that emerging church as well.
HOUSES OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS
Jesus said His house is to be a house of prayer for all nations.
Our homes have the incredible potential of becoming our 'ministry centers' as
well as local 'lighthouses of prayer' or places of refuge which can be incubators
for what God wants to do in reaching our neighbors, cities and nation, and other
nations.
MISSIONS MOBILIZATION
Being involved for many years in mobilizing potential missionaries,
it has not been difficult to figure out that with a very low percentage of believers
in Canada, with only a small percentage of them being Great Commission-minded,
there are not many people left for the many missions and ministries to mobilize.
Therefore, if God has called us to mobilize and help equip
those whom He's calling and stirring in these directions, we need to start from
the grass roots in developing Great Commission vision in believers in the local
churches/house churches so that there are more missionaries raised up and released
into the Harvest. Think of how effectively this can be done in a house church/house
church networking situation...and how quickly the vision of the Great Commission
will penetrate hearts as we begin to pray together for our neighbours, cities
and nation/s!
As we then begin to reach out to those we are praying for,
whom God leads us to serve and minister to, our heart for His Great Commission
will deepen and new missionaries will be being equipped/discipled and prepared
for His assignments for them locally or overseas.
IN CONCLUSION, these are some ways that house churches can increasingly become
a vital part of God's strategy to see His heart's desire coming to pass in these
last days - to see the Great Commission accomplished through the discipling
of nations by the power of the Holy Spirit reflected in a Christ-centered, New
Testament lifestyle impassioned by the life and Presence of Jesus!
Following are some resources to encourage you in these directions.
'SERVING AS SENDERS' Resources
HOUSE CHURCHES & THE GREAT COMMISSION
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A Missionary God
Back to the Future of Missions: The Case for Marketplace Ministry
Church
Planting Movements
A review of the booklet, Church Planting Movements by David Garrison of the
International Mission Board SBC. Lessons learned from rapid church planting
movements around the world are beautifully drawn out in this booklet available
free from the Southern Baptists.
Fellowship of Church Planters
The Fellowship of Church Planters began in 1985 in Rhode Island and now consists
of a network of autonomous teams in New England. We facilitate teams in other
countries. The teams are modeled after the apostolic bands in the New Testament
and are committed to planting reproducing networks of house churches.
We desire to ally with other church planting teams as well as promote relationships
between churches and teams which will enable a greater sharing of resources.
Our goal is to establish reproducing networks of house churches. By "house
church" we mean the church meeting as a family. Our house churches meet
in store fronts and business offices, in addition to homes.
They fellowship, often monthly, in large groups involving
numbers of congregations in addition to their family meetings.
The written material is available as a manual called Planting
House Churches in Networks
farides@aol.com. They also provide "The Church Planting Bulletin"
Attn: Craig Noll,
56 Hunts River Drive, North Kingstown, RI 02852 USA E-Mail: cnoll@ids.net
Global Cell Church Missions Summit
House
Church Opportunities for Supporting Missionaries/Ministries - or getting
involved in other ways - ie. prayer, financial, voluntary, short term or long
term overseas or locally, other, etc. This page will continue to develop. Let
us know if there are opportunities you'd like for us to consider posting.
Raising Up Spirit-anointed Leaders who Disciple Nations
Distance Learning at CHRISTIAN
LEADERSHIP UNIVERSITY
clu@cluonline.com
Christian Leadership University's educational model utilizes the Biblical and
historically-proven "discipling approach" used by Jesus. You will
experience individualized, specialized, one-on-one mentoring, allowing you to
develop your unique areas of giftedness and ministry. House-Church - THE331
2 credits - $188.00 - A look at the growing, world-wide house-church movement.
How to start and conduct a house-church. How to evangelize the world by a multiplication
of simple house-churches. (Option #1 - Be part of a functioning house-church
- 1 additional credit; Option #2 - Start a house-church - 1 additional credit).
School
of Int'l Studies - Cell Church Missions Network - outline and prerequisites,
etc.
The
Birthing of a New Missionary Movement
#1
The
Challenge of a Whole Country
The
House Church: A Missiological Model - by Del Birkey
The
Missionary Methods of Apostle Paul - by Fred Jonkman
The
Re-Emergence of the GlobaLocal Church - missional
What About the Great Commission?
++++++++++++++++ C I T Y R E A C HI N G +++++++++++++++++
(Editor's Note): - It has been very encouraging to hear from many of you your heart/vision to see house churches becoming a vital part of seeing your cities and our nation (and beyond) reached and transformed with the Gospel, Life and power of Jesus Christ! We therefore wish to include helpful resources to help encourage you in these directions.
While many are asking the question - HOW DO WE START A HOUSE CHURCH? - and while we are providing some glimpses of various models that are being used in these days because God does provide models for us to learn from, we would also want to caution against running with any model unless you have spent time seeking the Lord about what He is wanting to do in YOUR situation and in YOUR neighbourhood or community. He knows the people in your neighbourhoods/cities and He has His plans for what He wants to see happen there. He may want to do something which looks quite different than what we/you had envisioned in order to accomplish HIS purposes. The underlying biblical principles and requirements for His Church gathered will remain the same, but what that looks like in your situation may be quite different than it looks in your friend's neighbourhood a few blocks away…
#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#
9. ALPHAS as a Potential Nursery for House Churches
- by Sally Start, ALPHA Canada (sallystart@alphacanada.org)
#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#
"The Alpha Course, based as it is on fellowship, a meal, a reproducible talk (on video), and a small group discussion, is an ideal vehicle for birthing or building house churches. The average size course in Canada has eighteen guests out of which approximately one third are not currently churchgoers. 29% of the courses in Canada are held in a home, which is an ideal place to welcome and nurture the seeker.
Many people attending Alpha Courses in Canada say that they are not interested
in "church" per se. Some have had dry or even toxic experiences and
have been turned off "traditional" church. They see it as largely
irrelevant to their lives. The easy(?), non-threatening, fun and hands on experience
of Christianity which they find in an Alpha setting is what they have been thirsty
for and, as the course draws to a close, the group will often express its wish
to stay together and to carry on meeting to study God's word and to continue
the journey of faith that has been started with this new group of friends.
One young university student expressed how many feel by the
end of the eleven-week program. "I feel very close to the people in Alpha.
Maybe more so than most other people I know," he said "I think it
has to do with the level at which we communicate - not just superficially -
I'm normally not one for getting close to people, so for me this type of relationship
is very rewarding."
When the church is not attractive to the new convert the
leaders have a dilemma in that they feel a responsibility to disciple the baby
believers. Wherever possible the group is encouraged to stay together and to
form a home group. The individual is also encouraged to get connected with other
mature believers on a regularly scheduled basis to continue study and prayer
and to be encouraged in their new walk.
Although Alpha has been used with great success in the home
setting, it was actually designed as a program to be run out of the local church.
A total of fifty-five different Canadian denominations have adopted the program
for use in outreach. Many church planters have found it to be an excellent means
to grow a new church. Alpha is currently being run in 1750 locations in Canada
in homes, prisons, work-places, on campuses and in community centres. 31% of
the courses report that they are 'satisfied' with the program and 67% are 'very
satisfied'. Courses report that an estimated 6000 people became Christians on
Alpha Courses last year in Canada."
===============
10. REACHING
OUR CITIES WITH HOUSE CHURCHES AND CELL GROUPS -
by Rad Zdero - HouseChurch.ca - Mississauga, ONT
#1
================
11. a) ETHNIC HARVEST MINISTRY RESOURCES - excellent for anyone with a heart to reach out to the ethnic communities in their neighborhoods -
b) ETHNIC
WORSHIP & ARTS FOCUS - resources and opportunities for those that God
is stirring to utilize music and the arts to reach out to the ethnic communities
locally and overseas, and resources/opportunities to encourage the development
of musical and artistic expressions of worship by indigenous peoples around
the globe.
c) Ethnic Worship & Arts Focus e-NEWSLETTER (free) for you to subscribe to. For more info contact: gcwac@hotmail.com
d) GREAT COMMISSION WORSHIP & ARTS CENTER - Surrey, BC - For more info contact: gcwac@hotmail.com or
e) INTERNATIONAL WORSHIP & ARTS NETWORK
# # # Also see GREAT COMMISSION PERSPECTIVES above…. # # #
############## R E S O U R C E S ###############
========================================
12. TESTIMONIES OF HOUSE CHURCHERS -
Opportunity to share what God is doing as you gather in homes for fellowship
Frank Doiron, Winnipeg, MB, Canada - zuzu@mts.net
========================================
"When I read about the house church on the internet, I consistently get
three messages. The first one is how this is doctrinally correct. I think it
is important to continue to divide the Word of God correctly. So I encourage
those who do this to continue to do so. The other message I get is how this
is going to grow. People are convinced that the church is changing and that
people are not going to church as much anymore and are increasingly leaving
the traditional church. So on one side you have those who want to be doctrinally
correct and on the other side those who claim that the house church will multiply
significantly. The third message comes from books like "Houses That Change
the World." This book seems to me to be quite idealistic in it's approach.
Now I don't mind idealism for I believe that Jesus was very idealistic in His
approach to us as people. He told zealots to love their enemies. Need I say
more about idealism? So keep writing the books.
Nevertheless what is missing for me in all these web sites
is actual testimonies of how all this is playing out. The Bible is to a great
extent a book of testimonies. We are all excited about what happened in Acts
2 because it tells stories of people sharing their possessions, signs and wonders,
unity, etc. WE NEED STORIES. So this is what I am going to suggest to all house
church folk out there. I want to start a "TESTIMONIES EMAIL NETWORK.....Acts
29". What I mean by this is that through the email we share about the good
things that God is doing amongst us. Of course there is no Acts 29 in the Bible.
This simply means the continuing work of God in His people. So I invite you
to write out from half a page to 2 pages of what God is doing amongst you. For
example:
a: How has being part of a house church helped you to grow
in the Lord or how has being a part of a house church affected you in a positive
way.
b: Can you share a story of reconciliation. (healed relationships)
c: Can you share a story of people coming to know the Lord.
d: Can you share a story of building unity with each other
and Christians from other churches (traditional churches included)
e: Can you share stories of how getting together with other
house churches has been uplifting and has helped strengthen each other.
f: Can you share stories of how the poor (the widow, the
orphan, the hungry, the lonely, etc) have been helped through your group.
g: Can you share how the Lord has worked through your life
in any way.
h: Can you share any ministry that the Lord has led you to
do. (corporate or individual)
i: Can you share how house church has affected your children.
j: Can you share how your love for the Lord and for each
other has increased.
These are only some of suggestions. There are many more.
There are rules of application however.
a: No criticizing the traditional church. This is about what
God is doing amongst us.
b: No dragging people through the mud to make your point.
c: This is not a problem solving outlet. This simply would
be too dangerous a medium to ask advice from a general audience for a specifically
hard problem in your group.
d: Like the assemblies of the New Testament it is meant for
encouragement, strengthening and building up, not tearing down.
e. Refrain from trying to put people or other house churches
straight.
f: If you use other people's names in your story make sure
it is all right with them first.
g: This is not a medium for discussion, but simply testimonies.
h: If one of these testimonies has touched you, let them
know.
i: Be gracious in your sharing.
j: Be discerning about what you share.
This is the way it will work.
a: I will send this idea to different people.
b: They will write out testimonies of their group or individual
ones.
C: They will send it to me. My email is (zuzu@mts.net)
d: I will put together a bi-weekly newsletter containing
4-7 testimonies.
e: I will send it to anyone who wants to receive the newsletter.
f: Your job is to let others know about the newsletter.
g: This will all be done through the email.
IMPORTANT
Would you consider putting this on your web page to let people know about this
ministry. Would you let others know about the newsletter by word of mouth.
I believe this can be a source of encouragement to those
who are part of a house church group or a community of faith. I have settled
on the idea of a newsletter. I think it would be beneficial to have a central
location and then send them out from this location. As time goes on I will add
different sections: a children's part, an ideas forum, poetry ......... etc.
So now begins the process of getting this out to as many people as possible."
Thank you!
================
13. TOPICS - Studies for House
Churches
Booklets of the Fellowship of Church Planters
################################
14. Beyond Tithes and Offerings - book
################################
"Biblical misinterpretation has caused confusion surrounding the issue
of tithing. This book examines the problems with contemporary tithing and explains
true Christian giving…" from a biblical perspective. Very insightful/helpful!
00000000000000000000000000000000000000
15. MARKS OF A CHURCH - Murray Moerman
Free Powerpoint Presentation - can be requested from: chcrn@hotmail.com
00000000000000000000000000000000000000
16. CANADIAN
HOUSE CHURCH ONLINE DATABASE
================================================
17. SAMPLE CORE VALUES OF A HOUSE CHURCH MOVEMENT - request an emailed copy from: chcrn@hotmail.com
================================================
18. CANADIAN HOUSE CHURCH RESOURCE NEWSLETTER
available in TEXT format as well from: chcrn@hotmail.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For those of you who would prefer to receive the Canadian House Church Resource
Network Newsletter via text format instead of via attached file, please do let
me know: chcrn@hotmail.com
19. KEEPING YOUR CONTACT INFO WITH US CURRENT:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please send us your contact info - mailing address, phone no. and fax no. if
you would like to be on our mailing list as well - so we can let you know of
upcoming house church events in your region, perhaps, that don't make it into
the newsletters, for example. Also, since email addresses change so often, we
will then have another way to contact you if your email address expires or bounces.
Contact us at: chcrn@hotmail.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20. Canadian House Church Resource Network POWERPOINT PRESENTATION
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This free presentation on house churches can be useful in helping you to encourage
others you know whose hearts God is stirring in these directions. One of the
things it includes is the differences between house churches, cell churches
and home groups, etc. It also lists the locations of regional house church networkers
in Canada and other cities/towns that we know of so far in Canada where house
churches are functioning or in the process of beginning, etc. There are a couple
of resources recommended on the site as well. If you would like for us to email
this to you via attached file, please do let us know: chcrn@hotmail.com. Many
thanks to Russ Ooms whose creativity, time and efforts made this presentation
possible!
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
21. "Save the
World...Plant a House Church"
(training manual by Jason Johnston and Rad Zdero - Canada)
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+
W E B S I T E S W E B S I T E S W E B S I T E S
_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+
CANADIAN HOUSE CHURCHES:
-----------------------------------------------
Montreal Melange - St.-Laurent,
Quebec
NextReformation.com
- a journey re house churches by a fellow sojourner in Kelowna, BC
(also check out the other excellent resources on their site!)
Waves - evolving into a network of house churches - Greater Vancouver, BC -
Dwelling Place web site - new
MISC
---------
A Journey in the Wilderness:
Becoming Fruitful in the Kingdom - Paul Weigel
- a timely word for the Body by a Canadian starting a house church in the New
Hamburg region in Ontario (between Kitchener and Stratford)
Back to
the Beginning - online book on House Churches
Binding
and Loosing - (another perspective on consensus decision making)
Building
Up the Body: One Man or One Another? - Jon Zens
Community, Who Needs
It? - article by Len Hjalmarson, Kelowna, BC
(look under 'articles')
Do Everything In Love: Our Duties and Responsibilities to One Another in the Body of Christ
Equipping the Saints
- Len Hjalmarson, Kelowna, BC
(see under 'articles')
Four
Tragic Shifts In The Visible Church - Jon Zens
A short study in early church history.
Free Resources from New Testament Foundations
Giving & Generosity in the Relational Church
How to Prepare for Simple Church - John White
Links to Christian Communities
Living in the Relational Church
Meeting the Needs of Children in House Churches
Missionary Mort Cartoons - by Canadian House Church Planter -
Peek in On a House Church Meeting
Resources
to Build Godly Children in Intergenerational House Churches - by Lorna Jenkins
Return to New Testament Church Principles
Searching Together - Speaking
Biblical Truth in Love
Magazine Index
The
Family Tree - Discipleship Chains (Rad Zdero) - re discipleship-mentoring
The Lord's Supper? Or the Lord's Snack
The
Meaning of Communion
The New
Apostles - Len Hjalmarson - Kelowna, BC
The Table of the Lord: An Examination
of the Setting of the Lord's Supper in the New Testament and Its Significance
as an Expression of Community - download free book
The Organization of the Early Christian Churches
Viola
on Church Planters and Itinerant Teams
Who
is Your Covering? - very helpful info on a very controversial topic!
Why Should We Imitate Apostolic Tradition?
Worship at All Times, But Meet Primarily To Edify
WELCOME! to the 7th edition of the
CANADIAN HOUSE CHURCH RESOURCE NETWORK
N e w s l e t t e r
September 2002 edition
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
CANADIAN HOUSE CHURCH RESOURCE NETWORK:
1. Update on Regional House Churches/Networks & Events in Canada
* Upcoming WOLFGANG SIMSON visit in the Planning Stages'
Events -
· Vancouver, BC - Canadian House Church Regional Networkers Consultation
· Calgary, AB
· Barrie, ONT
· Victoria, BC
· Mississauga, ONT
· In Pursuit of the New Testament Church - conf. in Burlington, WA -
Nov.
HOUSE CHURCHES AS A VITAL PART OF DISCIPLING
THE NATION/S
2. Stories of What God is Doing In and Through House Churches in Other Nations
-
* CHINA: China's Shy Women
· NORTHERN INDIA: Religious revolution on the way?
· From a Personal Letter from an Indian Leader
· THAILAND: Computer Center Becomes Church Nucleus
· CELL CHURCHES, HOUSE CHURCHES: the reformation continues
· New Europe: New Churches
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR PERSECUTED
BELIEVERS -
+ For the Sake of the Gospel - song
GREAT COMMISSION RESOURCES
3. Resources for Senders, Goers and Mobilizers
4. DiscipleTheNations.org - lots of missions resources!
5. What in the World is God Doing? - A Global Glimpse of the Harvest Field
6. US Center For World Mission's "MISSION FRONTIERS" Magazine and
House Churches
REQUESTING YOUR INPUT
7. Multiplying as Painlessly as Possible
MISC
8. Do You Want To Connect With Other 'House Churchers' When
You Travel To Various Parts of the Country? - or Do You Want House Churches
to Come Visit?
9. The Foundation
10. The Tabernacle of David
+ The Transition from David to Solomon
11. Are You Going Through a Spiritual Wilderness? - Resources to Encourage You
on Your Journey
CITY REACHING
12.. Fascinated With Jesus
13. A Call To Reach Out to the Deaf Community Through House Churches - Greater
Toronto Region
14. RECOVER!….The Gospel of the Kingdom
+ More Articles on the Gospel of the Kingdom
+ The Kingdom - Now & Not Yet
+ Thy Kingdom Come - online book
15. KINGDOM DEVELOPMENT: City Church, A New Chapter in History
16. 4H VISION FOR THE MULTIPLICATION OF HOUSE CHURCH NETWORKS
in Canada
17. USA: Prayer Prepares for Prayer - prayer brings people and affects neighborhoods!
18. House Churches Potentially Having a Vital Role in Helping to Answer the
Cries of Postmoderns
+ A New Church for a New Generation
+ Postmodern Forms of Church
+ Postmodern Church - Are We There Yet?
+ KINGDOM DEVELOPMENT: Postmodern Expressions of Church
+ Post Modern Possibilities
+ Responding to Postmodernism - Links
RESOURCES
19. Canadian House Church Resource Network NEWSLETTER INDEX According to THEMES
- NOW ONLINE
20. Marriage Ministries International -Canada
21. 10 Church Planting Elements -- Ten Universal Elements
22. The Observatory - Resource
Web Sites
Next Time
@@@@@ CANADIAN HOUSE CHURCH RESOURCE NETWORK @@@@@
<><><>><><<><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
1. UPDATE ON REGIONAL HOUSE CHURCHES /
NETWORKS & EVENTS in Canada
<><><>><><<><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Upcoming WOLFGANG SIMSON visit in the Planning Stages
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We have been keeping you updated on cross-Canada plans about having Wolfgang Simson, author of HOUSES THAT CHANGE THE WORLD, coming to speak and spending some time in a number of Canadian cities for a week in 2003. He is planning on being here in Nov, 2003. If you would like more specifics of the dates, we should know that ASAP so you can contact us to find out - chcrn@hotmail.com. We will keep you posted as we begin to plan further shortly. Wolfgang will likely be visiting 4 cities during his stay. We are sorry he won't be able to visit everyone who wishes to have him due to the limited time he will have here. Thank you for understanding.
EVENTS
***********
VANCOUVER, BC: - Canadian House Church Regional Networkers
Consultation
--------------------------
In conjunction with the Canadian House Church Resource Network, VISION CANADA
held its first House Church Developers Consultation on June 21-23. The first
regional networkers consultation convened on BC's Sunshine Coast with approximately
20 house church networkers from across Canada (including leaders from various
denominations) participating. This historic event was convened by the Evangelical
Fellowship of Canada's (EFC) Roundtable of Evangelistic Ministries - Vision
Canada - and blessed by the working of God's Spirit as regional leaders assembled
to explore collaborating nationally for greater effectiveness to God's glory
and discipling of whole nations in Jesus Christ.
Some of the things under prayerful discussion included:
· Advantages of/reasons for house churches
· Challenges faced by house church networks
· Desired outcomes of this weekend retreat
· What could a House Church national Vision Canada 'track' offer? - on
regional and/or national levels: Relationship, Resources, Special Events, Prayer,
etc.
· D.N.A., Core Values - which include Truth, Relationship, Centrality
of Holy Spirit, Servant-hearted leadership, reproduction/multiplication, administration
of spiritual gifts, apostolic, birthing and parenting - empowering others, spiritual
sons and daughters, no 'glass ceilings', the intention of permanence, respect
of all strands of biblical Church, sent to reach lost people, etc.
· Other: leadership issues, finances, etc.
· House Church Networks by region (in Canada) - in a coming edition of
the newsletter we will include contact info of all of the regional networkers
· Other important Truths as we move forward: modeling relationship, God
builds the House, HC's can greatly impact the nation according to our faith,
pioneers pay the price, rethinking financial support - self supporting, etc.?,
God is faithful!
· Next steps
· Network Leadership Functions
WE AGREE TO:
* be Christ-centered
· be positive re all forms of Church and each other (not in the ecumenical
sense)
· pray for one another
· communicate with one another
· participate in regional House Church Network meetings
· the DNA
· independent thinkers, not independent spirits
You will hear more about this as things develop, Lord willing.
Currently, you can contact Ken Stade, newly appointed chair of the Vision Canada
House Church Roundtable at: cityauto@ilos.net
CALGARY, AB:
----------------------
From: wordofmouth@shaw.ca - http://www.cyberjourney.net
"…I wanted to take the time to let you know some
of the events that have been happening in Calgary. A writer's conference was
held this September. The conference was initiated by David Wyman, a staff member
of the Canadian Convention of Southern Baptists, to develop a curriculum for
missionaries and church planters involved in establishing house churches. Writers
were invited from across North America to participate in this conference. I
participated as a house church consultant. There were also a number of other
consultants in the areas of church planting, education, music etc. The curriculum
is tentatively named the "Congregational Assembly Guide" and will
be available as a download sometime in 2002. It was encouraging to see many
senior pastors and seminary professors taking an interest in house churches.
As a result of this conference I was asked by a senior editor
of Lifeway to write an article on house churches. The article will be published
in the "Growing Churches" magazine sometime in the near future.
Our home is being used as a regular meeting place. We have a small group meeting
regularly on Monday evenings. We would like to have a house church meeting every
Saturday evening. Please keep us in your prayers as we seek God's direction.
I am editor of a new website called HouseChurchPlanting.com. It allows me to upload articles, headlines, book recommendations, links and other resources for starting house churches. It also allows me to work through all the information available on house churches and make it relevant to our situation. .."
BARRIE, ONT
--------------------
From: steingard@deersbrook.com
Update re recent Robert Fitt's seminar in Barrie:
"…It was great! What a gracious and gentle fatherly figure in the
body of Christ! I think many of our people really warmed up to him as well as
house church concept by his humble and gentle way.
Our church (Gateway Harvest Fellowship, formerly Barrie Vineyard)
is looking at transitioning by the end of June! My family and I move to Barrie
in 2 weeks time but I have been helping at the church since January, particularly
in regards to transitioning towards house church.
We hope to start 4-5 house churches by the end of the month
and change our Sunday morning service to a Sunday evening celebration (weekly
for starters then gradually cut the frequency back).
So, with having Robert Fitts Sr. a few weeks ago (and Dale and Felicity Dale from Texas back in April) as outsiders giving input into the church, I believe we are ready to take the plunge and have most come along with us for the ride!…"
CONTENTS
VICTORIA, BC
---------------------
From: vschuetze@telus.net
Update re recent event Re Tony & Felicity Dale visit (editors of the House2House house church magazine - )
"…We had a wonderful time on the weekend with Tony and Felicity Dale. There were about 60 people here, all crammed into our house and yard...The teaching and fellowship was excellent, really helpful esp. with regard to growth and evangelism. We were…exhausted at the end…but we were super pleased. Feedback from people was very good…The main emphasis was evangelism. Tony talked about prayer and prayer walking as being essential for the planting of churches. He talked about finding *the man of peace* and if you get a chance to go into someone's home, to ask if they have any prayer needs. See what God does then, offer to explore the Bible with them etc. Bathe every step in prayer. If a new person wants to join your group, offer to go to his/her home and start something there rather than growing your already existent situation. Go to them, don't invite them to come to you. Also, look for people groups that you and your group have exposure to. Begin to pray for those groups. God will open doors as you pray. We had coffee shop, places of employment, places of recreation etc. We got quite stirred up in regard to evangelism. I am praying that it goes somewhere. We need to grow. He talked about becoming a church planting movement. Also gave us a booklet and a loose-leaf notebook based on Luke 10 as a foundation for evangelism…it was well worth it to have them come here. I really wanted to have someone come that had hands on experience…It was great and surpassed our expectations…"
MISSISSAUGA, ONT
-------------------------------
From: johnston@housechurch.ca - & rad@housechurch.ca
"Please pray for us for the following ...thanks…
1) Core Group Training - a monthly leadership/fellowship training track we are
starting up in September which will include 12 people that are part of our 'family
of house churches'. This family represents 2 currently functioning house churches
(Mississauga #1, Waterloo) and 4 potential house church plants (Brampton, Toronto,
Mississauga #2, Mississauga #3).
2) Phillippino House Churches - the possibility of tapping into Mississauga's
Phillipino community, which comprises thousands of people, with house churches.
We have some new folks with Philipino background that look like they may plug
in with us. They seem to be the 'Cornelius' types in the Philippino community.
3) Denominational Support - some good stirrings within the denomination we are connected in with (The Free Methodist Church in Canada) re: house churches recently. We, Jason and Rad, along with Rich Finlay (BC) ran a workshop on "Initiating House Church Movements" this past weekend at our Canadian General Conference. A group of 30 people showed up for some teaching, group interactive exercises, and discussion. There was a very positive response and thumbs up from many. The four items below include some things we feel need to occur if house churches will become a true movement across Canada, as we shared at the workshop.
a) Deliberately Plant House Churches
§ saturation strategy in a given city, not simply as a byproduct of 'failing'
congregational churches
b) House Churches need to become part of Networks
§ for health, stability, and vision
§ citywide, regional, and national networks
§ informal and formal networks
c) The Role of Conventional Congregations
§ conventional congregations can plant house churches in their city, e.g.
Alliance church in Barrie
§ conventional congregations can drop their building completely and reorganize
as a network of house churches, i.e. Cincinnati
d) "Legitimization" by Denominations and Missions Groups
§ to overcome current tensions and misunderstandings between institutional
churches and house churches
§ for openness and tangible support from broader Christian community
§ e.g. Free Methodist Church in Canada making room for house church planting
§ e.g. Campus Crusade for Christ, YWAM, and The Navigators of Canada (currently
engage in HC planting or in proposal stage)
4) Protection from the enemy - the desire of the enemy is to 'sift us', as a few of us have been experiencing difficulties over this past year re: physical ailments, relational struggles, and financial questions. We will be praying for you all!…
Also, "...Just to let you know, we did hand out a number of the CHCRN Information Sheets you sent to us, at the Toronto Missionsfest recently at the booth we had set up, entitled "Houses that Change the World: Join the Worldwide House Church Movement". We made a number of connections, distributed a good many "House 2 House" magazines, various books, tapes, brochures, and CDs on house church, and probably had conversations with about 75-100 folks who were curious about, involved in, or desiring to start a house church. We have some pictures of the booth with Jason talking with folks. Some of the connections were also interested in plugging into the emerging southern Ontario house church network..". Web: www.housechurch.ca
CONTENTS
-----------------
IN PURSUIT OF THE
NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH - conference in Burlington, WA - Nov 2, 2002
-----------------
Next time…update on April Tony & Felicity Dale visit to Guelph, ONT
Update on Cariboo Network of House Churches, etc.
Kitchener Waterloo event
####### HOUSE CHURCHES AS A VITAL PART OF DISCIPLING THE NATION/S #######
;';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';
2. Stories About What God is Doing In and Through House Churches Around the
World
;';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';''
NOTE: The 2 following items are from:
F R I D A Y F @ X: Issue 29, July 19, 2002 - FridayFax
archive
To subscribe send an email message to e-fridayfax-subscribe@strategicnetwork.org
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CHINA: China's Shy Women
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"One of our workers took some Bibles to a house church in central China, and gave them to two new believers, L. and Z., sisters who had been saved that day in the house church," reports Open Doors' P. T.. "Around two years later, another member of our staff was in the same town, and met Lily and Zhang. He wanted to know what they had done since becoming Christians. Ashamed, the two girls blushed and bowed their heads, as though it were an exam. "We planted churches," they said.
"How many?" The girls looked at each other cautiously: "only
29." Astonished, the Open Doors representative asked how many members the
churches have. "In the smallest, only 300 come for prayer," they said
humbly, "and in the largest, no more than 5,000". "Such reports
may seem unbelievable, but in Open Doors, we regularly hear such reports,"
says P.T."A missionary in southern Henan province was active in a house
church movement with 10,000 members. He was sent to Singapore for training for
three years; when he returned, his movement had multiplied 30-fold to 300,000
members. We estimate that there are 10,000 new believers in China every day."
Source: P.T., Open Doors
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
NORTHERN INDIA:
Religious revolution on the way?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************************
From a Personal Letter from an Indian Leader
*****************************************************************
From: "V.C." -
"Dear Grace, Good to hear that you have started a Canadian House Church Network. This is fantastic. I would love to hear from you from time and time. So far I am told that our organization Operation Agape has planted about 9000 house churches and we praise God for that. So far I have been writing for House2House which comes out from Austin Texas.(Edited by Dr. Tony Dale). Recently there was a full coverage of House Churches in the Acts Magazine by Bob Fitts. It is very comprehensive and up to date.
I have just come back after conducting a three day seminar on House Churches
in North India and they have made a target of planting 2600 house churches in
one year. God is doing wonderful things here in India and we praise Him for
this. God bless you…"
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
THAILAND: Computer Center Becomes Church Nucleus
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"A computer center operated by an indigenous ministry in Thailand has become
an effective witnessing outreach and has generated enough interest to form a
new church. To reach young people with the good news, a ministry in Thailand
set up a computer center in a large, important city on the border of Laos that
had no evangelical church. The local people, who are mostly ethnic Lao Buddhists,
would have been highly resistant to traditional evangelism, but were proud that
their city had Internet access through the computer center. The center developed
a good relationship with the local school attended by 2000 young people. Young
people responded to it and many professed faith in Christ. Soon, they formed
a fellowship that met on Wednesdays in an "upper room" above the computer
center. Attendance soared and soon the group began looking for a larger meeting
place. Christian Aid was able to send gifts that provided for a year's rent
and repairs on a building, musical instruments for worship, a sound system,
chairs, and Bibles. One of the young women who came to the computer center was
D. After hearing the gospel while she worked at one of the computers, D. became
a convinced believer in the Lord Jesus a year ago. Now she is a college student
with a heart to win her family and friends to the Lord." SOURCE: March
12, Christian Aid's Missions Insider Report, [www.christianaid.org]
############################################################
CELL CHURCHES, HOUSE
CHURCHES: the reformation continues
#############################################################
"This issue of the Friday Fax is dedicated to a review of one of the most rapid developments in church history, described by many as 'the structural reformation of the church at the end of the second millennium'. Between 9 and 12 November 1999, some 140 people involved in cell and house churches in 27 countries met in Hong Kong for a "Global Summit". They reported of the beginnings of a significant structural reformation of existing churches in all parts of the globe, which is starting to affect church planting and pioneer missions. The central thesis is that "the church is coming home", Christians share their daily lives and organize themselves in cells in regionally varying structures. Click on this web site address for a brief summary of some current developments (November 1999)."
===============================================================
NEW EUROPE:
New Churches
@@@@@
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR PERSECUTED BELIEVERS @@@@@
Let's stand with our brothers and sisters around the world who need our prayers
and especially the Presence of Jesus to fill them and provide for them in their
painful situations! They are blessed when they are persecuted, but may the blood
and Truth of Jesus guard their hearts and minds and keep them from discouragement
and deliver them from every assignment of Satan against them, in Jesus' Name!
+ For The Sake of the Gospel - song -
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& GREAT COMMISSION RESOURCES &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
3. RESOURCES
FOR SENDERS, GOERS and MOBILIZERS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. DISCIPLE THE NATIONS.org
LOTS of Missions Resources
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. What
in the World is God Doing? - A Global Glimpse of the Harvest Field - Bill
Stearns
===================================================
6. US CENTER FOR WORLD MISSION's
"MISSION FRONTIERS"
Magazine and House Churches
===================================================
Mission Frontiers has their edition online which includes Ralph Winter's very
encouraging EDITORIAL COMMENT (pdf format) on house churches - and includes
the bit about Wolfgang's book, etc.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@ REQUESTING YOUR INPUT @@@@@@@@@@@@@
*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*)
7. MULTIPLYING AS PAINLESSLY AS POSSIBLE
-- G. Wiebe, August 2002 - chcrn@hotmail.com
*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*)
One of the questions we are often asked is "how can we multiply as painlessly as possible?" or something to that effect. Although there are various approaches that I have become aware of, I would like to mention some things which you may find helpful in your situation.
HOWEVER, I would also like to hear from any of you what you have found to be
most beneficial and which has caused as little 'damage' as possible, and we
would like to include some of your responses in future editions of the newsletter.
Thank you for your help with this.
Some painful ways:
1) Using negative terminology - ie. 'split' - which has negative connotations
2) Multiplying when the group reaches a specific number just because the group
is now at that number
3) Dividing a group which has not been properly prepared with a built-in expectation
of multiplication from the group's inception
4) Picking and choosing who goes and who stays
5) Someone in the group having a power trip/divisive spirit and taking others
with them instead of seeing the conflict/s resolved and reconciliation happening
6) Other…
Some recommendations to prayerfully consider:
1) DNA of the house church must include reproducing/multiplication in it's vision and core values/philosophy of ministry and it must be put in front of the people often - this helps to keep multiplication as one of the major foci as well as helps everyone to continue to expect it to happen and even potentially look forward to it
2) Initial leaders/elders of a house church should be praying that God will
raise up and help them to discern and mentor/disciple future leaders from within
their midst who may then eventually lead a new house church birthed out of them
- discerning of future leaders can and should also be something that everyone
in the group participates in and prays for/about
3) "Perspective is everything" (or at least something important :
) - Often much of the pain of seeing a group multiply is because of the perception
that we are 'losing' people" and "they'll no longer be a part of our
lives". Although it is true that the relationships and frequency of seeing
each other will most likely have some changes/adjustments as house churches
multiply, if the perspective is one, instead, perhaps, of a family looking at
the marriage of one of the children in the family, where instead of focusing
on the loss - although they feel it and there are changes - they focus on the
fact that they are now GAINING additional family members and that this additional
family member (or house church) is now an EXTENTION of their family and a child
born out of the initial family, how much more positively the whole experience
can be! These 'babies' birthed, or 'marriages entered into' can be times of
much celebration and a wonderful blessing as the recognition is there that they
are now becoming a network of house churches that can and hopefully will keep
vitally connected.
4) Using positive terminology - ie. reproducing/multiplying
5) Everyone in the house church is praying for God to raise up leaders and God's appointed people to go with them right from the beginning - so that it is something expected and anticipated as part of joyful growth and spiritual reproduction right from the start and when it happens, it is not nearly as emotionally painful - there are mixed feelings as in any transition, but there is also much joyful anticipation regarding the future and for their own continued growth.
Some Ideas from one cell church network's Cell Multiplication Procedure -
Input from J Steingard, a regional
networker in Barrie, Ontario
"…Regarding further thoughts about multiplying house churches. I remember
Tony and Felicity Dale of Texas saying that they would never again split a house
church in two (as in half of them leaving to start another house church, it
brought too much grieving for all concerned) but rather have a few (or several
but not half) who feel called to branch out and begin another one while the
majority stayed with the "mother ship". This they found to be much
less painful…"
Again, we look forward to hearing from you what you have found helpful as well
so that we may share these with our readers. Many thanks and many blessings!
chcrn@hotmail.com
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% MISC %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
8. DO YOU WANT TO CONNECT WITH OTHER
'HOUSE CHURCHERS'
WHEN YOU TRAVEL TO VARIOUS PARTS OF THE COUNTRY? - Or Do
You Want 'House Cburchers' to Come Visit?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you are taking a trip, making a stop or passing through various regions of
your province or the country (or other countries), and if you are interested
in potentially connecting with others along the way who are interested or involved
in house churches - so that you can enjoy each other's fellowship, learn from
each other, minister to and bless/encourage each other, etc., if you give us
some notice and let us know where you are wanting connections, we can hopefully
send you contact info of those we are aware of in those regions. If you are
open to it, we could also create a page on our web site where we could include
your information if this is of interest to you. Let us know.
Another option, if you don't do much traveling but would like to have others
that are traveling come to visit you - please contact us and send us your name
/ contact info and we can include that in future editions of the newsletter.
May God use these opportunities to further connect and heal His Body!
Contact us at: chcrn@hotmail.com
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
9. "THE
FOUNDATION" -- By Rick Joyner
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
"Ephesians 2:20: ". . . Having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone."
Paul is not saying that the apostles and prophets are the foundation. As he
wrote in I Corinthians 3:11, Jesus Christ is the only foundation for the church.
It is the apostles and prophets who lay the foundation, which is Jesus. Jesus
is not only the Cornerstone and the Foundation-He is the whole building…"
Please read the rest of this excellent article on being CONFORMED INTO THE LIKENESS
OF CHRIST…we are not seeking to focus on 'house churches' or a 'house church
movement' although that is a vehicle we feel God is leading us to utilize to
reach our goals of becoming conformed into the likeness of Jesus and loving
Him with our whole mind, soul, heart and strength, and our neighbour as ourselves.
Our desire reach maturity - attaining to the WHOLE MEASRE OF THE FULLNESS OF
CHRIST! - Eph 4
=========================================================
10. THE
TABERNACLE OF DAVID - 36-pg small booklet by Russell Stendal
=========================================================
(Editor's Note) - The excerpts from this very helpful booklet noted at the web site above (I would encourage you to order a copy/ies of the entire booklet!) will give you some good food for thought/prayer re what God is doing in our day and our role in that. May it be a blessing to you as it has been to me! - (Grace)
+ THE
TRANSITION FROM DAVID TO SOLOMON - David McLain
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
11. ARE YOU IN A SPIRITUAL
WILDERNESS? -
Resources to Encourage You on Your Journey
++++++++++++++++ C I T Y R E A C HI N G +++++++++++++++++
13. A
Call to Reach Out to the Deaf Community Through House Churches - Greater
Toronto Region (Brampton) -
14. RECOVER!….The Gospel of the Kingdom - excellent article concerning Jesus' main focus while on earth and His command to us to preach THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM! Have we really been preaching this? Do we know what it is? Are we really living in a Kingdom of God mentality/reality? -
+
The Kingdom - Now and Not Yet - Tony Dale
+ MORE ARTICLES re the GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM -
+ Thy
Kingdom Come - a Blumhardt Reader - online book
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
15. KINGDOM DEVELOPMENT: City Church, a New Chapter in History
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
From: JOEL-NEWS-INTERNATIONAL-402 * 15 JUNE 2002 * WWW.JOELNEWS.ORG
"Imagine Christians meeting in your area or city again in two places, just like in New Testament days: 'from house to house' and at a real big and central place. In many areas of the world this two-stroke-model of church (the very small combined with the very large) is stirring again.
In this prophetic article strategy consultant Wolfgang Simson builds a case
for the restoration of this New Testament 'two-stroke model' of Church. He explains
how the city church can help us overcome denominationalism. "Most Christians
are so taken up with their own set of congregational programs and activities
plus the occasional involvement through denominational agendas, that they are,
in practice, effectively isolated from the rest of the body of Christ in a city
or region," says Simson. "The result is nothing short of institutionalized
inefficiency, the death of synergy, spiritual malnutrition and the development
of an unhealthy and tribalistic clan-mentality."
Simson calls for a 'prophetic fusion': a true expression of the city church,
for which it is necessary that leaders and churches give up their own agenda's.
A development like this has several advantages:
- relief for all pastors and full time workers: everyone works less, but together
we achieve more;
- we will more fully use the God-given gift potentials: everyone will be able
to work within the exact focus of his or her gifting, calling and anointing
(like Eph. 4:11), and does not have to be "everything to everybody";
- Christianity, which has been divided into ineffective small factions would
gain a dramatically higher "visibility" and a voice in the city which
is difficult to ignore;
- through the pooling of resources on a city level there will be an immediate
increase in the quality level of ministry in areas like children's ministry
or biblical teaching;
- common use of city-level buildings/auditoriums (which could be financed together);
- the high percentage of unchurched Christians and those hurt or excluded by
the existing structures find a revolutionary new concept of church to click
with;
- the constant clash of available dates and the collision of separate interests
would be dramatically reduced, since those serving full time will stop living
in their own small world driven only by their own set of agendas, programs and
appointments.
In his article Simson also offers practical steps to further expressions of
City Church."
---------------
COMMAND: This article can be retrieved by sending an empty e-mail to lyris@xc.org
with only this command in the body of your e-mail: get joel-news-international
simson-city-church
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
16. 4H VISION
FOR THE MULTIPLICATION OF HOUSE CHURCH NETWORKS - in Canada
-- Sam Buick, regional networker in Kitchener-Waterloo
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
4-pronged approach to seeing house churches multiplying…
17. USA: Prayer Prepares for Prayer - prayer brings people
and affects neighbourhoods
From CMD Net - July 10, 2002
"The pastor of a Christian church in Phoenix, Arizona, asked the members of his church to randomly choose 80 people from the telephone book. He then asked them to pray for each of the 80 names every day for 90 days. At the same time, he asked them to choose another 80 names from the telephone book - but this second list was simply laid aside, and nobody prayed for the people on the list. After 90 days, church members called all 160 people on the lists, asking them whether they would allow Christians to visit them to pray for them. "The amazing result," says Alvin VanderGriend, speaker of the American Lighthouse movement, "was this: only one person on the list of people who did not receive prayer was prepared to allow Christians to visit, whereas 69 of the 80 people for whom the church members prayed were prepared to allow Christians to visit, and 45 even invited them into their house, offered coffee and named special prayer requests. Prayer was clearly the decisive factor causing these people to open their houses for personal prayer," he says." Source: Mission America, Alvin VanderGriend, Fax (+1) 616-2477871, http://www.lighthousemovement.com
CONTENTS
==========================================================
18. HOUSE CHURCHES POTENTIALLY HAVING A VITAL ROLE IN HELPING
TO ANSWER THE CRIES OF POSTMODERNS
===========================================================
+ A New
Church For a New Generation - Larry Kreider
+ POSTMODERN
FORMS OF CHURCH -
(check out the web site above for several longer helpful articles on the subject!)
+ POSTMODERN
CHURCH - ARE WE THERE YET?
+ JOEL-NEWS-INTERNATIONAL-408 * 20 AUGUST 2002 * WWW.JOELNEWS.ORG
JN408-4. KINGDOM DEVELOPMENT: Postmodern expressions of Church (2)
"To communicate to our generation, the Church needs to understand postmodern thinking, learn to express biblical truth in new terms and find structures that appeal to the postmodern way of life. In his book 'Postmodern Pilgrims: First Century Passion for the 21st Century World' Leonard Sweet sums up the change from modernism to postmodernism by the four letters E-P-I-C:
EXPERIENTIAL - From Rational to Experiential. Modernism emphasizes reason and observation. Postmodernism emphasizes revelation and experience.
PARTICIPATORY - From Representative to Participatory. Modernism says, "We need our leaders to make decisions for us." Postmodernism says, "We want to make our own decisions and to have multiple choices."
IMAGE-DRIVEN - From Word-based to Image-driven. Modernism emphasizes words and propositional truth. Postmodernism emphasizes images and the power of metaphor.
CONNECTED - From Individual to Individual-Communal. Modernism emphasizes the individual. Postmodernism emphasizes the individual in community.
Sweet suggests that ministry in the twenty-first century has more in common with the first century than with the modern world that is collapsing all around us."
+
POST-MODERN POSSIBILITIES - Len Hjalmarson - Kelowna
+ RESPONDING
TO POST-MODERNISM - Links
################### RESOURCES ######################
19. CANADIAN
HOUSE CHURCH RESOURCE
NETWORK NEWSLETTER INDEX According to THEMES - NOW ONLINE
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
20. Marriage Ministries International - Canada
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dennis & Shelly Roberts - Canadian Directors - dennis@mmi.ca
"Mission Statement: Our Mission is to help couples establish their homes as powerful lighthouses in their neighborhoods, reaching out to those around in the storms of life. Our goal is to have a powerhouse home on every block of every city of every nation!"
MMI has a good reputation of working in various countries among missionaries and nationals to encourage marriages to be all that God intended for them to be as they move into a biblical one-flesh lifestyle, heart and ministry, etc. in full submission to Jesus Christ.
Many of the marriages of local refugees and immigrants are in great disrepair due to the many transitions of moving to a new country and many other burdens they may bring with them. When they come to our country many of the husband/wife, male/female traditional roles they are used to are also challenged, bringing additional strains to even the strongest marriages. MMI may be able to serve the marriages you know as you partner together with them as Holy Spirit leads. (Grace: chcrn@hotmail.com)
=========================================================
22. 10 CHURCH PLANTING ELEMENTS -- Ten Universal Elements
=========================================================
"That's what David Garrison found while researching for his little booklet,
_Church Planting Movements_. He found that, after surveying church planting
movements (CPMs) around the world, these 10 elements seemed present in every
single one of them. It probably goes without saying, then, that those who want
to start a CPM would want to invest some time in figuring out how to implement
these 10 practices as
a matter of course:
*** Prayer *** Abundant gospel sowing *** Intentional church planting *** Scriptural
authority
*** Local leadership *** Lay leadership *** Cell or house churches *** Churches
planting churches *** Rapid reproduction *** Healthy churches
I suppose some of those are common sense. For example, healthy
churches grow faster than unhealthy churches... "Duh!" But the truth
is, we seldom think *proactively* about all 10 items comprehensively. And maybe
that's part of what helps a church to grow -- thinking about doing it all right
in *concert*, so all 10 cylinders hit in stride at the same time! That's probably
what it's going to take in some of our tougher fields. I suppose that's what
it *might* take in yours.
(Note: See David's complete little booklet at: http://www.imb.org/CPM/default.htm
What's more, at: http://www.imb.org/GlobalVision/NewDirections/new_direction_dir.htm
get it as a PDF, or in Spanish as either a PDF or Word doc.
To order a free copy while quantities last, see...
http://resources.imb.org/index.cfm/fa/prodlist/CatID/5/DeptID/1.htm
Thanks to David and the folks at the IMB for unselfishly making it available
on the web!)" (From Joel News)
==============================
23. The Observatory - Resource
==============================
"The Observatory, a research center targeting spiritual transformation,
compiled prayer and general information of most nations of the world. Researcher
Derrick Trimble also wrote prayer profiles of the nations of the so called 40/70
Window (Europe and Central Asia). An excellent resource for Christians who want
to pray in an informed way." LINK
(From: Joel News)
+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+
W E B S I T E S W E B S I T E S W E B S I T E S
_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+
CANADIAN HOUSE CHURCHES:
-----------------------------------------------
WAVES - "Experience
God's new waves of grace in a network of house-based churches! - We have two
groups who have redefined their self-concept from being a cell group to being
a house-church based on Wolfgang Simpson's concept (http://www.waves.ca/brain/house_church.htm)…Because
of this, we have rewritten our vision statement: http://www.waves.ca/sound/mission_vision.htm.
We would like to integrate ourselves more in the house-church network. We need
guidance and lots of help.
8120 No. 4 Road, Richmond, BC V6Y 2T6, Canada, Fax: 604.448.1241, Tel: 604.448.1242
dann@waves.ca Web: www.waves.ca
MISC
---------
A Brief History of
House Churches (Rad Zdero) - (Canadian Author)
An Interview About House Churches and the DAWN Movement -
Building Strong House Churches -
CounterCultural Nature of Discipleship -
Fresh
Approaches to Worship in the Postmodern World - a creative way to reach
out through music and the arts through simple churches
George Barna Church Attendance Stats -
----------------------------------------------------
HOUSE
CHURCH DNA - Felicity Dale
----------------------------------------------------
House
Church Music & Arts Page -
If you are involved in music/art and have a web site of your art that you would
like for us to link to, please send the link to: dtnations@hotmail.com
If you have some art that you might wish for us to post on our web site as able,
please send it to us, and include info on yourself, your contact info, etc.
If you are wanting to sell your art through a web site but don't have your own,
that is also something we can discuss as we have connections with folks who
may be able to do that for you.
** House Rules for Cells With Children -
IceBreakers
-
http://www.cell-church.org/corner/cell_ice.html
IceBreakers
When Pressed for Time -
Introduction to the New Apostolic Reformation -
=================================================
LESSONS FROM NEHEMIAH:
BURDEN DRIVEN PRAYER -
=================================================
My Favourite Vacation Activity -
My Gripes About the House Church Movement - Andrew Jones - very well-written, amusing and helpful article! : ) - I'm sure you'll enjoy it!
Nehemiah: A Prophetic Parable for Apostolic Renewal
Now
is the Time (to Make Ready a People Prepared for the Lord) - poem
Small Group Evangelism (Rad Zdero) - (Canadian Author)
The House Church Beyond the New Testament
The Journey of a House Church Planter - - you can also request an email version of their free e-newsletter - THE VOICE by contacting them - see web site for email addy.
The Watchmen on the Walls - prophetic poem -
Three Big Myths about Church (Rad Zdero) - (Canadian Author)
Transplant The Church Into the 21st Century -
Welcome Wagon Idea - Most of us are familiar with the Welcome Wagons in our communities. Perhaps by becoming involved in reaching out to new neighbours through the Welcome Wagon in our neighbourhoods, we could intentionally reach out to and minister to many people who by the fact that they're transitioning into our area would probably benefit from having new friends - and who knows how God might take it from there?
World Christian Resource Directory - re House Churches
MONEY MATTERS:
Giving & Generousity
in the Relational Church
House
Church Finances
How God Sees Tithing
The Tithe and the Field
To Tithe or Not to Tithe?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CANADIAN HOUSE CHURCH RESOURCE NETWORK
N e w s l e t t e r
December 2002 - February 2003 edition
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
INTRODUCTION & WELCOME
CANADIAN HOUSE CHURCH RESOURCE NETWORK:
1. Update on Regional House Churches/Networks & Events in Canada
* Evangelical Fellowship of Canada - Vision Canada - House Churches
* Upcoming WOLFGANG SIMSON Cross-Canada Visit Taking Shape
Events & Updates
* BC
+ Fraser Valley House Church Network
* Simple Church - Joseph Cartright
* House Church Planting: Multiplying Colonies of Christ
* A New Kind of Christian: A Tale of Two Friends on A Spiritual Journey
+ Imago Dei Christian Community - Vancouver
+ Cariboo Presbyterian House Church Network
+ Greater Victoria House Church Network
* Alberta - Calgary
* Ontario
+ Greater Toronto region -
* Dwelling Place Houses of Prayer Network
+ Robert Fitts Church in the House Report
+ Barrie region
+ Mississauga region
* Should We Call Them "House Churches" or "Simple
Churches"?
* Some Thoughts About Developing Curriculum to Train House
Church Planters
* Future Updates Will Be Posted At…
HOUSE CHURCHES AS A VITAL PART OF DISCIPLING THE NATION/S
2. Stories of What God is Doing In and Through House Churches in Other Nations
-
· Spain
· Global Face of the Church is Changing
· Cambodia - 1,000 Churches Planted in 10 Years
· EAST ASIA: Even The Spies Became Christians
· A Historical Perspective of House Churches
in Johannesburg, South Africa
· House Church Movement in Europe
· SIMPLE CHURCHES in EQUADOR Popping Up All Over
GREAT COMMISSION RESOURCES
3. Apostolic and the Harvest
4. Business is a Bridge to Taking the Gospel to the Nations
5. Canada: The Nations of the World Await You!
6. Fulfilling the Great Commission
7. $1,000 Missions Service Scholarship Available
8. GLOBAL CONSULTATION ON MUSIC & MISSIONS - Sept 15-18,
2003, Dallas, TX
9. Global Disciples Network
MISCELLANEOUS
10. A Harvest of Souls for the Tears You Have Shed
11. CANADA: The Nations of the World Await You!
12. FORTY TRENDS in the Church Today
13. Characteristics of a Biblically-Based Church
14. TRANSITIONING From a Traditional Church to House
Churches - one pastor's story…
REACHING OUT TO POSTMODERNS
15. Postmodernity & Connecting With Our Rapidly Changing
Culture
16. More Helpful Links on Responding to Postmoderns
CITY REACHING
17. A Simple Strategy for Prayer - John Mulinde
18. How to Change the Spiritual Climate Over Your home -
19. Lower Mainland Ethnic Ministries Network
20. WHY NETWORK? - Strengthening the Body - Appreciating Unity
in Diversity -
21. Evangelism Through Apartment Management Enterprises
22. Neighbourhood Church Naturally
23. The Quest for Real Relational Community - Robert Lund
24. Third Paradigm of Ministry
25. City-Wide Prayerwalking
26. Prayerwalking Your Neighbourhood
27. Prayerwalking LINKS
28. City Reaching Principles
29. ASSISTING MULTI-ETHNIC FELLOWSHIPS With their Various
Expressions of Worship -
and many more topics... LOTS OF RESOURCE LINKS!
30. Refugees Became a Blessing: City Authorities Asked House
Church to Help Integrate
REQUESTING YOUR INPUT
31. Request for Articles
32. Short Term Missions - More Than Do-Able
MUSIC & the ARTS
33. Evangelistic 'Satsangs': Utilizing Music & the Arts
to Reach Your Neighbours
34. Imago Dei Christian Community - Vancouver, BC
35. Curieux - Montreal
36. Simple Worship is All We Really Need
EVENTS
37. In Pursuit of the New Testament Church - Burlington,
WA
RESOURCES
38. George Warnock Books NOW ONLINE!! - very encouraging,
Body-building, online books
39. Spiritual 'Body-Building' Worship Songs - Real Audio - &
Send Them Your Worship Songs
40. Free Worship Songs
41. Simple Church: A Growing Movement in the USA
+ Denominations in Canada Welcoming House Churches
42. You Can Order HOUSES THAT CHANGE THE WORLD online
43. House Church Domain Names for your web sites
44. Need to Have Your Web Site Translated Into Other Languages
- quickly & easily?
45. Prophecies About Canada's Role in Bringing Healing
to the Nations
46. Building Christian Communities
47. NEW EMAIL ADDY FOR CHCRN (Canadian House Church Resource Network) -
CHCRN@DiscipleTheNations.org
<><><>><><<><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
1. UPDATE ON REGIONAL HOUSE CHURCHES /
NETWORKS & EVENTS in Canada
<><><>><><<><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
EVANGELICAL FELLOWSHIP OF CANADA (EFC)
- Vision Canada - House Churches
http://www.evangelicalfellowship.ca/mnf/vision/index.asp#House
The Canadian House Church Network was established to facilitate relationships
among house church networks across Canada; coordinate and communicate resources
through the Canadian house church resource network website; facilitate national
and regional special events and conferences; coordinate prayer for house churches
on a national level; and represent the national house church movement in Canada
on a national level.
Regional facilitators include Rich Finlay (British Columbia), Ken Stade (Prairie
provinces) and Jerry Steingard (Ontario); resource coordinator is Grace Wiebe.
For more information, contact Ken Stade (kenstade@moderndigital.net)
or visit www.outreach.ca/housechurches
Upcoming WOLFGANG SIMSON Cross-Canada
Visit Taking Shape
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We have been keeping you updated on cross-Canada plans about having Wolfgang Simson, author of HOUSES THAT CHANGE THE WORLD, coming to speak and spending some time in a number of Canadian cities for a week in 2003. The dates are now confirmed - Praise the Lord!! They are Nov. 13-20, 2003.
Tentative Schedule:
-- Toronto first - house church conference beginning Nov. 13th, Thurs. and Fri.
the 14th.
-- Winnipeg - day long session to be held Sat. Nov. 15th.
-- Sun. day off
-- Vancouver - church planting event in Vancouver (in conjunction with the National
Church Planting Congress held in Vancouver in the same week) with a plenary
session Mon. p.m.
We will keep you posted as we plan further. We are sorry
he won't be able to visit everyone who wishes to have him due to the limited
time he will have here this time. Thank you for understanding. For more info
on specifics to be held in your region, contact Ken Stade at: kenstade@moderndigital.net
Seminary of Urban Ministry, 169 Provencher Blvd, Winnipeg, MB R2H 0G2 Tel: 204-237-4719;
Fax: 204-233-6400.
EVENTS & UPDATES
**************************
Let's rejoice together in what God is doing and encourage and support each other
in this as the Holy Spirit leads! : )
BC:
====
The recently begun FRASER VALLEY HOUSE CHURCH NETWORK (FVHCN - http://disciplethenations.org/HC-fvhcn.html)
has recently had a couple of regional networking gatherings for those interested
or involved in house churches in the Fraser Valley. The first meeting of this
network was in Feb. and the second was took place in early March. Both meetings
were very encouraging and we are looking forward to more!
For info on upcoming events, contact: Doug Hagey, facilitator, dahagey@shaw.ca
Surrey, BC
A note from Doug after the first meeting: "…About 30 folks interested in House Churches gathered together for our first meeting on Feb. 7 at Bible Fellowship in Surrey. It was a wonderful time of connecting with each other, worshipping, praying and just getting to know one another. It is very apparent that this 'movement' that is being experienced world-wide has taken root here in Lower Mainland BC as well…"
This past week we had special guest Joseph Cartright and
his Mother from Dallas/Fort Worth Texas. What a blessing! Joseph is developing
a network of "Simple Churches" in that area. This was a good opportunity
to hear about and ask questions about another of God's projects.
Simple Church - Joseph's web site has a manual about house
churches on it which you can download: http://www.simplechurch.org/
House Church Planting: Multiplying Colonies of Christ - free
manual to download
http://dawnministries.org/documents/nam/jcartwright_manual.doc
Joseph also highly recommends the following book:
A New Kind of Christian:
A Tale of Two Friends on A Spiritual Journey - Brian McLaren
"This heartwarming fictional tale offers spiritual
renewal for those burned out on church. After many years as a successful pastor,
Brian McLaren has found--as more and more Christians are finding--that neither
the conservative evangelical nor the liberal mainline stream of Christianity
fully describes his own developing faith. 'A New Kind of Christian' gives voice
to this emerging understanding of what it means to be a Christian in these confusing
times, offering a constructive vision of what a postmodern Christian might look
like. McLaren recounts a raucous, intimate, and wide-ranging fictional conversation
between a pastor and his daughter's high school science teacher, in which they
reflect together about how the need to be culturally relevant has changed the
ground on which Christianity rests. The pastor is forced to grapple with the
true source of his dissatisfaction with Christianity and his growing desire
to become a new kind of Christian--one who discovers truth afresh each day through
continuous engagement with God…"
IMAGO
DEI CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY - Vancouver, BC
CARIBOO
HOUSE CHURCH NETWORK (Presbyterian) -
Please pray for the team who are facilitating the house church network in the
Cariboo region. This region has house churches scattered throughout very sparse
terrain among First Nations settlements. They have had many ups and downs and
are in great need of rest, encouragement and refreshment from the Lord. Please
also pray that God will raise up His choice of godly leaders amongst the people.
This is a long and difficult process and they face many unique challenges in
this particular region.
GREATER
VICTORIA HOUSE CHURCH NETWORK -
Excerpts from Val Schuetze - vschuetze@telus.net
"…We have…some good things to share. We had
Tony and Felicity Dale over for a conference
here and learned some very helpful things…In the fall we began to meet
together in our home with the people that are in our immediate vicinity to read
through a book of the Bible, discuss it and pray together. That was really fun
and we are still doing it. We're trying to keep it small, and go to people in
their homes to start other groups. So far we have one group doing Romans (actually
just started the book of Revelation last time!). A group of musicians meets
a different day and we have been doing Col. It is having a break right now.
Another group is going through Matthew (these people are new or pre-Christian
and are very hungry). The Dales emphasized the idea of keeping things simple
and easily reproducible. We had longed, for the five years that we have been
doing this kind of thing, to see a number of small groups functioning, instead
of having a big and cumbersome home group that ends up being top heavy just
like the traditional church. This has been working so far. It is too long to
share all that we learned but would love to talk with people some time. The
Dales have a lot to offer. Seems like we are all learning and no one is a real
expert, but I think that's one of the things that makes it so much fun, we're
all exploring together!…We began to go to a retirement home over one year
ago, every two weeks. There is a small group there and we mostly sing hymns
acapella and share a small thing to encourage them. It is a totally different
flavour, since they are so accustomed to having an ordained person with a robe
of some sort doing all the ministry. We do it as an encouragement for them and
they do seem to enjoy it! Each group really is sooo different. I don't know
if I mentioned that we still do Sunday morning pancakes and have some worship
and prayer after that as well. That has been going on for many years (maybe
ten years?)…"
…some of the negative aspects…"…as for
most of us, this way of doing things has been fraught with challenges. Many
people misunderstand the goals and misread your intentions etc. so you will
find that you are not the most popular person in the church of whatever city
you are involved. It can look like very small potatoes to the big guys, and
you can feel a bit like an outcast. That's why the networking is so valuable,
as it helps us not to feel alone…
…We'd like to help as many people as we can in their quest for a new kind
of church and as a resource for those wishing to start house churches.
===========
CALGARY, AB
Excerpts from Rob Ross, networker in Calgary.
"…Our schedule has been very intense the last few
months. Following are some of the events we held recently:
"…A writer's conference was held this September.
The conference was initiated by David Wyman, a staff member of the Canadian
Convention of Southern Baptists, to develop a curriculum for missionaries and
church planters involved in establishing house churches. The writer's conference
went very well. I shared about the resources available from Outreach Canada
and the Canadian House Church Resource Network. Writers were invited from across
North America to participate in this conference. I participated as a house church
consultant. (for further info on where the curriculum is at, contact Rob at:
wordofmouth@shaw.ca )
There were also a number of other consultants in the areas
of church planting, education, music etc.
The curriculum is tentatively named the "Congregational
Assembly Guide" and will be available as a down load sometime in 2002.
It was encouraging to see many senior pastors and seminary professors taking
an interest in house churches. As a result of this conference I was asked by
a senior editor of Lifeway to write an article on house churches. The article
will be published in the "Growing Churches" magazine sometime in the
near future. This is strictly a print magazine. However, David Wyman is trying
to get permission to copy the article for those involved in writing the house
church curriculum.
Our home is being used as a regular meeting place. We have
a small group meeting regularly on Monday evenings. We would like to have a
house church meeting every Saturday evening. Please keep us in your prayers
as we seek God's direction. We are now meeting on Sunday evenings. Those participating
are becoming exited about our group and are inviting others to be involved.
Many of those who are being invited are not believers. Please pray for our group
as we continue to seek God's direction.
Beth and I have been approached by the CCSB Catalytic Church
Planter for Alberta. He is promoting an Alberta Strategy that is very similar
to the idea of beginning house churches within local communities. Please pray
that we might have wisdom to know how we are to be involved in this initiative.
I am editor of a new website - http://www.cyberjourney.net
I am hoping it will become a gateway to some of the other free sites I am working
on. As well, I am hoping it will be a ministry resource for those involved in
bivocational ministry, e-ministry, family ministry, house churches and Christian
writing.
and operate the Calgary Network of Home Church Ministries web site http://www.bivomin.addr.com
===================
"…Greetings from cold Calgary. It was -30oC this
morning, Brrrrrr…I just wanted to let you know that we have started a House
Church here in the Woodlands area of S.W.Calgary. We would love to model it
after the Church the Lord guided us to develop\ in Mongolia which grew to over
250 people in 4 mths., but this is a different culture…we are excited anyways,
as are the folks who presently attend the House Church and we are looking forward
to how we can all minister together, locally and abroad. On Feb 6 a group of
other House Church leaders met in NW Calgary and we agreed to be a network of
House Churches for the purpose of helping each other with resources, support
and accountability…"
Albert Gentleman - agentle@attcanada.ca
Sample Invitations to Your Neighbourhood - http://disciplethenations.org/HCArticlespg3.html#SampleInvit
------------------------------------------------------------------
Greater TORONTO, ONT
------------------------
Greater Toronto Region - June House Church Conference 2003
From: DPHOP <the_dwelling_place@hotmail.com>
Says Sam: We have booked James Rutz, author of the THE OPEN
CHURCH, and author of a newly released book on HC Networks and body life, to
be a keynote speaker with Robert Fitts in June 21-23. Robert has yet to confirm,
but has been flexible about the date for the sake of blessing the Body of Christ
here in Canada, and to facilitate James Rutz' coming as well.
James is busy over the next half a year. He is speaking with
a special team of church planters in 50 major US cities this year, and HC is
his topic of discussion. He is also going to be in India for Feb. & Mar.,
again involved in presenting the message of HC. His schedule is packed, but
he is free… in June…for an outstanding opportunity to present HC to
as many people as possible, and to encourage and build up those already involved,
and to better equip those who are just entering into it. James indicated to
me that there will be very practical elements to his presentation in which there
will be participation by those who come to the conference, much the same way
Robert engaged all of us in a form of HC/ ABC at the Barrie event last June.
One of my conclusions from being a part of the house church
consultation in June of 2002 in BC was a confirmation that we need to plan,
coordinate and SHARE the joy of seeing things done TOGETHER…planning, implementing
and facilitating an event. I believe we need to have as much participation from
planning to implementation from as many of us as possible…we are all busy,
but this is something that if each of us plays a part we can really make a go
of it. I have wanted a larger event to draw other people to hear as broad and
as large a group of diverse HC expressions so that the message is made loud
and clear that HCs are a viable expression of church life and that anyone can
fully participate and how to go about participating in this "home church
life". Imagine for one minute, if you planned to get ten or twenty people
that are interested in HC, but have not all heard what there is to hear about
HC, and get them to one place to hear two of the most experienced speakers on
the subject, and then expose them to regional leaders who will do practical
workshops! This is really a great opportunity. You can directly impact your
friends and contacts with a wide and clear presentation of the validity and
need for HC…I sense it in my own spirit how important it is to get a good
and balanced message out to others. Will you join with me? Can you pray about
your involvement? Incidentally, the theme on our hearts coincides with Jim Rutz,
"CULTIVATING A CULTURE OF WORSHIP AND INTIMACY THROUGH HOUSE CHURCH".
…The most important feature....at least 12 workshops run by CANADIANS doing house church. This will show how significant and relevant HC is in Canada. Rutz and Fitts will be drawing card for sure, but the workshops, which will include three levels, intro, novice, senior levels of interaction…So, please, pray and contact me. Blessings, Sam Buick, Waterloo
<>< <>< <>< <>< <><
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
DWELLING PLACE
HOUSES OF PRAYER NETWORK
Email: the_dwelling_place@hotmail.com
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
<>< <>< <>< <>< <><
-----------------
ROBERT
FITTS CHURCH IN THE HOUSE REPORT - Sam Buick
==============
BARRIE REGION:
--------------------------
Excerpts from Jerry Steingard - Barrie - steingard@sympatico.ca
"…The transition to house churches is coming along.
We have 5 home churches. It's an exciting time but a delicate time, especially
in the summer when many are away on holidays. One of the guys in our church
(he was my Sunday School teacher 35 years ago at a different church) had a powerful
vision 7 years ago whereby he saw houses scattered all over the city of Barrie
light up in flames and he sensed it was a good thing (ie. fire of revival) but
he was a bit puzzled as to it being houses and not churches! This past January
I began to cast vision to the church about house churches and that is when he
shared this vision with me and the church…
…I have also been encouraged by Rick Joyner's prophetic word re: home churches and would like to include two sentences from his word (which is found on pages 92-5 in his book "The Harvest", published in 1989 by Morningstar Pub.). They are: "There will be world-wide "housechurch' and "Christian community" movements which will help prepare the saints for both the persecution and the harvest...A great anointing will be upon these home meetings and some of the greatest visitations of the Lord will take place in them". This complements my friend's vision very well of seeing houses set afire all over the city!…"
MISSISSAUGA REGION:
-----------------------------------
Excerpts from the HouseChurch.ca NewzFlash: Rad Zdero - Mississauga - rad@housechurch.ca
"…About 16 folks have been going through an intensive
monthly leadership track since October. This 'ring' of potential and current
house church leaders gathers in Mississauga (Ontario) and come from other cities
in the region like Brampton, Brantford, Kitchener-Waterloo, Mississauga, and
Welland. These strategic times will continue into the New Year. Ou est Frodo?
HOUSE CHURCH WORKSHOP - House Church Workshop - in June,
Jason Johnston, Rad Zdero, and Rich Finlay (from B.C.) ran an interactive workshop
called 'Initiating House Church Movements' at the Canadian General Conference
of the Free Methodist Church. Thirty people participated and, as a result, there
is a possible spin-off house church in progress. In November, Jason Johnston
and Rad Zdero ran an interactive workshop at a conference entitled "Creating
Disciplemaking Communities". The one-day conference was sponsored by The
"Navigators of Canada" and held at their London (Ontario) headquarters.
This missions organization is seriously considering developing a housechurch
planting wing to their ministry in this country. About 15 key participants came
from as far as Kingston, the Maritimes, and the USA. Good times! (highlights
in bold - by the Editor)
…Our Mississauga house church and our sister group -
the Pocket church from Kitchener-Waterloo - are going on a winter retreat in
January…"
(Editor) - Please also pray for them as they have been
facing increased spiritual warfare as they continue to move forward, yet we
rejoice that God is also using this time to draw them closer to Himself! Please
pray as they are seeking God's confirmation of timing to move forward in starting
a house church in Port Credit --
"…. It (Port Credit) has a port (surprise!) and
a downtown core reminiscent of Kingston. The Methodist church had a thriving
work here in the early 1800's among Natives, but they were eventually pushed
out in favour of British settlers. All 270 resettled just outside of Burlington
in a small town called New Credit.
My sources tell me 30 churches in the last 20 years have tried to start something new here and have failed. There are 4 mainline churches here - Anglican, Catholic, Presbyterian, and United - as well as a Masonic Lodge. Enter house church. We need prayer big time!
The House Church Manifesto
======================
"…I (Rad) have finished penning a new book tentatively
entitled The House Church Manifesto: A Guidebook for the Global House Church
Movement. It's meant to be a balanced and practical guide to those being called
into the house church revolution as it changes this planet for Christ. Chapters
include my personal journey to the house church, an historical tour of house
church movements over the last two millennia, a comprehensive analysis on the
apostolic patterns that characterized the church of the New Testament, as well
as practical and strategic chapters for those wanting to step into the fray.
As part of the mandate of our umbrella team, "HouseChurch.Ca",
we will use it for the purposes of inspiration, information, instruction, invitation,
and involvement.
I'm pursuing some publishers at the moment and will keep you informed as to what happens with it. Here's a sample excerpt from the opening chapter to whet your appetite: "Picture if you will, spread out all over the city, small group huddles of 10 to 30 people committed to getting to know each other and God. These groups meet primarily in homes, but also in offices, apartments, and meeting rooms on the local university campus. They have become known as 'house churches'. Rather than one-man shows, meetings are participatory and interactive family-type gatherings where everyone has the opportunity to contribute something. They gather weekly to explore issues of faith, family, the media, culture, suffering, relationships, career, and social action. They may be working on projects, looking at the Bible, praying, crying, eating, sharing the Lord's Supper, baptizing new believers, and playing. These house churches are not led or hosted by traditional clergy but by average folks who have a deepening love for Christ and other people. They have discovered that the secret of life is to love God and others and to connect with and become more like Christ. These folks simply want to rediscover the power and person of Jesus in community, as his early followers did. No church buildings, professional clergy, highly polished services, or expensive programs are required."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SHOULD
WE CALL THEM 'HOUSE CHURCHES" or 'SIMPLE CHURCHES'?
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Some
Thoughts About Developing Curriculum to Train House Church Planters
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next time…update on April Tony & Felicity Dale visit to Guelph, ONT
---------
FUTURE UPDATES WILL BE POSTED HERE
####### HOUSE CHURCHES AS A VITAL PART OF DISCIPLING THE NATION/S #######
;';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';
2. Stories About What God is Doing In and Through House Churches Around the
World
;';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';';''
SPAIN
----------
From: Ross P Rohde <ROSSROHDE@compuserve.com>
Dear Grace,
Greetings from Spain…Our "house church group" is a interdenominational
group of six couples who are each trying to start different house church networks.
We meet monthly for worship, training and mutual encouragement. We meet in a
house church format. So far we have one couple who have about 60 people in their
network, most still non-Christians, but some are starting to come to Christ.
On the other extreme we have a couple who have committed to starting a house
church network but have not actually started yet. The other couples are somewhere
in between these two extremes. We also have others who want to join us and are
also willing to commit to starting a house church network. Keep in mind that
we are talking about Spain, the land of the Counter Reformation and a place
that takes about 20 -30 years to plant a small, traditional evangelical church.
By small I mean between 30 and 60 people. God is blessing us and we rejoice
in what He is doing among us. We are just getting started but we have clearly
seen His hand of blessing. Pray for us and if possible get our beloved brethren
in Canada praying for us. God has put Spain on our hearts. It is a tough nut
to crack, but we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. In His
Service, Ross Rohde
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GLOBAL FACE OF THE CHURCH IS CHANGING
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From: "Religious World News for Mission Mobilizers" <brigada-orgs-missmob-newsbrief@XC.Org>
NEWSBRIEF--2001-11-16
"Many of the rapidly-growing churches in third-world
nations are becoming less and less like the denominational churches in the West,"
says Dr. Jim Montgomery, founder of the DAWN movement. A growing number of churches
meet in houses, huts, or even under trees. Their leaders are often newly-saved
Christians, not trained pastors. They have rapidly grown into their roles through
mentoring relationships, not academic training. For too long, church planters
in non-Western nations tried to copy the West. The leader of an Argentinian
church planting movement said, "we must trust the Holy Spirit that he is
able to entrust relatively young believers with mature tasks." Curtis Sergeant,
a church strategist, has developed an excellent model. Sergeant believes that
a strategic mentoring process can help to encourage almost every Christian to
plant a church. This year, a great target was reached in the Philippines. In
1974, Christian leaders agreed to work together until the nation's 5,000 Christian
churches became 50,000, aiming for the year 2000. Research has shown that there
are now around 60,000
churches in the nation, or around one for every 1,250 of the nation's 75 million
inhabitants. A growing number of the new churches meets not in church buildings,
but in houses, classrooms, schools, under trees, in offices, or stadia. SOURCE:
November 2001, DAWN Ministries, [www.dawnministries.org]
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
CAMBODIA: 1,000 Churches Planted In 10 Years
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
From: Religious World News for Mission Mobilizers" <brigada-orgs-missmob-newsbrief@XC.Org>
Subject: NEWSBRIEF--2001-08-30
"In the last 10 years, Cambodia has gone from a nation
of 200 Christians to more than 100,000 believers in 1,000 churches. From 1975
on, the Khmer Rouge systematically tried to eradicate all forms of religion
in Cambodia. In 1990, there were about 200 Christians in the nation, in 10-12
house groups.
"A typical Cambodian church was a house church as characterized
in Acts 2:41-47," said Baptist missions strategist Bruce Carlton. "Paternalistic
missionaries, or those with a colonial outlook had little success. Missionaries
who saw themselves as trainers and mentors saw strong growth."
Beginning in 1990, the widespread misery caused by the civil war opened new doors for the Gospel, because many felt that they had been abandoned by the Buddhist system," said Carlton. A small number of foreign missionaries trained Cambodian church planters, who, together with radio evangelization, started a small number of churches. The decisive growth phase started in 1997, when the churches began to multiply themselves without intervention from national church planters or foreign missionaries. SOURCE: August 24, Friday Fax, <www.cmd.org>
``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
EAST ASIA: Even The Spies Became Christians`
``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
From: "Religious World News for Mission Mobilizers" <brigada-orgs-missmob-newsbrief@XC.Org>
Subject: NEWSBRIEF--2001-08-16
"Brother S. is a small man, but a giant in faith,"
according to a report by the Baptist International Missions Board. S. used to
be a Buddhist, but came to Christ in 1987, and started full-time ministry in
1997, when he moved to a non-evangelized town and planted a house church. The
Governor sent four policemen to the meetings to spy on the Christians. The spies,
however, returned week after week, fascinated by the gospel, and soon started
attending the Bible study on Wednesday in addition to the Sunday meetings they
were ordered to spy on. Two of them have become Christians and joined the church.
S.'s neighbour is a witch doctor who does not like what the Christians are doing
next door. He called out loud curses against the meetings, and tried to disrupt
them with loud music, but the Christians just pray for him and reckon on his
conversion. There are now 27 people meeting in S.'s house, and he leads another
six house churches with up to ten members. SOURCE: August 9, Friday Fax, [Fridayfax-owner@yahoogroups.com]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A
Historical Perspective of House Churches in Johannesburg, South Africa
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOUSE CHURCH MOVEMENT IN EUROPE
The 2nd European House Church Consultation was held in Prague,
Czech Republic, 22-24 November 2002. The purpose of the meeting was to connect
'apostolic facilitators' in the European house church movement, to build friendship,
to learn from each other and discern God's strategy for saturating and transforming
Europe through radical, home-based church planting movements. A special homepage
has been set up for sharing resources, stories and experiences. LINK: http://www.shareonhousechurch.net
From: JOEL-NEWS-INTERNATIONAL-416 * 1 NOVEMBER 2002 * WWW.JOELNEWS.ORG
3333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333
SIMPLE
CHURCHES in EQUADOR Popping Up All Over
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& GREAT COMMISSION RESOURCES &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
3. Apostolic and the Harvest -
4. Business
is a Bridge to Taking the Gospel to the Nations - Rick Joyner
5. Canada:
The Nations of the World Await You! - James Berkley
6. FULFILLING THE GREAT COMMISSION -
======================================
7. $1,000
Missions Service Scholarship Available -
======================================
8. GLOBAL CONSULTATION
ON MUSIC & MISSIONS - Sept 15-18, 2003, Dallas, TX
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
@@@@@@@@@@@@@ MISCELLANEOUS @@@@@@@@@@@@@
10. A
HARVEST OF SOULS FOR THE TEARS YOU HAVE SHED - Linda Patterson
11. CANADA: The Nations of the World Await You! - James Berkley - very encouraging! Some interesting words re house churches included as well -
12. FORTY TRENDS in the Church Today - Robert Fitts Sr. - very good!!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
13. CHARACTERISTICS OF A BIBLICALLY-BASED CHURCH
- Bill Fisher
From: http://www.openchurches.org/biblically.html
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
"1. The house church holds fast to Jesus Christ as its
only Chief Shepherd [Senior Pastor] (Eph. 1:22; 4:15; 5:23; Col. 1:18; 2:10,19).
2. The house church recognizes the Bible as the sufficient
and authoritative guide for its beliefs and activities (2 Tim. 3:16-17). The
Scriptures in their fullness have no need for modification or supplementation
by outside philosophies, fields of study, or other influences (cf. Col. 2:8;
1 Jn. 2:27).
3. The house church depends upon the Holy Spirit's supervision
and empowerment in all areas of ministry. The Spirit is also sovereign in deciding
what gifts are or are not for today (1 Cor. 3:8; 12:1-11; 1 Pet. 4:10; cf. Eph
3:7, 4:7; 1 Cor. 12:1-11).
4. The house church strives to maintain truth and unity,
not sacrificing one for the other (Eph. 4:1-16; 1 Tim. 3:15). Hence, it is non-denominational
(that is, non-divisive), both in name and character (Jn. 17:20-23; 1 Cor. 1:10-13);
and non-ecumenical, recognizing the exclusive nature of Christianity (John 14:6).
5. The house church acknowledges the priesthood of the believer,
each having direct access to God through Christ, and with responsibility and
authority to minister to one another (1 Pet. 2:5,9; Gal. 5:13; 1 Thess. 5:11;
Col. 3:16; Rom. 15:14; Heb. 3:12-13; 10:24; James 5:16).
6. The house church accepts all believers in Christ as members,
one of another ( Rom. 12:5; cf. Gal. 2:9). In keeping with its non-denominational
character, it does not seek to establish a separate, local church membership.
7. The house church is pastored from within by a plurality
of elders, chosen by the Holy Spirit to serve as Christ's under-shepherds (Acts
20:17,27; 1 Pet. 5:14).
8. The house church is independent from, yet works in mutual
submission with other churches to fulfill its purpose: that of building itself
up in love and making disciples of all nations, to the glory of God the Father
(entire book of Acts; 1 Cor. 10:31; Phl. 2:10-11; Matt. 28:19-20; Eph 4:11-16).
The house church is not a building or an institution. It
is the people of God who use the home as their primary meeting place, as did
the early Christians. They realize that meeting in a home environment demonstrates
the best of stewardship, since it (1) reflects the family characteristic of
church, with God as Father, Jesus as brother, and each other as sisters and
brothers in God's household; (2) generates a family atmosphere which facilitates
mutual caring, intimacy, openness, and unity; (3) is extremely cost effective,
avoiding the trappings of owning and maintaining a building; (4) is fully people
oriented, not even partly program oriented; (5) is more participative, giving
members of all ages the freedom to exercise their own spiritual giftedness,
rather than sit passively most of the time as spectators (Acts 20:20; Rom. 16:5;
1 Cor. 16:19; Col 4:15; Phm. 2:2; Matt. 25:14-30; Rom. 8:14-17; Matt. 12:46-50;
1 Tim. 3:15; Col 2:2a; 1 Cor. 12:25,26; 2 Cor. 7:2-3; Eph. 4; Acts 17:24; 2
Cor. 6:16). "
========================================================
14. TRANSITIONING From a Traditional Church to House
Churches - one pastor's story…
From: Emile Wolfaardt <ewolf@ioa.com>
========================================================
"…We have sought to facilitate the process of change using a number of forums over an extended period of time. The transitional process is difficult for any church group and the avenues we have adopted have been multifaceted. We call our Cell Groups CITH Groups. CITH is an acronym and stands for Church In The Home. The congregations that make up our collective expression will be known as CITH Groups, and will together be known as our family of congregations. At this stage it looks like our last corporate Sunday morning meeting will be the last Sunday of the year. We will continue to hold corporate meetings - I am not sure of the frequency yet - but they will take place at a time other than Sunday mornings.
+ The process started at leadership level finding unanimous
support there.
+ Then I took it to my staff - and it received unanimous support there as well.
+ Then I started to preach (and am continuing to preach) on the biblical basis
for restructuring.
+ These messages are all posted on the wed at out home page - www.hispeople.ws
+ I then met with all the Cell leaders and engaged them in a discussional process.
+ I then met with all ministry leaders and key players in the church.
+ I then opened up a time of discussion each Sunday morning during the preaching
to discuss the issues that had been addressed in the sermons.
+ I created an online discussion forum also linked from our Homepage.
+ Last Sunday we invited the entire congregation to our house for lunch and
open forum discussions. Not everybody came (for which we are thankful - 85 was
a squeeze).
+ Out of that I am meeting with each family that has a major struggle seeing
this matter clearly.
+ I will continue to preach until the end of this
year. The discussion empowered people to talk openly and honestly, and it enabled
them to tweak the process and the final outcome.
+ Then on the Sundays in the month of January we will continue to meet in the
church building on Sunday mornings, but will meet in the different classrooms
instead of the main sanctuary - and will have CITH meetings there in the different
classrooms to assist people who are not currently in CITH Groups to become a
part of one. During this month we will meet for lunch in the church hall collectively
after the CITH meetings in the classrooms.
As inclusive and as multifaceted as the process is, and as
effective a vehicle as it has proved to be, it does not look like it will be
possible to transition with everybody who is currently a part of our church
family. I hate that - and want to move slowly enough for the slowest who want
to transition to keep up - as Moses did leaving Egypt. The Bible says that he
moved slowly enough for the weakest amongst them to keep up. That does not give
opportunity for those who choose not to transition, but to those for who this
transition is painful but who see the need to transition anyway.
I have been in the ministry about 18 years now, and have
pastored churches up to 700 strong. The current family was up to about 220 at
it peak but this process has already lost a number of people. I have in the
years of ministry not found anything as painful or as exciting as this transition
we are in right now.
Compelled by His love and inspired by His grace, Emile"
%%%%%%%%%%%% REACHING OUT TO POSTMODERNS %%%%%%%%%%%%
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
15. POSTMODERNITY & CONNECTING WITH OUR
RAPIDLY CHANGING CULTURE
Len Hjalmarson - viking1@shaw.ca - Kelowna,
BC
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
"Postmodern Possibilities" - For the entire article, check out the following: http://www.nextreformation.com/html/articles/postmod1g.htm
"I was sitting with an evangelical pastor listening
to his story. His associate, ten years younger than he, felt that their church
needed to experiment with new styles and new music. He wanted to see greater
participation, more use of media, and a less structured order of service. The
older man feared that in changing the forms the functions might be lost; he
also feared that connecting with postmodern culture meant abandoning truth.
The younger man feared that the forms limited function; he also feared that
not connecting with postmodern culture would mean a dying church, disconnected
from the real world. The two men parted company, both perceiving a cultural
gap.
One man could not envision life in the future. The other would not live in the
past.
"Postmodernism is a huge threat. Advocating the impossibility
of knowing truth, it throws off all limits and casts us adrift in a sea of doubt."
"Postmodernism is a tremendous opportunity. It offers
the potential for the rediscovery of spiritual reality and the integration of
faith in everyday life."
Two positions. Two opinions. Is one position true, or both?
As I began researching the postmodern movement, I came across a host of opinions and observations, many contradictory. Furthermore, even postmodern advocates disagree as to definition. What is postmodernism anyway?
Is it a cultural shift, or a worldview? What are its main
tenets? And does postmodernism represent a crisis for the church, or an opportunity?
What are some of the facets of postmodern culture that offer a unique opportunity
for the Gospel? Let's list them:
+ recognition of the essentially spiritual nature of life
+ openness and desire for community
+ rejection of authority in position and acceptance of authority in
+ relationship
+ emphasis on participation over spectator mentality
+ leadership by wisdom and example not knowledge or position
+ emphasis on practical answers, "walk" over "talk"
+ emphasis on journey and process over goal
+ desire for experience over knowledge, the "subjective" and mystical
dimension
+ spontaneous order over rational structure, webs of connection and meaning
+ recognition of truth in paradox, images and story…"
16. MORE
HELPFUL LINKS ON RESPONDING TO POSTMODERNITY
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
++++++++++++++++ C I T Y R E A C HI N G +++++++++++++++++
17. A Simple Strategy for Prayer - John Mulinde -
18. How
to Change the Spiritual Climate Over Your home -
19. Lower Mainland Ethnic Ministries Network - includes lots of helpful resources for any ethnic ministry reaching out to their multi-cultural cities/communities. If you're involved in Ethnic Ministries and would like to be linked to the site or added to the networking ministries/individuals or resources sections, please contact us at: info@DiscipleTheNations.org
20. WHY
NETWORK? - Strengthening the Body - Appreciating Unity in Diversity -
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
21. EVANGELISM THROUGH APARTMENT MANAGEMENT ENTERPRISES
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
(Editor's Note) …Another way that our homes and businesses can be used to see the Kingdom of God expanded in our neighbourhoods! God is doing things all kinds of ways these days…let's just follow His leading and do what He tells us! --
"…Business couple Ted and Audrey Beckett want to
reach what they call an unreached people group in the depths of America's inner
cities. Colorado Springs, considered by many to be the emerging headquarters
for world evangelism, is the home of a novel outreach to evangelize the unreached
urban centers of America. "Many Americans are functionally illiterate and
living below the poverty level and dwell in the jungles of American cities,"
said Ted Beckett. "Many live in terror from gangs, drive-by shootings,
and racial strife. Survival alone is the goal in some areas." The Becketts
say they are looking for a school to launch the new program. "This ministry
will bring hope to these forgotten people by establishing Christian Outreach
Ministry Enterprises (COME) in every troubled apartment complex in America,"
said Ted Beckett. He said this new ministry called COME would begin by offering
its unique program to Christian universities, Bible schools, and outreach ministries
in its home state of Colorado.
"To begin, the outreach starts with a local Bible college
establishing a special department dedicated to Evangelism Through Apartment
Management Enterprises (E-TAME)," said Beckett.
"Students will be taught apartment management and maintenance
courses along with evangelism and outreach. During their internship program,
they will manage an apartment building and establish a home group fellowship,
which will meet in their apartment complex. After graduation, they will be placed
in a full-time assignment as a Bible-believing, born-again, spirit-filled, devil-chasing
Christian apartment manager with assignment of extending the Kingdom of God
in their facility." The E-TAME program, he said, will not only extend the
Kingdom of God to the most unreached people in America, but will also solve
several chronic problems encountered by Bible schools and colleges. "Apartment
complex owners will benefit from being able to hire trained, honest, dedicated
managers and maintenance people," said Ted Beckett.
"The Bible College will maintain a placement center and continuing education in this field. Apartment residents will benefit from increased security and a safer, more enjoyable place to live due to God's blessing resting on the complex." SOURCE: April 2, ASSIST News Service, [www.assist-ministries.com]
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
22. Neighbourhood
Church Naturally - Wolfgang Simson
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
23. The Quest for Real Relational Community - Robert Lund -
24. THIRD PARADIGM OF MINISTRY. Dennis Fuqua, director of International Renewal Ministries in Portland, Oregon, describes the emerging 'third paradigm of ministry': the city church, or the church of an area. Send message to: lyris@xc.org and include the following, only, in the message of the email: get joel-news-international fuqua-third-paradigm-of-ministry
25. CITY-WIDE PRAYERWALKING.
Paul Dozeman of City Restoration Ministries presents a plan for city-wide prayerwalking.
Send email to: lyris@xc.org and send the following
message only:
get joel-news-international dozeman-citywide-prayerwalking
26. Prayerwalking
Your Neighborhood -
27. Prayerwalking
LINKS -
28. CITY REACHING PRINCIPLES.
In this article Ed Silvoso encourages city reachers who are discouraged by lack
of visible results. He focuses on the role of prophetic acts and paradigm shifts
in the process of city reaching. Send email to:lyris@xc.org
and send the following message only:
get joel-news-international silvoso-city-reaching-principles
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
29. ASSISTING
MULTI-ETHNIC FELLOWSHIPS With their Various Expressions of Worship - and
many more topics... LOTS OF RESOURCE LINKS!
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
30. REFUGEES BECAME A BLESSING
From: http://www.shareonhousechurch.net
Country: Denmark City: Vejen House church hosts: Jette and Svend Løbner
Madsen
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
City Authorities Asked House Church to Help Integrate
In the beginning of 2002 people from the city government
of Vejen asked our house church network if we could take care of some refugees
from Sudan. "They pray much", they said, "so they must fit into
your church", they said.
We met them in town a little later and at once we felt one
in the spirit. Even though their spiritual background is the Presbyterian Church
of Sudan and ours is partly Pentecostal and Baptist, we have now enjoyed each
other's fellowship for almost a year.
We formed an international house church, receiving help from
some Tamils from another house church. They arrived in Denmark 6 years ago and
are fully integrated. The Sudanese joined and now we have between 12 and 28
people at the meetings, depending on the attendance and if the Sudanese from
other regions can join.
In between they need help now and then with communicating
with the city authorities, taking their children to hospital etc. But that is
what house church is all about, isn't it?
They have really been a blessing to us, showing that faith
perseveres in spite of suffering. South Sudan has been in civil war for 18 years
now. The Arabic/Isl*amic government tries to push the black Africans southward
to get hold of their natural resources, such as fertile soil, diamonds and oil.
2 million black Africans have died these years and 5 million
are refugees, now living in other countries. The world looks on as paralysed,
because of oil interests, I suppose. When Saddam Hussein wanted to overtake
Kuwait 10 years ago, USA reacted promptly because of oil interests!
These Sudanese people have kept their joy, bringing their
nuer bibles and songbooks, sharing their stories little by little and letting
us all look into their suffering hearts. Many of them have come without parents,
typically because their father died in the war and their mother is too weak,
now living in an Ethiopian refugee camp.
Even though they are also a challenge for us in communication
and bridging culture, they are surely a blessing…
(More about refugee ministry to Sudanese at their web site)
******************************************
31. R E Q U E S T I N G YOUR I N P U T
******************************************
REQUEST FOR ARTICLES: Would you like to encourage the subscribers of this newsletter
by sending us some articles which you have written (especially if you're Canadian)
about the following subjects? If so, please submit them to us at: CHCRN@DiscipleTheNations.org
Many thanks!
+ recommendations and lessons learned re transitioning from
a tradition church or cell churches to house churches.
+ effective ways in dealing with the children in your various simple churches
+ how your simple church/house church network goes about equipping your people
re spiritual gifts, etc.
+ how you keep the network healthy and multiplying
+ how you multiplied into another/other simple churches so it's not forced,
etc. but happens more naturally
+ about your relationships with denominations/local churches, etc. - how do
you keep those relationships healthy and growing without them perceiving you
as a threat, etc.?
+ are your elders bi-vocational? and if so, how is that working out?
+ Other ideas? Or do you have a request that we address a specific topic in
a future edition?
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
32. Short Term Missions - More than DO-ABLE!
Excerpts from: Sam Buick - Kitchener-Waterloo - the_dwelling_place@hotmail.com
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
"…I want to start something here concerning the
need to be involved in short term missions. There are many options open to us.
1. We can go with our own connections to various parts of
the world. I have made connections with HC Networks in Chile, New South Wales,
and Kenya. Each place has invited us to come.
2. We can go with established organizations:
3. We can decide to really do something by networking with existing HC Networks in Canada and abroad, such as at where Tony and Felicity Dale have connections all over the world and continually go out and minister. We can also connect with Mike Steele at DAWN as well and network and see what comes out of sharing our hearts with one another! Or connect through folks listed at http://DiscipleTheNations.org
Here in Canada there are people like Al Remley, Jerry Steingard,
John King, Bob Granholm, Grace Wiebe and many others who have gone on mission
trips and raised the support to do that.
I really believe the impact will be powerful not just where
we go and to whom, but for ourselves.
Our hearts will be broken by what breaks the Lord's own heart. We will see the
world as He sees it and we will become passionate Kingdom advocates and proclaimers
and doers!…"
------
(Editor's Note) we will be pursuing this subject in coming editions…if you wish to address this issue or would be interested in potentially working together with other interested people in this regard, whether from Canada or other nations, please do let us know of your interest and how you might wish to contribute/partner together - ie. providing resources, opportunities on the mission field locally or overseas in a house church type of situation, providing mentored holistic missionary training for house church networks, leading summer teams, administrating/facilitating summer or short term teams, etc. Contact us at: CHCRN@DiscipleTheNations.org --
%%%%%%%%%%%% MUSIC & THE ARTS %%%%%%%%%%%%%%
33.
EVANGELISTIC 'SATSANGS' - Utilizing Music & the Arts to Reach Out Through
Your Homes to Local Ethnic Communities and/or Musicians and Artists….
34. IMAGO DEI CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY - Vancouver,
BC
http://disciplethenations.org/imagovannewsletter.html#CC
http://disciplethenations.org/imagodeichristiancommunity.html
A new church, Imago Dei, identified initially as a multi-campus
expression, emphasizing the 'incarnational church' by fostering Christian community
in neighbourhoods around the Vancouver area. The prime meeting focus for the
church at present is in a variety of house settings where worship, teaching,
prayer and communion take place on a weekly basis. This community is very intent
on integrating the arts into their house churches/community.
For further info, click on their web site address. To contact: <omegapro@direct.ca>
35. CURIEUX - in Montreal - David & Sanan Brazzeal - brazzeals@canada.com - are heading up this music/arts ministry in conjunction with house churches
36. Simple Worship is All We Really Need - Andy Park -
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EVENTS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
37. IN PURSUIT OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
CHURCH - Conference in Burlington, WA -
May 17, 2003
More info: http://disciplethenations.org/index14.html#Pursuit
Mark Coulter at (360) 757-4897, 604 Gardner Rd., Burlington, WA 98233, or at
marknwa@bigplanet.com
################### RESOURCES ######################
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
38. GEORGE WARNOCK books NOW
ONLINE!!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
George Warnock has been involved in house church in Canada for many years and has written quite a number of very encouraging, Body-building books over the years which have been of great encouragement and blessing to me! (Grace). These very insightful books are about assisting the Bride of Christ in coming to maturity and to learn to live in the realm of the Spirit in increasing measure as we seek to become conformed into the likeness of Christ for His glory!
Some of the titles include:
* Feast of Tabernacles * Crown of Oil * Feed My Sheep
* Chain Reactions in the Realms of the Spirit * The Garden of God
* The Hyssop * The Garden of God * Journey of the Bride
* Family of God * From Tent to Temple * A Way Through the Wilderness
* Evening and Morning
This web site also includes REAL AUDIO topics such as:
* God's Jealousy for His People * Pursuing Excellence
* Preparing a Sanctuary for God * Bread of God - the Church
* The Making of a Priest * A Call to Repentance
* True Worshippers * He is Love, etc.
Also, see online book: Temple Builders: The High Calling - http://www.templebuilders.com/1_tb/book06102002.htm
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
39. SPIRITUAL 'BODY-BUILDING' WORSHIP SONGS for you - Real
Audio
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Real
Audio Songs: You Are God / The Lord, The God of Israel / Mighty One -
All Glory to You
/ He Who Dwells -
I Humble Myself / Joshua's
Army / Bless the Lord and MANY MORE -
Send these folks your praise and worship music!
TempleBuilders.com can give you the exposure that you need to get your music
out there to the masses. Simply send us a full-length Real audio file of your
feature song with an email granting us permission use. You may also send us
an entire CD and we will encode 1 song for FREE. We will post your song in all
our appropriate categories. TempleBuilders.com gets 10 million hits per year
and is rapidly growing - http://www.templebuilders.com/realaudio.php
=================================================
40. FREE WORSHIP MUSIC!
From: Ralph Merrifield, New Hope Music - NEWHOPEPUB@aol.com
=================================================
"…I offer many praise and worship songs, as well
as many new Scripture-based hymns, all free to download. These would be useful
resources to share with those involved in home churches.
Please come visit our web site newhopemusic.com to learn more, then let me know how we might assist your ministry. In Christ, and for the growth of His Kingdom, Ralph
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
41. SIMPLE CHURCH: A Growing Movement in the USA -
The DAWN REPORT - Issue No. 49 - December 2002
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Contents: Simple Churches in America - "Sin City' believers on the cutting
edge / A Million More Churches for America? / Want to Get High? Then Go to Milton's
(house churches reaching out to addicts in LA) / Oh, so that's what a church
multiplication movement looks like! / How Simple Can Church Be? / A Look At
Simple Church in the USA / Southern Baptists Considering Shift in Church Planting
Concept / Nomads Force Us to Reconsider the New Testament Concept of "church'
/ How to train pastors and keep heresy out / Are We Ready for Harvest? / And
the Walls Came Tumbling Down / Denominations in Canada Welcoming House Churches
Ordering info: To order copies of this very helpful magazine
edition, contact: www.dawnministries.org
Fax: 719-548-7475
+ DENOMINATIONS IN CANADA WELCOMING HOUSE CHURCHES
"It's the first of its kind - a Canadian meeting dealing
with House Churches and Denominations,", says Murray Moerman - Murray.Moerman@outreach.ca,
a DAWN Associate. Moerman explains the House Church movement is beginning to
gain acceptance among denominations that are no longer seeing it as a threat.
"By establishing relationships we all benefit." Groups like Four Square,
Southern Baptist and others have begun to see the house church movement as another
vehicle to establish new congregations.
This past June, at the House Church Network Developer Consultation
Meeting held in British Columbia, Ken Stade was chosen to oversee a group of
about 20 leaders who are committed to developing networks across Canada.
"It's not a huge movement at this point," Moerman said. But we are gaining acceptance and have heard positive feedback from some of the networks begin started.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
42. You can order HOUSES THAT CHANGE THE WORLD online!
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
To order your copy of HOUSES THAT CHANGE THE WORLD for $8.49
US! This is fantastic since I tried getting it here in Canada, and most wanted
over $30 Canadian for the book! You can go to this link: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product/?item_no=8356X&event=SRC&item_code=
And you will be able to order the book online! The screen should have the following:
Houses That Change the World / By: Wolfgang Simpson / Type: Mass Paperback /Number
of Pages: 303 Vendor: Paternoster Publishing Publication Date: 2001 / ISBN:
185078356X / UPC: 9781850783565 CBD Stock Number: WW8356X Retail Price: $10.99
CBD Price: $8.49
(Thanks for the tip, Sam Buick!)
================================================
43. HOUSE
CHURCH DOMAIN NAMES for your web sites
=================================================
44. NEED TO HAVE YOUR WEB SITE TRANSLATED
INTO OTHER LANGUAGES
- quickly & easily?
If so, you might be interested in adding a link to this site
on your page:
http://babelfish.altavista.com/translate.dyn
You could say something like: NEED THIS Site/Page TRANSLATED
INTO ANOTHER LANGUAGE? - You can translate this web site into many other languages
by clicking HERE and inserting the URL of the page you wish to see in another
language, and note which language you wish to have it translated into!
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
45. PROPHECIES
ABOUT CANADA's ROLE IN BRINGING HEALING TO THE NATIONS:
Some of you may be interested in reading some prophetic words
that have been given about Canada's role in bringing healing to the nations.
You can find some at this web site. As you know, all prophetic words need to
be tested.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
46.
Building Christian Communities - spring course at Regent College, Vancouver,
BC -
This course will introduce students to a range of models of Christian community
from the Early Church, Monasticism, the Anabaptists, Moravians, and contemporary
Christian communities such as Catholic Covenant Communities, L'Arche, Sojourners,
House Churches, and the Base Ecclesial Communities. It will provide perspectives
for evaluation and determining general applicability and will identify ways
in which Christian communities are developed and maintained. APPL/INDS 519:
May 12-23, 8:00-11:00 am - 2 or 3 graduate credit hours
+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+
W E B S I T E S W E B S I T E S W E B S I T E S
_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+
CANADIAN HOUSE CHURCHES:
-----------------------------------------------
Calgary Network of Home Church Ministries
Cariboo
Presbyterian House Church Mission
EFC
(Evangelical Fellowship of Canada) - Vision Canada - House Church Track
Foursquare Gospel
Church of Canada - Home Based Church Network
The Meeting House
- Brethren in Christ - Oakville, ONT
MISC
---------
2003 - A
Year of Rest, Preparation and Breakthrough -
A
Declaration of Interdependence - Christian Smith -
A Picture of the "Unencumbered Church"? -
APOSTOLIC BIRTHMARKS -Jim Goll -
Canada, Arise to Your Destiny! -
Call for Apostolic
Intercession - Jim Goll -
===================================================
DREAMS & VISIONS
- - Lots of helpful links on the subject!
Does God Speak Through
Dreams? -
God Speaks Through Dreams
-
Strategies for Spiritual
Warfare - Thoughts on Dreams -
====================================================
Eight
Secrets to Teaching Art in the Home -
Evaluate your House Church Ministry -
Gathering Numbers vs. Intimacy -
God Wants a People Unto Himself - John Lucas -
Leading
a house church -- A guide on the side, not a sage on the stage
The transition from an institutional to a house church can be confusing and
challenging. This is especially true for the people who lead house churches,
who face some unique challenges. -
Welcome
the Minister of Finance of the Kingdom - some encouragement re finances
in the Kingdom in these days…
++ Wilderness: The School of the Prophet -
Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People? -