BY THE GRACE OF GOD, BECOMING TRANSFORMED INTO THE LIKENESS OF CHRIST
- Make Ready a People Prepared For the Lord - (Luke 1)
HOUSE CHURCHES
- House Churches Around the World -
International House Churches - being developed - but in the meantime, if you are interested in potnetially connecting with house churches we are so far aware of in other countries, we may be able to help you. There are also a number of very good online house church registries which are currently serving that purpose as well.
From: discipleshouses@globaldisciples.org
I am from Lancaster, PA, USA. I work for a networking ministry called Global
Disciples. You can check us out at www.globaldisciples.org
Our mission is: Connecting the body of Christ around the world in our common
mission; Cooperating to equip and multiply disciples of Jesus and Christ-like
leaders; Serving shoulder-to-shoulder in discipleship, mission and leadership
training.
I am the facilitator of the Disciples' House Network. This is a network of
Young Adult households who are seeking to live a lifestyle of prayer, worship,
witness and community. Those who live in these houses have jobs or go to school,
but they are also committed to joining together for times of household worship
and prayer, and they look for ways to spread the gospel through "Christ-like
neighboring." Global Disciples does not own or run these houses, we function
much like your network does, (I believe) with casting vision, walking with
those who want to start a Disciples' House, providing corporate gatherings
for
encouragement and training, and sharing our stories with each other through
a quarterly "Disciples' House Journal."
I happen to live across from one of these Disciples' Houses known as the Petra
House. Our family has joined with this household (in Lancaster city) in praying
and reaching out to our neighbors. As a result, there are about five neighboring
households have joined with us to form a cell group in our
house under the covering of our church, Living Hope Community Church. Most
of these have these are all recent followers of Christ or returned prodigals.
Our church, located outside the city, doesn't draw many of the city culture
to their doors. They are excited about partnering with us and commissioning
us to work at House Church planting.
Now, Global Disciples is interested having me connect with churches to encourage
them in House Church planting and to work at forming a network for resourcing
and encouragement. I'm not exactly sure how this is going to look. That's
what lead me to you, to see what others are doing. One big characteristic
of our vision is to see House Churches and the "traditionally" structured
church partner together.
Also, one of the things Global Disciples can do is provide a connection between
House Church planting here in our region to mission opportunities around the
world with planting House Churches.
So thanks for asking. I realize I probably gave you more than what you were
expecting.
As I read your news letters and learn more about what you are doing, would
you be open to further correspondence with me? I believe there is much I could
learn from what you folks are doing.
Blessings,
By His Grace and for His Glory,
Jonathan Groff
Disciples House Facilitator
Global Disciples
319 Manor Ave.
Millersville, PA 17551
Phone 717.872.7404 Fax 717.872.6074