Sept
2001 Newsletter
Dec 2001 Newsletter
Mar 2002 Newsletter
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If you are interested in subscribing to this quarterly, free e-newsletter
in the future, please contact chcrn@hotmail.com
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=========================
WELCOME! to the 3rd edition of the
CANADIAN
HOUSE CHURCH RESOURCE NETWORK
N e w s l e t t e r
September 2001
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION & WELCOME
CANADIAN HOUSE CHURCH RESOURCE NETWORK:
1. Update on Regional Conferences on House Churches
* Would You Like For Us To Help Promote Your Regional
Events?
* Would You Like Some Help in Facilitating
a Regional Event?
* Upcoming WOLFGANG SIMSON visit in the Planning
Stages
* Update on Kitchener/Waterloo CHURCH IN THE HOUSE
Conference
. * CHURCH IN THE HOUSE Conference tapes available
* November Home Church Conference in Pacific NW
* Some Varieties of House Churches in Canada
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
„h MADHYA PRADESH (India): House church movement
„h
TRANSITION
3. Time for Change
4. The Church in Transition
STARTING/MULTIPLYING HOUSE CHURCHES
5. What Do You Do in A House Church?
6. House Churches Multiply
7. Evaluating Your Home Church Group
BOOKS ON HOUSE CHURCHES:
8. Planting House Churches in Networks ¡V manual
9. Real Missionaries to Canada
WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN?
10. Some Principles for an Effective Children¡¦s
Ministry
RESOURCES:
11. Articles sent out by email
12. House Church ¡¥Coaches¡¦
13. INDEX According to THEMES ¡V CHCRN Newsletter
14. Networking Opportunity
15. Networkers by Region
Web Sites
Next time...
CONTENTS
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@@@@@ CANADIAN HOUSE CHURCH RESOURCE NETWORK @@@@@
<><><>><><<><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
1. UPDATE
ON REGIONAL CONFERENCES ON HOUSE CHURCHES in Canada
<><><>><><<><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
WOULD YOU
LIKE FOR US TO HELP PROMOTE YOUR REGIONAL EVENTS?
If you or a group of house churches in your region (in Canada) would
like for us to promote your local events on the web site or in a coming
edition of the newsletter, please do let us know and send us the exact
information you wish for us to include: chcrn@hotmail.com Please give
us lots of time to get it up on the site and into the next quarterly
newsletter.
CONTENTS
-----------
WOULD
YOU LIKE SOME HELP IN FACILITATING A REGIONAL EVENT?
If you or a group of house churches (in Canada) would like to request
some help in facilitating a conference on house churches in your region,
we would be happy to help by providing some resources, names and contact
info of potential speakers, potential topics, rough outlines for schedule
which you may find helpful, sending you a list of folks that we know
of in your region whom you might wish to invite, etc. Contact us at:
chcrn@hotmail.com
CONTENTS
-----------
Upcoming WOLFGANG
SIMSON visit in the Planning Stages
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In the future we are thinking of inviting experienced house church ¡¥coaches¡¦
(such as Wolfgang Simson) that may be able to visit various cities during
an upcoming trip to Canada to encourage folks regarding house churches.
If you are interested in potentially having these folks come to share
at your regional events or conferences, please let us know. We are hoping
to have Wolfgang visit perhaps around Jan/Feb. 2003. Let us know if
you¡¦re interested in working together on this to coordinate something
in your region. PLEASE PRAY for wisdom, God¡¦s direction, timing and
will in all of this. We don¡¦t want to move forward with this unless
this is what He wants.
CONTENTS
-----------
WATERLOO-KITCHENER,
ONT ¡V Church In the House Conference ¡V Robert Fitts
---------------------------------------------
The following report was sent to us for you by Sam Buick of The
Dwelling Place - Waterloo, ONT
-------------
¡§Robert arrived in Toronto on Thursday the 7th of June. The conference
kicked off on Friday evening at Good Samaritan Church, pastored by Ralph
Rutledge. Ralph is apostolic and prophetic and really had a sense that
he should not only support our conference but make the church facilities
available to us. Friday night, Robert spoke on the anointing of the
Spirit and it was powerfully received by the 220 people there. A precious
time was spent in prayer before the Lord. Many people received body
ministry and some were healed.
Saturday morning we had the CHURCH IN THE HOUSE seminar, in which Robert
taught on the nature and mission of the church. There was some historical
overview and during each session there was interaction between people
in attendance. He did a really good job in presenting truth and the
need to have a vision for the city that embraces all that Jesus embraces.
We struck a chord in that we have long believed that we need to embrace
the whole body of Christ in our city, regardless of structures and expression.
We want to see the Kingdom of God come in fullness in our cities. Robert
accentuated these points in powerful ways. He encouraged those from
traditional churches that they cannot do the job on their own and that
there is much to be valued from the CHURCH IN THE HOUSE model...¡¨
(Editor¡¦s note) ¡V regarding Robert Fitt¡¦s position on the traditional
church and the church that meets in homes:
¡§...Robert advocates a position that is conciliatory. He usually has
everyone say:
- I am the church
- You are the church
- The problems of the church are our problems
I echo these same sentiments, and as such I have embraced those who
are traditionalists as well as CHURCH IN THE HOUSE....
....The Lord showed up big time on Saturday evening. I had words of
knowledge and many instantaneous healings took place all across the
sanctuary.
The Lord showed me in a powerful way that we could bless this church.
When the words of knowledge came, I released everyone in the body assembled
to pray for those who had acknowledged a need for prayer. I passed out
anointing oil and we all interceded "Korean style", shouting out fervently
to the Lord for these healings. And it happened! Many were healed on
the spot!
There was prayer for Pastor Rutledge, and he testified the next day
that he had never seen prophetic ministry breakout as it did the next
day (Sunday morning). The worship during all the services were done
as we worship in the house church, with CD's on the sound system! It
was great! Quite awesome worship! We put the lyrics on the computer
projection system, and WOW!
Robert spoke a powerful message on investing in your vision. He spoke
how the Lord gives each one of us a vision. He asked us to invest in
it as if it depended upon us. He said this shows in practical terms
that we are placing our trust and faith in what God has spoken to us.
Sunday (10 June) we had CHURCH IN THE HOUSE and Robert took us through
how ABC works (Alpha-Omega Bible College) in homes. This is a home based
study through the Bible with practical ministry training that covers
a whole year. Every time you meet you have:
- Praise - Prayer - Personal ministry - Refreshments - Reports (testimonies)
- Reading (discussion Bible study).
These six things incorporate the body life you would have in a house
church. The goal is that by the time the ABC is finished, each person
will choose to either begin another ABC or plant a house church!
We spent six hours together! The time flew by!
Sunday night Robert spoke on having a vision for the whole city as a
CHURCH IN THE CITY, a church without walls. It was the kickoff of the
first of monthly city church worship celebrations! It was tremendous!
On the Monday to Wednesday mornings we had personal prophetic ministry
under the guidance of Robert. The body got to minister to one another
in a very powerful way. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday evenings were spent
in going step by step in how to establish and do ABC Bible Colleges.
We all got to go through it.
We took Robert back to Toronto to catch his flight on Thursday morning.
We were exhausted, but we were ministered to powerfully. Many who came
want Robert to come back again. So are asking me to organize another
one right away. I can't. I need a break.
My wife Lori and I were appointed by Robert to be Canadian Directors
for Alpha Omega Ministries in Canada, to see ABC colleges established
across the nation and to see CHURCH IN THE HOUSE established city by
city. I am deeply humbled and very excited at what the future holds.
Please pray with us as we are fasting and praying for 30 days as to
how to proceed from here. We are sensing the need to be a faith ministry
and to leave my employment and travel across our nation, helping others
plant house churches! Wow! Exciting stuff! God is so good. I remarked
to the brothers and sisters at our meeting last night, "This is the
first time I have not felt like a square peg trying to fit in a round
hole!" I am accepted for who I am in Christ, the gifts He has given
me, and the passion I have for proclaiming and advancing His Kingdom
in our cities!
BTW, Robert has published his book, THE CHURCH IN THE HOUSE, and it
is available from him. We could not keep it in stock!
We made some good contacts with other house churches and those interested
in starting them. The most exciting news is that two traditional churches
are in the midst of transforming their churches into a multitude of
churches in the houses! I believe God is in the midst of a powerful
move in restoring intimacy and ministry at the most basic level.
You can check out the Simple Bible College - ABC
Bible colleges at http://alpha-omega-ministries.faithweb.com
Blessings from the east!
Sam Buick, The Dwelling Place
PS One couple, charismatic Mennonites, told us the first house church
conference they were a part off was in Kitchener in 1972! It was a Mennonite
conference all on house church. They followed Acts 2-4 closely, and
moved into local neighbourhoods and had "all things in common". They
were part of that while their kids were very young for about four years.
I was truly blessed!¡¨
----------
THANK YOU for this encouraging report, Sam!! May God continue to lead
and to multiply the work that He has started or furthered through this
conference!
CONTENTS
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
CHURCH IN THE
HOUSE CONFERENCE TAPES AVAILABLE!!
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
The Conference was audio taped.
Interested people can contact Sam at .
The tapes are $4 (CDN) per tape.
The sessions are:
-----------------------
* Friday night - The Anointing - importance of being continually filled
with the Spirit - This message really set the tone for the whole conference.
* Saturday - AM session - Defining the Church - interactive with questions
from the floor
* Saturday - Afternoon - Trends Toward Transforming the Church - interactive
with questions from the floor
* Saturday evening - powerful message
* Sunday Evening - Very powerful message - Investing in Your Vision
* Monday - Tuesday evenings - Two messages on the ABC home based Bible
Colleges that have the same components as church in the house. The group
commits to study the Bible for one year and through each session there
is a time of praise, prayer (Korean style), personal ministry, reports
(testimonies), refreshments, ready (interactive Bible study discussion)
that equips and releases body ministry. The goal is that by the end
of one year the people in the group will go and either start another
ABC or plant a house church!
CONTENTS
---+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+
HOUSE CHURCH
CONFERENCE in the Pacific Northwest
¡V November 2001
For information, contact Tim Wilson at: (253) 858-0121, P.O. Box 674,
Wauna, WA 98395
http://www.nwhcc.cjb.net - housechurchconference@juno
CONTENTS
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Some Varieties
of House Churches in Canada
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
We as the facilitation team of the CHCRN are finding it interesting
that God seems to be raising up some folks who are meeting in their
homes with a focus on reaching specific groups of people. Because of
the many ethnic groups in our cities, and various other groups of people
that are largely unchurched in our cities, it can be helpful to focus
on reaching a particular group. It is helpful for them to understand,
also, that they¡¦re part of a larger body of believers ¡V people of
every language, race and social strata of society.
Some such groups that we are seeing coming into existence are house
churches focusing on reaching:
„h Youth
„h Apartment dwellers
„h International students
„h Muslims
„h People disenfranchised from traditional churches
„h Senior citizens in Senior Citizen Homes
„h Postmoderns
„h Etc.
In order to enable us to give you all a better picture of the various
other groups in Canada being focused on by house churches, we would
appreciate your letting us know if you know of others. Thank you! chcrn@hotmail.com
CONTENTS
####### 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
;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;¡¦;
************************************
MADHYA PRADESH:
House church movement
************************************
From: FRIDAYF@X Issue 21, June 1, 2001
To subscribe send an email message to fridayfax-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
CONTENTS
&&&&&&&&& TRANSITION &&&&&&&&&
====================================
3. TIME FOR
CHANGE
From the FridayFax, November 10, 2000 edition ¡V to subscribe, see info
right above...
=====================================
Says the editor of FridayFax: ¡§This special edition of the Dawn Friday
Fax was written at the end of October 2000 by Brian Mills, who was the
Prayer Coordinator for the British Evangelical Alliance and Billy Graham's
'Mission to London', among others. Today, he leads InterPrayer with
John Mulinde, and is one of the Dawn movement's spiritual fathers. His
most recent book, "Sins of the Fathers", about reconciliation between
nations, caused a global sensation.
"The year 2000AD is a year of transition and a year for transition.
It is a time when God is re-positioning people into places and situations
where they will be the greatest influence for Him in the future, and
for the most influential time of their lives. What is true for individuals
is also true for the Church. He is getting His Church into the place
and understanding where it can truly fulfill His purpose for it on the
earth. He is not interested in a church's self-centred existence. He
is not looking for it to survive or even merely to grow. He is looking
for The Church to fill the earth with His glory, to subdue the earth
and have dominion over it, to triumph over the principalities and powers,
to be ready as the Bride of Christ. God is getting His Church world-wide
ready for a final push towards the final mighty harvest. It is a time
for us all to get ready. For not only will there be a time of reaping
on a scale most have of us only dreamed about, but there will also be
a time of opposition, of persecution, and of misunderstandings.
We will be maligned by the media. We will be opposed by militant agents
of Satan. We will be marginalised by politicians. It is a year when
a spiritual paradigm shift is taking place on a number of fronts, and
in different ways. A redefining of commonly held understandings, and
of familiar concepts. For the way we have previously understood aspects
of His will have not been sufficient to usher in the final harvest,
and to express His will on earth as it is in heaven. So God is widening
our understanding.
1. In relation to the APOSTOLIC.
----------------------------------------------
We have previously seen this as vertical, stream or denominationally
related, top down apostleship. Leaders ? sometimes self-appointed ?
have exercised authority and control. Others have been church-planting
apostles and as such have been the spiritual fathers of those churches.
Such apostles have been concerned largely for their own stream or denomination
or for the churches the have founded. But now God is looking for apostles
to be concerned for the whole body of Christ, and for the fulfillment
of all God's purposes on earth. He is looking for apostles in and among
nations. Apostles need to be primarily concerned for all of God's will
to be done in all of God's world. God is looking for horizontal, relational,
across-the- streams apostles, who through serving one another, and cooperating
with one another will enable common vision to become reality. They will
be less concerned for their position or role among the people they lead,
and more concerned for the will of God to be done among the people that
no servant of God yet leads.
2. In relation to the PROPHETIC.
--------------------------------------------------
Previously we have seen this mostly as personal words given to inform
or confirm direction from heaven. From person to person, and from individuals
speaking in a prophetic way in public. But now God wants all His people
to be prophets in the personal sense. And He is looking for those who
will be prophets to the nations. Prophetic acts of strategic significance
and strategic importance will become more commonplace. Increasingly
the prophetic will be expressed in assignment praying, and in symbolic
acts that create breakthroughs. The prophetic will break out of the
comfortable surroundings of Christian gatherings and be expressed in
the sight of the people and at sites of historical and spiritual importance.
3. In relation to the EVANGELISTIC.
---------------------------------------------------
We have previously seen this as preaching-oriented, word-centred ministry
of the few professional evangelists. But now it is being redefined so
that personal and corporate, prayer-related, relational, word of knowledge,
God-inspired communication genuinely occurs. Large numbers will turn
to Him, as God's people in unison and unity in prayer call people to
Him.
4. In relation to YOUTH AND CHILDREN.
----------------------------------------------------------
No longer will they be seen as a group to whom and for whom adults do
things that express church, as separate from the church and as groups
for whom special activities will be required; they will be seen as fully
capable under the flow of the Holy Spirit to be released into prophetic
prayer and worship, into evangelism within their culture, and in modeling
new types of church across the streams and to the adults. They will
not be contained or containable within existing denominations or streams.
They will form their own kind of churches and will be non- denominational
and therefore separate from denominations.
5. In relation to REPENTANCE & RECONCILIATION.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
This will no longer be understood in only personal terms between us
and God, and between individuals who become separated from others by
reason of dispute, but also as between groups and nations.
6. In relation to INTERCESSION.
----------------------------------------------
Intercession will no longer be regarded as the ministry of a select
few called to this apparently distinctive aspect of prayer. In Scripture,
intercession is always associated with God-inspired prayer. The Church
will discover to pray as Jesus prayed ? with loud cries and tears.
7. In relation to the KINGDOM.
-------------------------------------------
The Kingdom will not only be seen as a future hope for the people of
God, but also as a present reality, whereby Christ's kingdom is being
extended in the here and now. As we talk about transformed cities, transformed
communities and transformed nations, the reality of this will inevitably
be expressed in kingdom terms. Discipling nations will be the objective,
of which the planting of new churches will be a fact and a factor.
8. In relation to CHURCH.
-------------------------------------
Previously we have seen church in terms of denominational models. We
talk of the Methodist Church, the Baptist Church, the Presbyterian Church,
the Church of England, the Catholic Church, the State Church ? even
Pentecostal churches, Charismatic churches and Free churches. All these
distinctions will be redefined ? for they are limiting and sectional.
There is one church of Jesus Christ on earth, and one church in each
city. We must learn to redefine church. We now talk of cell churches,
youth churches, children's churches, house churches. We will also have
to allow for other expression of churches in places of employment, in
institutions and in communities where it is not appropriate for a denominational
model to be. Church will not only be static and fairly permanent, it
will also be mobile and temporary. Church will happen at different times
and different places. Pastors will no longer only see their ministry
in terms of pastoring a specific group of people, called a congregation.
Pastors will be called to cooperate together across the streams and
boundaries, so as to be pastors of cities. They will as such begin to
take responsibility before God for the city and all its expressions
of life. They will pastor local government, the police, the education
services and so on.
It is a time to get ready so that the redefinition of things will not
be merely a matter of semantics, but so that the people of God get into
position and take their place, before God, and with one another. It
is God's time for the world." Brian Mills October, 2000 (Abridged version)
____
FRIDAYFax is produced by DAWN Europe, part of the DAWN International
Network. It is distributed with permission by the Centre for Mission
Direction, PO Box 31-146, Christchurch, New Zealand. To subscribe send
an email message to . To unsubscribe
send a message to .
CONTENTS
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
4. The
Church in Transition ¡Vrelated articles
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
CONTENTS
+_+_+_+_+_+ STARTING / MULTIPLYING HOUSE CHURCHES +_+_+_+_+_+
5. WHAT DO
YOU DO IN A HOUSE CHURCH? (from ¡¥Church in the House¡¦ ¡V Robert
Fitts)
_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_
CONTENTS
----------------------------------------------------------
6. HOUSE
CHURCHES MULTIPLY
Bligh Stockwell, Coquitlam, BC - November 2, 2000 - AorBStokwl@aol.com
-----------------------------------------------------------
As the Waltons pulled out of the driveway at 10.45 on Sunday morning,
John said, "You know, we are the only family on our street who will
be in a church today - why? They are good friendly neighbours, but they
don't seem to care about spiritual realities or spiritual nourishment
for their families."
His wife, Betty, responded thoughtfully, "Well, remember when the Harris
family went to church with us last year? They didn't want to go again
- - said they felt culturally alienated in the after-church discussions
amongst the regular attendees..'
"Yes," agreed John, "and this is exactly the problem; most of our neighbours
are two generations removed from the institutional church culture. I
wonder what would happen if we simply invited our neighbours to a weekly
meeting in our home to discuss spiritual issues?"
"That's a good idea," said Betty, "let's do it."
And so they did. Eight families accepted invitations to the first Saturday
evening 'house church'. Coffee, tea and dessert were enjoyed during
the get-acquainted time. A short video on basic Christian concepts was
shown. Then John and Betty led a lively discussion and invited everyone
to come back one week later. Most of the guests did return for their
second house church experience and some of them brought friends. Week
after week, attendance increased and requests were made for Bible study
and systematic teaching. Hymn singing and times of worship became enriching
and bonding experiences for the participants. Then someone proposed
a Sunday teaching session, with classes for children and adults, with
classes in the homes of several participating families.
By the end of the first year, attendance at the Saturday evening meeting
had grown to more than forty adults, plus children - - too many to accommodate
in one home. After much agonizing discussion and prayer, the decision
was made for half of the people to change their meeting place to another
home, just a few blocks away. Thus, the second house church came into
existence by the 'organic' process of cellular growth. Healthy cells
don't just keep on growing - - they produce new cells. Cells that keep
on growing, without producing new cells, generally become unhealthy,
sometimes malignant. House churches are sometimes called cell churches
because they function more like cells in the human body than like organizations.
This scenario could have been witnessed in first century Israel, or
19th century England, or modern China, or even in 20th century Canada.
Research has shown that Christianity has always experienced it's most
rapid and healthiest growth during times and situations when house church
movements have flourished. This is dramatically demonstrated in China
where, in spite of extreme persecution and political repression, the
number of active Christians is approaching one hundred million, largely
the result of 'house church' multiplication. And now, post-Christian
Europe is beginning to experience re-Christianization by house churches.
Even secular-humanist Canada has the beginning of a house church network.
Facilitators of the house church movement in B.C. meet regularly to
share experiences and to provide supportive information to people who
want to participate. The e-mail address for the B.C. house church network
is chcrn@hotmail.com
CONTENTS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
7. EVALUATING
YOUR HOME CHURCH GROUP
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By Nate Krupp, Preparing The Way, Publishers, Salem, OR USA kruppnj@open.org
¡§...Some questions to consider in evaluating your home church group:
(Prayerfully think about, elaborate on, and explain all answers. What
should you do to improve what you are doing?)
1. Is your group and gatherings about you or about HIM?
2. Are you emphasizing "house church" or "the Kingdom of God"?
3. Are your times together too meeting oriented and superficial, or
do you have true koinonia/community/shared life?
4. Do you talk alot about relationships, and then all just "do your
own thing"?
5. What did the Early Church talk about? What do you talk about?
6. What part do children plan in the life of the group?
7. Are you producing mature, balanced, fruitful believers?
8. What are you doing to contribute to fulfill of the Great Commission?
9. What works and why?...¡¨
CONTENTS
@@@@@@ B O O K S ON HOUSE CHURCHES @@@@@@
===========================================
8. PLANTING
HOUSE CHURCHES IN NETWORKS:
A Manual from the Perspective of a Church Planting Team
===========================================
256 pages. Revised 1999
Provided by The FELLOWSHIP OF CHURCH
PLANTERS, 25 Enterprise Center, Suite 104, Middletown, RI, 02842
Contents ¡V includes:
FOUNDATIONS
A Word of Caution
A Great Commission Vision for the Church
The Pilgrimage: From Traditional Models to House Church Fellowships
Background on Discipling
The Church Illustrated
Why House Churches?
STAGES IN PLANTING A HOUSE CHURCH
Gathering:
„h The Man of Peace (an article about this will be included in the next
edition of this newsletter)
„h Training the Man of Peace
„h The Man of Peace as a Gatherer
Covenanting:
„h Church Covenants
„h Meetings of the House Church
„h Producing a Covenant
„h Reallocating Resources
Reproducing:
„h Developing a Vision
„h Discipleship Chains
„h Leadership in House Churches
„h Women Leaders in House Churches
„h Developing a Leadership Team
„h Peacemaking and Corrective Church Discipline
„h Withdrawal of the Church Planter
REPRODUCTION CYCLES OF HOUSE CHURCHES
„h Forming A Network (Fellowship of House Churches)
„h Reproducing a Network
+ Reproducing a Fellowship and starting a town intensive fellowship
of house churches
+ Developing and sending out church planting teams
Appendix
-------------
Entering the Kingdom of God
Living in the Kingdom
Sample: ¡§Gathering¡¨ Bible Study on Ephesians
Monthly Devotional Guide: The Church
Studies in Acts on the Church
Bible Study on Man/Woman of Peace
Christian Worldview: an evangelistic Bible study
Consensus Decision Making
Covenanting Together
Etc.
For more information and to contact:
Jim Frost, 90 Scott Road, Cumberland, RI 02864 USA jim@fcpt.org
ALSO, ASK ABOUT THEIR BOOK:
BUILDING EFFECTIVE CHURCH PLANTING TEAMS by Dick Scoggins (re house
church planting)
For more information contact Dick at: dick.scoggins@ccmail.lfa.com,
PO Box 4, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP14 3YX, UK
CONTENTS
##############################
9. REAL
MISSIONARIES TO CANADA
¡V by Bligh Stockwell
##############################
(Editor¡¦s Note) - Although Canada is no longer seen, by many, as a
¡¥Christian¡¦ nation, we as believers have generally not understood
how crucial our role is in reaching our post-modern and very international
nation, and therefore have not taken the kinds of steps to adequately
prepare ourselves or train those in our midst that God wants to ¡¥send
out¡¦ ¡V as trained cross-cultural missionaries ¡V into the many varied
peoples filling our cities and nation.
Bligh¡¦s helpful book encourages us to think through relevant ways to
reach our international and post-modern society, including the utilization
of house churches and training those within our midst to become missionaries
that cross cultural barriers within our own society. --
-------------
Book are available through Canadian Bible Society: wabsolom@canbible.ca
Or from Bligh at: AorBStokwl@aol.com
CONTENTS
+ + + + + + + + + + WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN? + + + + + + + + + +
(Editor¡¦s Note) - Although the following is specifically focused on
children¡¦s ministry in cell churches, the principles apply for house
churches as well. --
CONTENTS
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
10. Some
Principles for an Effective Children's Ministry ¡V Lorna Jenkins,
Kids Slot - Contact info: lornaj@clear.net.nz
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
¡§...* 1. Every child should have the opportunity to hear about Jesus
in a way they can understand. They should know that being a Christian
includes obeying Jesus and knowing the power of the Holy Spirit.
* 2. Every child who receives Jesus should be discipled and gathered
into the family of God. This means being in a cell group where the children
can meet face to face with other Christians of all ages.
* 3. Parents should be empowered to sponsor their own children through
the steps of discipling and growth. They are able to be there when the
children are facing problems. They need to tell their children their
own story and share their own Christian walk.
* 4. Where children do not have Christian parents, someone in a near-by
cell group should become like a spiritual parent to the children. They
should disciple the children and try to befriend the whole family.
* 5. Children's Ministry should be the concern of the whole church,
not just a small group of experts. It is an essential part of the church's
growth now and into the next generation. Children should have an advocate
in the decision making bodies of the church.
* 6. Children's leaders should be chosen with as much concern for calling
and gifting as any other senior leader of the church. The Bible should
be taught to children by people who have the anointing and the skill
to make it interesting.
* 7. Children need a systematic pattern of growth, which leads them
towards maturity. This includes prayer, Bible reading, the Lord's Supper;
Christian values, evangelism, spiritual formation and spiritual warfare.
Every child should have an overview of the Bible by the time they are
twelve.
* 8. The church needs to create opportunities for the children to minister
beside the adults. This means that whatever the church is planning in
ministries of care, prayer or evangelism, the children should be invited
to join in.
* 9. Children need to learn how to worship so that they can participate
meaningfully in the celebration life of the church. They should also
learn how to lead worship among their peers and their elders, on Sundays
and in cell groups. They should be encouraged to use their talents and
gifts in the praise of God.
* 10. Children should be taught how to stand up against temptation or
persecution in the name of Jesus. They should be able to relate well
to their friends and yet, they should not bow to peer pressure.
* 11 All Christian, including children need to care about lost people,
to have a heart of compassion for the world, in both spiritual and physical
areas of life. They should seek to tell other children about Jesus.
* 12 Children need training for leadership. Every child has a gifting
and an area of ministry which need to be encouraged. They should be
ready to serve their church and their community...¡¨
Lorna's Philosophy:
--------------------------
¡§...Our society tends to overlook the suffering and confusion of children.
At the worst end of the scale, this includes violence, abuse, exploitation
and poverty.
However even when the physical needs of the children are met, children
are still denied the respect and responsibility, which makes them feel
part of the world. This has been true in the Christian church.
Churches have side-lined the children into care-giving and entertainment,
so that they cannot be responsible, growing members of the Kingdom of
God. They do not feel that they belong to a community.
The cell church is based on the idea of community. Yet community is
not complete without the children. Many churches are on a journey to
create meaningful community for their children, starting with the families
and reaching across the life of the whole church. This experiment is
called "Intergenerational church."
Children are participants at every level of the church's life. They
are full members of the cell groups; they minister and serve alongside
the adults; they worship joyfully in the celebration; they pray and
engage in spiritual warfare; they are ready to speak to their friends
and relatives about their faith in Jesus.
What they experience in church is also modeled in their families. Parents
and children experience the Kingdom life-style together, with the parents
accepting the responsibility of discipling their own children. Parents
and children minister to each other and pray for each other. When children
who do not have Christian parents, find faith in Jesus, the church places
them in a small group of people, where they can experience Christian
community.¡¨
CONTENTS
############## R E S O U R C E S ###############
**********************************************
11. ARTICLES
Sent Out By Email
**********************************************
1 House Churches and Mega Churches
CONTENTS
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
12. POTENTIAL
¡¥COACHES¡¦ FOR HOUSE CHURCHES
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
(Editor¡¦s Note) ¡V Are you in need of some coaching by experienced
folks who have been involved in planting house churches? Feel free to
contact the following people with your questions. And please share with
us the things you are learning so we can pass that on to our fellow
Canadians, etc. --
-------------------------
*** Names marked with *** are folks that we¡¦re more familiar with and
which we would recommend. We are not as familiar with the others (yet).
### Please let us know of others that you think should be added to this
list, and tell us why you¡¦re recommending them. Thank you! chcrn@hotmail.com
-----------------
*** BANKS, Robert & Julia ¡V author of GOING TO CHURCH IN THE FIRST
CENTURY, THE CHURCH COMES HOME - http://www.hccentral.com/fresour.html,
PAUL'S IDEA OF COMMUNITY - http://www.centuryone.com/3050-5.html
*** CAMPBELL, Jonathan ¡V Seattle, WA ¡V part of the Fellowship of Church
Planters ¡V developing a network of house churches in the Seattle region.
jcampbell@ingramlabs.com
*** FITTS, Robert ¡V Hawaii - author of ¡§The Church in the House, a
Return to Simplicity¡¨ ¡V email us for a free email copy. http://www.angelfire.com/hi/mision
RobertJoni@aol.com
76-6309 HAKU PLACE, KAILUA-KONA, HI 96740
*** FROST, Jim ¡V experienced house church coach with Fellowship of
Church Planters. jim@fcpt.org URL: http://www.fcpt.org
HENLEY, Gary ¡V starts house churches internationally. Has also written
a book about house churches. ghenley@pobox.com
KRUPP, Nate ¡V author of ¡§God¡¦s Simple Plan for the Church¡¨ and others
- http://www.open.org/kruppnj kruppnj@open.org http://www.radchr.net
McCULLOUGH, Dan R - dan_mccullough@hotmail.com
We have met in homes for over 30 years and have been instrumental in
various aspects of this movement. Have a lot of experience (good and
bad) to share and help others maybe. We are taking our second missions
trip to Russia and Romania to set up ties for working with street children.
We have some really good quality writings about home groups and house
churches.
MEALER, Art - art.mealer@church-task-force.org - http://www.pce.net/audie/House_Church.HTM,
www.church-task-force.org 919.616.3545
MILLER, Hal ¡V author of articles re house churches - hmiller@tasc.com
*** PATTERSON, George ¡V author of various books and resources re planting
house churches ¡V lots of experience, also with internationals. GPatters@westernseminary.edu
*** SIMSON, Wolfgang ¡V Switzerland - author of HOUSES THAT CHANGE THE
WORLD. Has experience in international house churches. WolfSimson@compuserve.com
SMITH, Christian ¡V author of GOING TO THE ROOT cssmith@gibbs.oid.unc.edu
ZENS, Jon - zensfamily@juno.com - http://www.searchingtogether.com/articles/zens/covenant.htm,
http://www.searchingtogether.org
CONTENTS
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
13. INDEX (according
to THEMES) of the
Canadian House Church Resource Network e-Newsletter
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
You may request an email copy of the Index according to themes from
chcrn@hotmail.com
CONTENTS
=================================
14. NETWORKING
OPPORTUNITY
=================================
For those of you who would like to network with others across the country,
there is an opportunity to do so via a Networking Sheet Info Form which
can be emailed to you. If you¡¦d like to be involved in this, please
return your filled in form to: chcrn@hotmail.com so your information
can be sent to the newsletter subscribers along with the next edition.
Thank you. If you are from a country other than Canada and would like
to network as well, feel free to use the same form and we will just
include you on an international networking list instead of the Canadian
one. You will receive the networking info from Canadians and Internationals.
Many blessings!
Also available is an email copy of a NETWORKING SHEET of some current
contacts.
CONTENTS
===================================
15. NETWORKERS
BY REGION
===================================
Following is a list of people you can contact if you are interested
in connecting with others in your region in Canada who are interested
or involved in house churches and in networking together. Let us know
if you¡¦d like to be added to this list in the future as someone willing
to potentially coordinate local events in your region. chcrn@hotmail.com
***** For an excellent article on the role of facilitators/networks/partnerships
in the Body of Christ at this time in history, check out: FACILITATOR:
A NEW ROLE FOR CHURCH LEADERS
Also, excellent resources re Networking,
etc.
and Partnership
Development
ALBERTA
-------
* Calgary ¡V rossrb1@home.com
BC
----
* Cariboo Region ¡V carpresb@uniserve.com
* Coquitlam ¡V AorBStokwl@aol.com
* Dawson Creek - Home-Based Church Network
Foursquare Gospel Church of Canada
dahagey@pris.bc.ca or doug@foursquare.ca
* Kelowna ¡V www.nextreformation.com - next1@nextreformation.com
* Maple Ridge ¡V cleave4372@home.com
* New Westminster ¡V foxkis@telus.net
* Penticton ¡V connerjw@shaw.ca
* Summerland ¡V redbridge@telus.net
* Surrey ¡V granholm@direct.ca
* Victoria ¡V vschuetze@telus.net
MANITOBA
--------
* Winnipeg ¡V zuzu@escape.ca
* Winnipeg ¡V harstone@home.com
ONTARIO
-------
* Guelph ¡V alkarem@hotmail.com
* Hamilton ¡V alexm.navs@hwcn.org
* Kitchener/Waterloo ¡V the_dwelling_place@hotmail.com
* Mississauga ¡V jason_johnston@yahoo.com
* Ottawa? - takam@sympatico.ca
QUEBEC
-------
* Montreal ¡V brazzeals@canada.com
* Montreal ¡V jj.dalton@sympatico.ca
* Montreal ¡V pkconnor@sympatico.ca
Tessierp@videotron.ca
SASKATCHEWAN
-------------
* Moose Jaw ¡V rodharrington@bigfoot.com
CONTENTS
+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+
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/NETWORKS
--------------------------------------------------------------------
43rd House Church Group in Calgary
Agape Fellowship
House Churches (Dorchester, Ont.) - Mennonite
4962 Marion St., Dorchester, ON, N0L 1G4. (519) 439-1563.
HouseChurch.ca
Kitchener-Waterloo
House Churches (Kitchener, Ont.) - Mennonite
101 David St., Kitchener, ON, N2G 1Y1. Phone: 1-519-578-3453 or 1-519-743-0758
Email: myantzi@hotmail.com - John Miller - pastor
Began in 1970...The congregation originated through outreach by Mennonite
and non-Mennonite individuals. The group is considered to be a congregation,
but in effect are a cluster of individual house churches with a central
meetingplace where they gather in alternate weeks.
OIKOS - K-W House
Church newsletter, published 2 to 4 times per year, Historical issue,
Winter 1980; Records at CGCA
The Meeting House¡V
Oakville, ONT
Timothy Wai ¡V Calgary,
AB -- timmywai@home.com
Waterloo
Region House Church Network
----------
(HOUSE CHURCH) STARTUPS:
----------------------------------------------
#1
Do You Have
the Guts to Be a House Church Pioneer?
How to Start a House Church
How to Start
a House Church
HOUSE CHURCH
ICEBREAKERS ¡V can be very helpful!
Starting House Churches
With New Converts
-------------
FREE WEB SITES for you to develop your own web site (online) for your
house church/house church network. (make sure you read the fine print).
--------------------------
HOMESTEADM
No need to purchase web site designing software for this particular
package ¡V however it looks like they may be transitioning into a minor
cost involved??
FreeFlash.com
MySiteInc.com
WebSpawner
¡V quick and easy basic web page option
---------------------
CONTENTS
NEXT TIME¡K
What¡¦s the House Church Situation Like in Canada? ¡V We Need for you
to Help Us With the Research
Expectations re House Churches ¡V Realistic or Unrealistic
Why Do House Churches Fail?
Church/Proposal for a House Church Network in the Lower Mainland
House /Dangers to Keep in Mind as you Prayerfully Consider Going in
House Church Directions
Networking: a Biblical Model of Cooperation ¡V the Nehemiah Strategy
Etc.
In forthcoming editions¡K
House Churches & The Great Commission/The Questions About Reproducing
¡V How & When to Multiply, etc./Financing the Vision/Role of House Churches
in Missions/Some Streams/The Value of Intergenerational Home-Based Churches/Historical
Overview of House Churches/ What Happens in a Typical House Church Meeting?/Encouraging
the Development of a Biblical DNA in House Churches/Biblical Authority
& Mutual Accountability/Releasing the Whole Body in their Spiritual
Gifts, Etc.
CONTENTS
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
WELCOME! to the 4th edition of the
CANADIAN HOUSE
CHURCH RESOURCE NETWORK
N e w s l e t t e r
December 2001 edition
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
CANADIAN HOUSE CHURCH RESOURCE NETWORK:
1. Update on Regional Conferences on House Churches
* Upcoming WOLFGANG SIMSON visit in the Planning Stages
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
* International House Churches – links to stories
3. Discipling the Nations: Seven influential
Sectors of Society Hold The Keys
TRANSITION
4. CANADA: Post Modern Church Planting
* The Unchurched - Who They Are & Why They Stay
That Way / Why Do People Join the Church?
* Healthy Churches The Canadian Way
* Get Ready: There’s a Transition in the Church
5. What’s the House Church Situation Like in Canada?
– We Need For You to Help Us With the Research
6. Expectations re House Churches – Realistic
or Unrealistic
* Identifying With the People He is Calling
Us to Reach
7. Why Do House Churches Fail?
8. Dangers to Keep in Mind as you Prayerfully
Consider Going in House Church Directions
NETWORKING HOUSE CHURCHES
9. NETWORKING: A Biblical Model of Cooperation
– the Nehemiah Strategy
* Nehemiah: Rebuilding the Walls – Ray Stedman
10. A Proposal for a House Church Network in the
Lower Mainland (BC, Canada)
STARTING A HOUSE CHURCH
11. How to Find a ‘Man of Peace’
BIBLICAL AUTHORITY / MUTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY
12. Leadership & Authority – very helpful article!
CITY REACHING
13. Transformations Intro/Resources
Transforming the City – online book
Home-Based Churches Can Help Reap the
Harvest – article
A Look at the Harvest – online book
14. Organic Church Planting
MISCELLANEOUS
15. Some Streams of House Church
16. State of Christianity in 2001
17. DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION or TOPIC you would like
for us to address in a future edition?
RESOURCES:
18. Networking Sheet
19. CD - Resources re House Churches
20. Power Point Presentation re House Churches & the Canadian
House Church Resource Network
21. Houses that Change the World – better price!
22. Prophecies about Canada
23. Come, Let’s Disciple The Nations – Interactive
CD Textbook for Computer
24. Join the House Church Web Ring
25. CHCRN Newsletter INDEX according to THEMES
Web Sites
Next Time…
CONTENTS
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
<><><>><><<><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
1. UPDATE
ON REGIONAL CONFERENCES ON HOUSE CHURCHES in Canada
<><><>><><<><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Upcoming
WOLFGANG SIMSON visit in the Planning Stages
-----------------------------------------------------------------
As mentioned in the Sept. edition of the newsletter, we have invited
Wolfgang Simson, author of ‘HOUSES THAT CHANGE THE WORLD’, to Canada
around the end of Jan. & first part of Feb. 2003. Thank you for your
prayers in this regard!
Some of you have expressed interest in potentially hosting him or a
house church conference in your region (with Wolfgang as the speaker/coach)
while he is in Canada. We will continue to be in touch with you about
this.
In further communications with Wolfgang, it seems he will not be able
to stay here as long as we had hoped, and therefore may not be able
to travel to more than a couple of the regions we would like to see
him visit during this particular trip. He will only be able to stay
for a week and so please pray with us that God would lead us in how
to most effectively benefit Canadian house churches in this short visit.
Thank you!
We are in the process of approaching the various Missionsfests across
the country about potentially having him as a plenary speaker. If that
happens, we will adjust the plans for the rest of his time accordingly.
Currently we are hoping to have him here in Vancouver for a few days
and there is great interest in the Toronto/Hamilton, etc. region as
well, to have him spend some time there. We hope that by about Feb.
or Mar. 2002 we will have more information for you about his potential
involvements in Missionsfest for 2003 so that we can begin to plan more
specifically with others of you that may be interested in hosting him
in your region. Costs to have him out (from his hope in Europe) would
be shared by Missionsfest, us as the Canadian House Church Resource
Network, and any local regions that would be inviting him.
For those that may not be able to meet/hear him this time, his contact
info is in the Sept/01 edition of the newsletter so you can contact
him directly about potentially coming to your region at another time,
or, if you would like to network with others who may wish to invite
him again at a later time, so you could potentially share costs, etc.,
if you let us know we can help to facilitate that if you wish. Contact
us at: chcrn@hotmail.com
CONTENTS
####### 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
;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;’;
INTERNATIONAL
HOUSE CHURCHES
------------------------------------------------------
If you would like the web site addresses for the following articles
on Int’l House Churches, contact: chcrn@hotmail.com
Diversity Within the Chinese Church
House Churches in China – several articles
House Churches in Cuba
House Churches in Israel
House Churches in N. Korea
House Churches in Turkmenistan
House Churches in Vietnam
Insight into the House Churches of China
CONTENTS
*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(
3. DISCIPLING
THE NATIONS:
From: Seven Influential
Sectors of Society Hold the Keys
If you cannot access the article online, contact: chcrn@hotmail.com
for an emailed version of this excellent article!
*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*
(Editor’s Note) – In the Matthew passage commonly known as ‘the Great
Commission’, Jesus commanded His disciples to MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL
NATIONS! What does that look like? Is our neighbourhood discipled? or
our city/nation? Sadly, as we look around it doesn’t take much to see
that the world has discipled the Church much more than the Church has
discipled the world.
Here in the western nations, especially, we have largely relegated ‘religion’
or ‘spirituality’ to a small segment of our lives. I believe that this
inconsistency with the teaching of Jesus as to what a true disciple
of Jesus is is one of the many things that has drawn many of us into
the direction of seeing house churches becoming a part of the way that
we can live out our lives FULLY as believers, in EVERY aspect of our
lives, as He continues to conform us into the likeness of His Son Jesus
Christ. As we express the Life and Presence of Jesus in every segment
of our lives, in every segment of society, we will see the Holy Spirit
influencing the various sectors of society and changes beginning to
take place as relationships are built and true disciples of Jesus are
spreading the Life of Jesus wherever they go.
I personally believe that as we see our homes as ministry centers (and
places where we gather with others for fellowship, whether in restaurants
or businesses, schools or hospitals, etc.,) and where we live out the
life of Jesus He has called us to exemplify in every area of our lives,
that we will begin to see our neighbourhoods, cities and nation discipled!
The following very helpful article is available at the web site noted
above --
----------------
“The seven spheres of influence described (in the article) will help
us shape societies for Christ. God gave us these handles to use in carrying
out Matthew 28 and discipling nations for Him. We believe He is wanting
all His people to see the importance of these seven areas and work in
them to extend Christ's reign throughout the earth. ..”
The Family and Health Care...
Commerce, Science and Technology...
The Church...
Government...
Education...
The Media...
The Arts, Entertainment and Sports..”.
CONTENTS
&&&&&&&&& TRANSITION &&&&&&&&&
4. CANADA:
Post-modern church planting
Excerpts below from HERE:
-------------------------------------------------------------
(Editor’s Note) – Although the stats of this report are a few years
old, they will help to give some idea of where our nation is at spiritually,
and help to give us a bit of a context of why house churches can potentially
be an important component of seeing Jesus’ Life lived out through His
Body to reach ‘post-moderns’ in these days.
As we also consider the strong multicultural values of this society,
and see that many internationals come from very family/community-oriented
societies as well as from societies that are very familiar with living
life on a spiritual plane, and as we see many of them coming to our
cities as immigrants or perhaps as refugees who are poor, misunderstood
and lonely, house churches can potentially provide a place of refuge/family/community
for them, and enable them to see spiritual life lived out in the Presence
of Jesus in every aspect of life, drawing them into the Family of God.
As we also consider our post-modern society, and especially Gen X &
Y, etc., we see that they are often very passionate people once they
find meaning to life, and/or ‘a cause’. They are often willing to count
the cost to fight for causes they believe in and to pay the price. We
also see that many desperately want to be part of family/community,
and value intimate, honest relationships of integrity. They frequently
desire to be mentored in loving relationships. Many are very spiritually
inclined – though sadly most have not yet found the Truth! They are
looking for reality and experience, though to them that does not often
equate with ‘Truth’. They are generally anti-hierarchal in their thinking/approaches
and want to work together with others that share vision, etc. They are
often anti-institutional and want to give input and be heard. They want
to be a part of something of worth/value.
Personally I feel that many of these qualities (though this is of course
a generalization) are almost like a set-up for the kind of people that
God is wanting to draw into His Family in these days...I believe that
many of them would flock to house churches if they knew about them and
were invited, since Christ-centered house churches can help to meet
many of the needs of their hearts, which many have felt have not been
met by the traditional church which many post-moderns feel is irrelevant
to their lives.
I also think that because Canada is a very laid-back kind of society
for the most part, that house churches would go very well with the Canadian
personality. Even the way new subdivisions are being built, in communities,
seems to indicate a growing desire of the masses to feel like they belong
to a community. Why can’t local networks of house churches be sprinkled
across these types of communities and add a much deeper and eternal
dimension of community for those that God is calling in that community?
I believe that God is in the process of raising up house churches of
disciples ‘for such a time as this’! --
----------------
“…13 March, 1999 82% of Canadians are unchurched', i.e., not actively
involved in Christian churches, according to the latest research published
by Church Planting Canada', a national missionary initiative based on
the DAWN strategy. Murray Moerman, editor of Outreach Canada' magazine,
says that those with no religious preference' form the fastest-growing
religious group in the country. How are the churches reacting? Moerman
reports that there are now six regional church planting conferences
planned in 1999, instead of four. In British Columbia, the conference
in Vancouver in late spring will have four tracks: post-modern church
planting, new churches for new immigrants, planting cell and house churches,
and Natural Church Development'. During a historic conference in 1997,
most churches agreed on a common target of planting 10,000 new churches
in Canada, and to reach out to the 800,000 native Canadians, of which
some 232,000 live on reservations. Sociological factors limit the average
size of Canadian churches to 135. According to Moerman, if the number
of Canadian Bible-believing Christians is to double, twice the number
of churches will also be needed...”
Source: Murray Moerman FAX (+1)-604-272-2744
Content provided by the Dawn Fridayfax. Text © DAWN Europe. Redistribution
is explicitly allowed as long as the copyright remains intact with the
text. Editor: Wolfgang Simson. The Fridayfax is also available by email
CONTENTS
@@@ See also the following illuminating articles @@@
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Unchurched
- Who They Are
& Why They Stay That Way / Why Do People Join the Church?
CONTENTS
Healthy Churches
The Canadian
Way - by Don Posterski
CONTENTS
GET READY –
THERE’S
A TRANSITION IN THE CHURCH
CONTENTS
-----------------------------------------------------------------
5. What’s the
House Church Situation Like in Canada? – We Need For You to Help Us
With the Research
- Grace Wiebe (October 2001)
=====================================
We were recently asked some questions which we thought that many of
you would also be wondering about. We would like to respond to those
questions.
We would be grateful for any additional information any of you could
give us on this. Thank you in advance for your help with this as we
go along. Contact: chcrn@hotmail.com
Q: Are you aware of any research that has been done on the house
church movement in Canada? It seems the only source for information
and resources on house churches comes from the US and overseas.
A: Although we have heard of some existing house churches that have
been in existence in Canada for some years, most of the situations that
we’re aware of are folks that are either interested in or considering
starting a house church, or have fairly recently begun a house church,
and quite a number of folks feel God is leading them to be involved
in house church networks, or even facilitating local networks, etc.
There have been house churches in existence, perhaps, all along, but
we are not yet too sure of what that has been like in Canada’s history
or up to the present date. Most that we have become aware of have been/are
single house churches which have seemingly not functioned in networks
and do not seem to have multiplied. Some have continued for years, others
have ended earlier for various reasons. We are not aware of house churches
that have been around for a long time that have a focus on reproducing
as a vital part of seeing our cities and nations (& beyond) reached,
although there may be some out there. If you are able to help us gather
any of this type of research information, we would be most grateful.
We can then hopefully pass it on to our readers as we learn more. Contact:
chcrn@hotmail.com
At this point, probably most of our contacts are a part of a house church.
Next would be the number of people interested in house churches or hoping
to start them shortly. It seems that most of the ones who feel they’re
being led to start them have a major heart for the lost and a desire
to see their neighbours and/or city reached. Most of the ones we’re
connected with seem to be a part of house churches as church planters
and not because they’re bitter with the traditional church, which we’re
grateful to see!
There are also a number of networks of house churches represented. A
few of the house churches represented so far are planning on becoming
multiplying, reproducible house churches. As far as I am aware, not
many are currently reproducing, but I think this is only because so
many of them are still at such early stages and networks take time to
develop. Perhaps sometime in the future we can give you more specific
numbers in this regard.
As far as we know to date, there hasn’t been any research on the house
church movement in Canada done...but if there is, we would be very grateful
to be told what findings there are/have been.
As time goes on, we trust we will be able to find out more and to be
able to pass that information on to you.
Q: Who has the best understanding of the Canadian situation?
A: I would venture to say that Outreach Canada, in conjunction with
the Canadian DAWN Ministries (www.dawnministries.org), Every Home for
Christ and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada, etc., has come up with
the best statistics/state of the church in Canada (see the book TRANSFORMING
OUR NATION noted in the June2001 edition of the newsletter), which includes
the vision to see churches within walking distance of every 500-1000
people – and of course house churches are a part of their vision. Other
than this research, we don't know of anyone other than ourselves with
the type of information we are looking for and which some of you have
been asking us about, to date.
Q: Is the Canadian House Church Resource Network the only one in
Canada that stands out when it comes to building a network of cooperative
housechurches?
A: The only national one that we are aware of at this point. Other networks
that we are aware of and are connected with are regional – as in local
or city-wide, for example.
Q: Has anyone taken a hard look at the pros and cons of housechurch
in Canada? Why is it working? Why is it not working? How is it different
in Canada than in other nations?
A: Again, we don’t have enough information, yet, on house churches that
have been around for quite awhile, and we are still in the process of
finding out why they work or do not work in Canada. I suspect, however,
that though some will fail and we will hopefully learn from our mistakes,
that many will also succeed. Even though house churches have also been
in many other nations for quite some time to some degree, it is also
a fairly recent thing that house churches are becoming a phenomenon
in most countries. Most people are sensing that God has His Church in
the midst of a major transition/paradigm shift into the cell church
and house church models in order to increase the Harvest! As things
are currently, if God suddenly answered our prayers for revival and
the Harvest came in NOW, where would all the people go and who would
disciple them?
There isn’t even room in the traditional churches for that...and they
could never build fast enough! or afford to look after that many new
believers that would need to be discipled. And there aren’t enough people
in traditional churches that have been discipled themselves one on one
or in a holistic/practical/ mentoring/family type of way which house
churches can provide - or who know how to disciple others - to be able
to disciple the anticipated harvest...so I believe God is in the process
of preparing us for what He’s about to do. This is something God is
raising up all over our nation and in other nations. So I am convinced
it will work, though I expect we’ll all have some hard lessons to learn
in the process...but also many great joys and victories!
How are things different re house churches in Canada than in other
countries? One way in which we differ from house churches in countries
where there is persecution is that we don’t appreciate the value of
the Body of Christ or house churches to the extent that they do there
because of the intensity of their situations. Also, in some countries
they cannot afford other options like we can. Some cultures are more
family-oriented and community-oriented than we are, or are less transient,
and so that could also cause some differences. I personally believe
that house churches will become like a raging fire across Canada once
there are enough successful examples that people can see to help remove
their fears and suspicions about them...I believe that Canada is very
ready for house churches and that they are very culturally relevant
to most of our society. Some people will continue to feel more comfortable
in traditional churches. But many believers and even many pastors who
deeply love the Lord have already left the traditional church in droves
and are longing for the kind of Body life they’ve read about and been
inspired by in Scripture. Once they are aware that it is happening in
Canada and once they see actual evidence of reproducing, loving, God-honoring,
Holy-Spirit empowered, servant-hearted disciples of Jesus living out
the Word of God and meeting in homes and other places in the marketplace
for fellowship, etc., I believe they will take notice and be drawn into
what God is doing in this move of His as well.
Q: Is there a chat room/bulletin board for people like us?
A: Yes, you can find that on our RESOURCE LINKS page on our web site
HERE
There is also a Canadian-focused message board soon to arrive HERE
CONTENTS
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
6. EXPECTATIONS
RE HOUSE CHURCHES – Realistic or Unrealistic
- Grace Wiebe (Oct 2001)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
It seems that when we begin to do research on house churches or begin
to move in these directions, or as we begin house churches, we can tend
to approach this with some preconceived realistic AND UNREALISTIC expectations
as we eagerly move forward. If the unrealistic expectations are recognized
and dealt with, they can prevent serious blow-ups and potential failures
which could otherwise cause great disillusionment and bitterness as
well as bring shame to Christ’s Name.
Therefore, we felt it might be helpful to lay out a few unrealistic
expectations that can be considered in your own situation. There may
be many other unrealistic expectations as well, but here are a few to
help you begin to think through these types of possibilities.
HAPPY EVER AFTER FANTASY - Many people interested in or becoming
part of house churches can think that after leaving the traditional
church, their problems are behind them and that house churches will
be the answer to all their problems. They may see the New Testament
church as the ‘perfect church’. HOWEVER, if we look at New Testament
house churches, they were not perfect and experienced some major struggles.
Other problems can arise from being part of house churches – especially
if we’re moving from a traditional church background into a house church
model – ie. misunderstandings from our families and friends; misunderstandings
from mainstream Christianity; neighbours viewing us a cult, etc.
WE’LL GET ALONG ALL THE TIME – We can tend to envision almost
perfect relationships in a house church situation. HOWEVER, people are
still people, and still imperfect as we also see evidenced in the house
church situations in the New Testament. If we move on into house churches
without dealing with our baggage beforehand (as much as God leads us
to do), we will bring it with us. We may in fact bring the traditional
church model with us and just have a smaller version of it (for example),
which can also cause a whole assortment of conflicts. Since most people
in traditional churches (where most of us so farare from) have likely
not learned many conflict resolution/ peacemaking skills, and since
most people are not used to a deep level of intimacy in relationships,
it is likely that the first few years in a house church situation can
be fairly explosive at times as a new depth of intimacy is developed
which most may not have experienced before. This can be very scary for
many because the greater vulnerability and accountability can be potentially
very threatening or overwhelming. However, if we are willing to hang
in there and work through it by God’s grace, and willing to humble ourselves,
repent, forgive and forgive again, and keep Jesus, His vision of His
Family/Kingdom and all-surpassing reign alive and as our goal, we CAN
indeed experience the kind of intimacy that we are longing for. But
it will take time. It will not happen overnight, though we’ve been conditioned
to expect that. God is developing PERSEVERANCE and ENDURANCE and LONG-SUFFERING
into His people – part of the fruit of the Spirit He is longing to see,
so it will most likely not come easy! Let’s pray that He gives us His
Strength to have the courage to stick with it and hang onto Him in the
midst of the struggles we will all face as we go. But may we also be
encouraged by the plunder we will take from the enemy of our souls as
we trust and obey Him!
THE TRANSITION WILL BE EASY – some moving into house church
directions out of traditional church models may feel that the transition
may be easy and a huge relief. That may be true in many ways. However,
it will likely take more than one or two generations for us to get the
traditional systems out of us, though it doesn’t take that long for
us to get out of the traditional systems. It is truly a complete
paradigm shift that is necessary . Our whole thinking, philosophy
and ways of doing things need to not only be re-thought, but the Holy
Spirit will need to make major changes in our hearts to enable us to
hold what He is preparing us for and to instill in our hearts HIS DNA
for the Church as He wishes it to function in greater freedom! It is
traditional church ‘systems’ and ‘structures’ (and not the people) which
many of us have felt are actually hindering the Life of the Church as
Christ intended rather than releasing the Body into its fullness and
maturity – and that will take time to change since it is deep in our
history and roots. Many of us moving in house church directions believe
that the house church model will help to free up the Church to be what
she has been called to be and to live out the Life she has been called
to live out.
THEY’LL COME TO US – we may think that because we’re in house
churches or moving in these directions that the unsaved and backsliders
will automatically come to us. It is true that many whose hearts God
is stirring in these directions, among believers AND non-believers,
will be attracted to Body life which is Christ-centered and empowered
by the Holy Spirit. HOWEVER, God has still called us to GO to them,
and our homes can also become self-absorbed and self-focused if we don’t
continue to reach out. May our continued vision be to know Christ and
dwell in His Presence and to reflect Christ’s character all around us,
by going to people in our jobs, in the stores, in the marketplace, in
parks, wherever the people are, etc. Our homes should not become new
fortresses, but rather our homes ought to become a vital part of the
‘Church Without Walls’; our ‘ministry centers’.
POWER/CONTROL ISSUES WILL NO LONGER BE A PROBLEM – we may think
that now that we are no longer in the traditional church systems, that
hierarchal or power/control issues won’t be a problem, especially since
we’re wanting to have a flat leadership structure and wanting to operate
with the spiritual gifts flowing in unity with each other as the Holy
Spirit leads. But again, it will take time for God to do His work in
us to remove those power/control issues from our lives as we repent
and again experience deeper revelations of His mercy, grace and power
because of what He accomplished on the cross for us! May He indeed remind
us that He has called us to SERVANT-LEADERSHIP, in whatever roles He
has us, and to loving, mutual accountability....not power/control struggles.
May we be patient with each other as God deals with us in these areas!
Other (feel free to add to the list)...
CONTENTS
IDENTIFYING
WITH THE PEOPLE HE IS CALLING US TO REACH
=============
We see a very important principle in Isaiah 6 where Isaiah says “Woe
to me, for I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean
lips.” We see that in order for God to be able to effectively use Isaiah
to reach these people, God had to first reveal to him that he had to
deal, first, with the same sin issues in his life and to repent of them
before God could use him to effectively reach the people that struggled
with the same sin. They were a people ‘of unclean lips’. He had a revelation
from God that he was a ‘man of unclean lips’. Once he allowed God to
deal with this in his life, God used him mightily in the area of his
gifts....using his MOUTH (as a major part of his calling).
So with us, if we are seeking to see God bring restoration, revival
and renewal into the Church in Canada and to see our families, neighbourhoods,
cities and nation discipled, we can expect that He will be revealing
to us areas where we need to repent so that we will be able to effectively
identify with the people, continue to develop in godly character and
be used in the areas of our giftings to reach out to them. He will likely
bring to our attention our own need to surrender to Him our control
issues and become servant-hearted; our own need to forgive; our own
impatience and lack of perseverance, etc. But as we repent and submit
these areas to Him, we will also be amazed at the way He is able to
use us as He continues to work in our lives to fulfill His purposes
in/through us!
Conclusion:
---------------
As we begin to see what our unrealistic expectations are, let us be
faithful to entrust them - and all our fears about the unknown in this
journey – to God, and learn to depend on each other as brothers and
sisters that God has provided for us so we can, together, move forward
to possess the land that God has called us to! Let us move forward in
healthy interdependence as God intended!
CONTENTS
+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+ NETWORKING HOUSE CHURCHES +_+_+_+_+_+_+_+
===========================
9. NETWORKING: A Biblical Model of Cooperation
– the Nehemiah Strategy
===========================
“...The Book of Nehemiah has some very helpful insights and examples
of how God seems to be working in these days, especially in terms of
how He is increasingly networking His Body together in regions, cities,
nations and even internationally at an unprecedented rate. We believe
that this is because He is raising up His Church and preparing us to
be able to increasingly bring in the Harvest as we, together, focus
on Him and on the things that are deepest on His heart! His desire is
for unity, and it is something HE is bringing into His Body in these
days!
We desire to be a part of what God is doing in these days and to cooperate
with Him in that as He leads us, and so we would like to present to
you one biblical model of cooperation which is exemplified in Scripture
and which He put on our hearts as a Network when it began...” (see the
rest of the article for more...). If you are not internet accessible
but would like an emailed copy of the article, contact: chcrn@hotmail.com
CONTENTS
----------------------------------------------------------
10. Proposal
for a House Church Network in the Lower Mainland (BC, Canada)
- Surrey, BC - granholm@direct.ca - October/99
(Click on HOUSECHURCHES
link on left, and then on VANCOUVER PROPOSAL for article)
CONTENTS
-----------------------------------------------------------
@ @ @ @ @ STARTING A HOUSE CHURCH @ @ @ @ @
============================================
11. HOW TO
FIND A MAN
OF PEACE – Erich Bridges
============================================
(Editor’s Note) – Although the following approach is being used in church
planting (house churches) in many parts of the world, many of these
aspects could be utilized in our local situations as well.
CONTENTS
@@@@@@@ BIBLICAL AUTHORITY / MUTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY @@@@@@@
#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#
12. Leadership
& Authority – Hal Miller – excellent & very helpful article on biblical
authority and leadership – a very helpful perspective for house churchers!
#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#
CONTENTS
++++++++++++++++ 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 to see house churches becoming a vital part of seeing
your cities and our nation reached and transformed with the Gospel of
Jesus Christ! We therefore wish to include helpful resources to help
encourage you in these directions. More below, as well, under the TRANSFORMATIONS
section, and next time in the LIGHTHOUSES OF PRAYER section –
--------------
The following is from HERE
”Transformation vision:
THE WHOLE CITY TRANSFORMED BY THE WHOLE GOSPEL THROUGH THE WHOLE CHURCH
Definition of City Reaching - City reaching is the ongoing process of
mobilizing the whole body of Christ in a geographically identified area
to strategically focus all of it's resources on reaching that area with
the whole gospel resulting in the redemption of society and the transformation
of the area.
A City of Praying Neighbors - What would your city be like if every
neighbor and neighborhood were prayed for daily? I think it would be
a city in transformation with many people coming to Christ. That's what
God wants. His heart's desire is for all people to be saved and for
all of us to "live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness"
(1 Timothy 2:1-2).”
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
13. TRANSFORMATIONS: When God Comes to Town
- information and summary intro/resources
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
(Editor’s Note) – As many of you are aware, God is moving in many cities
around the globe and breaking down denominational walls through unified
prayer as the Church comes together to seek God’s purposes and transformation
of their cities. More recently God seems to be beginning to do this
with NATIONS, also!
There are currently two very inspiring and encouraging, faith-building
videos available regarding the stories of what has happened in these
cities/nations ‘when God has come to town’! There is ordering information
available at the web site noted above.
One of the regions exemplified in the 2nd Transformations video is the
northern region of Canada where God is blowing His revival fires throughout
the Arctic!! Increasing numbers of believers and churches of many kinds/denominations
are longing to see God’s restoration of His purposes and glory in our
cities and nation as well!
Those of us involved in house churches/house church networks are a part
of the city church. As Wolfgang Simson says “HOUSE CHURCH / CITY CHURCH”.
We as a Network want to serve God’s purposes in our cities and nation
as we seek to work together with those in house church networks and
other forms of Christian gatherings who are seeking God’s purposes and
glory as we ‘seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness’ so that we
can also see transformation happening in our cities and across our nation!
May we be led by His Spirit and build up the Body so that, as in the
book of Joshua, we may take the land that God has given us!
CONTENTS
Transforming
the City – online book
CONTENTS
A
Look at the Harvest – book on Transformation process in Spokane,
WA – see in Appendix section – A Brief Apologetic for the City Church
CONTENTS
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
14. ORGANIC
CHURCH PLANTING – Ancient Principles for a Post Modern World
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CONTENTS
=========== M I S C E L L A N E O U S ============
----------------------------------------------------------------
15. Some
Streams of House Church – Frank Viola
-------------------------------------------
(Editor's Note) - There are many foci that house churches have, and
many have begun from various backgrounds and perspectives. This article
includes some of the main ones, which we trust you will find helpful.
Our focus is included in our vision statement at (see above in introduction
to this newsletter).
CONTENTS
16. STATE OF
CHRISTIANITY IN 2001.
----------------------------------------------------------------
From: TOGETHER – email newsletter (Canadian)
To: together@idirect.com
Subject: National Newsletter 06-22-2001
“David B. Barrett, Professor for Missionmetrics at Regent University,
Virginia Beach and publisher of the World Christian Encyclopedia, and
Todd M. Johnson, Director of the World Evangelisation Research Center
in Richmond, USA, recently published their annual report of Christian
statistics. A full table with their findings is available at http://gem-werc.org.
The table shows that the world has a current population of 6,1 billion
of which 1,8 billion (roughly one third) is under 15. About 720 million
people live in slums. The world has 410 cities with a population over
1 million. There are 111 million Christians without a local church.
There are 5,2 million fulltime Christian workers and 36,500 Christian
periodicals. Since AD 30 there have been 1540 world mission plans. According
to Barrett, the rise of the so-called 'neo-apostolics' is particularly
marked, now numbering over 20,000 movements and networks with a total
of 394 million church members. They reject historical denominationalism
and restrictive or overbearing central authority, and seek a more effective
missionary lifestyle. They are one of the fastest-growing church movements
in the world, and, in Barrett's estimation, will have 581 million members
in 2025 - 120 million more than all Protestant movements.” (Source:
GEM-WERC)
CONTENTS
00000000000000000000000000000000000000
17. DO YOU
HAVE A QUESTION or TOPIC
you would like for us to address in a future edition?
00000000000000000000000000000000000000
In future editions of the newsletter, we would like to include, as able,
discussions from YOU about things you’re learning in your journeys regarding
house churches – some of the transitions you’re currently in and ways
that God is encouraging you/leading you through the transitions, some
of the struggles and joys, potential pitfalls and potential ways to
avoid them, etc. What kinds of things is God teaching us, as Canadians,
about house churches as a part of seeing His Life experienced and lived
out/expressed in Canada? What can we learn from each other? How can
we encourage each other?
If at any time you have questions or topics you would like for us to
discuss in future editions, please send those to us at: chcrn@hotmail.com
Here are some initial questions for you to consider responding to as
applicable:
1) How did the house church you’re part of, begin?
2) What is/are the foci of the house church you’re part of?
3) How long have you been in existence as a fellowship?
4) Have you multiplied? If so, how did it happen in your situation?
And how many times has it multiplied? Over what period of time? Was
it a good experience or a bad one, or both? If so, how/why?
5) Do you have elders in the house church you’re a part of? Or what
is your leadership style?
6) What do you do with the children? What have you found helpful? Any
resources you’d recommend? Why those in particular?
7) How did you get through the transition from the traditional church
to moving in the house church direction? What is your current relationship
with the traditional church?
8) How does one work through/get rid of? the traditional hierarchal
mindset in favor of the flat structure of a house church family?
9) Are you currently part of a local network of house churches?
10) Etc.
CONTENTS
############## R E S O U R C E S ###############
18. NETWORKING
SHEET – if you would like to network with others in Canada, you may
wish to fill out the Networking Sheet (which can be emailed to you)
and email it back to us once it’s filled out so we can include your
information with a future edition of the newsletter. Let us know if
you need it emailed to you in text format. Contact: chcrn@hotmail.com
CONTENTS
19. CD
of HOUSE CHURCH Resources – we now have a CD available which includes
many of the excellent resources that are available re house churches,
including the newsletters to date, quite a few items from our web sites,
many helpful articles, a couple of free books on house churches, etc.
It also includes other resources on church planting, evangelism, etc.
If you are a Canadian (sorry we don’t currently have the personnel to
send it beyond Canada at this point), you may wish to order some for
your non-email or non-internet accessible friends. We would like to
make these available to you free of charge for the CD, but will need
to ask you to send us $5 (CDN) for shipping and handling charges. To
order, please contact us at: chcrn@hotmail.com
CONTENTS
20. POWERPOINT
PRESENTATION of House Churches & the Canadian House Church Resource
Network – We have finished, or will soon be finishing up a Powerpoint
Presentation on house churches and the Canadian House Church Resource
Network which you can present to others via your computer, or which
those without email/internet access may wish to put on their computers.
For those with email access, we can email it to them. For those without
email access, we will probably be able to mail it to them on a diskette
(only Canadians at this point since we don’t have enough personnel to
send it beyond Canada by snail mail). We will need to let you know about
any potential costs with that (they would only cover the costs for the
diskette and mailing). Let us know if you are interested: chcrn@hotmail.com
BTW: If you have pictures of your house church meetings which you think
would be good to include in this presentation, please send them to us
via email for consideration. We only need a few more. Please send them
to us as soon as possible so this presentation can be completed and
sent to those that request it. Many thanks!
CONTENTS
21. HOUSES THAT
CHANGE THE WORLD - Wolfgang Simson’s excellent book on house churches!
– BETTER PRICE! We have been made aware of a better price tan we have
known about previously, and we want to let you know about it as well.
In the current edition of the William Carey Library catalog from the
US Center for World Mission, you can order copies of the book for $10.50
US plus shipping and handling, which is quite a bit less than we can
get them for!
You can order copies from: 1 800 - 647-7466 or from: GABRIEL@OMLIT.OM.ORG
or from their web site at: WCLBooks.com
CONTENTS
22. PROPHECIES
ABOUT CANADA:
Some of you may be interested in reading some prophetic words that have
been given about Canada over the years. You can find some at this web
site. As you know, all prophetic words need to be tested. I have not
had a chance to finish reading through all of them so please keep that
in mind as you read them.
CONTENTS
23. COME,
LET’S DISCIPLE THE NATIONS – interactive CD textbook for computer –
contact: chcrn@hotmail.com for further information
CONTENTS
24. JOIN
THE HOUSE CHURCH WEB RING
CONTENTS
+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+_+
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:
-----------------------------------------------
House Church Planting.Com
– Calgary, AB
MISC
---------
Bringing
the Church Back Home – articles on house churches
(Christian Counterculture Online magazine)
Church Planting Movements-
– David Garrison has written a very helpful booklet on church planting
movements around the world, which includes some helpful information
about house churches as a part of the big picture. We trust this will
be encouraging for you as well.
– downloadable book
**Ministers
Emerging in the Marketplace
Prayer Links and Resources (LOTS)
Spiritual Gifts Links and Resources (LOTS)
Third Apostolic
Reformation
---------------------
NEXT TIME…
The Value of Intergenerational Home-Based Churches
ALPHAS as a Potential House Church Nursery
Lighthouses of Prayer as Potential House Church Nurseries
What Happens in a Typical House Church Meeting?
The Questions About Reproducing – How & When to Multiply as Painlessly
as Possible
The Value of Itinerant Apostolic Teams
House Churches in the Context of the KINGDOM OF GOD
In forthcoming editions…
House Church Opportunities for Supporting Missionaries/Ministries –
or getting involved in other ways, House Church Planting in Teams/House
Churches as Houses of Prayer for All Nations/Being Relevant in/to Our
Culture and Faithful in Our Time/Sample Core Values of a House Church
Movement/House Churches & The Great Commission: Effective Equippers
& Effective Senders/Financing the Vision/Potential Roles of House Churches
in Missions/Historical Overview of House Churches/ /Encouraging the
Development of a Biblical DNA in House Churches/Leadership & Authority/Making
Decisions By Consensus, Etc.
CONTENTS