House church background
Revival in India and China can be attributed to this method. Missionaries tried to start a Church Planting Movement (CPM) in both of those nations only to be met with resistance by the organized church. They went off on their own and now there is a powerful movement that cannot be stopped. Here is a top 10 list of reasons for Planting House Churches. The following is taken from “The Global House Church Movement” by Rad Zdero
1. Biblical – This was the normative New Testament pattern established by Jesus and the apostles and perpetuated by the early church of the first three centuries and in subsequent renewal, reform and revival movements throughout history. (Acts 2:46, 5:42, 20:20)
2. Exponential – To reach a growing world, we need to multiply, not just add. Current house church movements worldwide are outstripping more traditional church planting and church growth efforts.
3. Effective – The most effective method of evangelism is not growing existing churches, but planting new ones. House churches are the most easily reproducible form of church, and hence, are the most obvious choice for church planting.
4. Natural – House churches become part of the local community and easily tap into relationship connections, thereby more readily taking on an indigenous flavour.
5. People-Focused – They focus on relationships and the development of people spiritually, not on executing programs or projects.
6. Efficient – They are more mobile, flexible, and adaptable than conventional churches, especially in areas characterized by persecution and poverty.
7. Equal Opportunity – Because of their small, intimate and participatory nature, all believers have the opportunity to exercise their spiritual gifts during church meetings, and not just professional clergy or key leaders.
8. Unbounded – They are not limited by church buildings. They may or may not have buildings, history shows that they are not necessary for rapid church planting movements to start; in fact, they may be a hindrance. Although church buildings are not evil by any means, nor are homes in any way magical, the practical release of time, energy and money away from building maintenance, and into evangelism and discipleship, should cause us to rethink current practices.
9. Inexpensive – They are less expensive than traditional church, because no expensive buildings, programs, or professional clergy are required.
10. Immediate – It can start now, right in your living room. There is no need to wait for a gym to be rented or for a building program to be completed to begin a new church or for a full-time pastor to be hired.
Cell Groups
This is a model that has been popularised in the USA, Korea, & Singapore (Pastor Lawrence Kong), and now in Malaysia (SIBKL)
God’s church is “all Christians”, no matter their level of Biblical understanding. I have close relationships with many of the Thai pastors and they respect me. I don’t feel ready to give up on the Thai church and do the go-it-alone approach with the expectation that they will eventually reject me and my methodology. Before I were to ever get involved in a house-church movement I would first want the Thai church to have their opportunity to see if they will squelch the Holy Spirit or be accepting of the floodgates opening. Currently there is much pride and power mongering in the hearts of the Thai pastors but they are still God’s chosen leaders. For all that I said in the previous sentence, they are all very pleasant and congenial people nonetheless. For now, I want to bless these Godly men (despite their many glaring faults.) I want to assist them as I help them towards establishing a Cell Church Movement.
In Singapore a very rigid system was created and then given freely to SIB church in KL Malaysia. In Malaysia the materials and processes were modified to meet with a more laid back culture. Now they are offering these materials to me hoping that I will translate them and train future leaders (I have now translated half of the materials into Thai.) It would be a better fit for me than the house church approach. The House Church approach would earn me many enemies (which is fine if it is what God calls me to) but institutional church deserves first dibs.
