What
is a Church?
For 1700 years,
the definition of a church has not changed; however, the success
of house churches abroad and the growing interest in them here
in Canada over the last 10 years are causing denominational leaders
to consider broadening their definition to include house churches.
The Southern Baptists have already taken that step. The Foursquare
denomination has hired a full-time house church planting person.
The Presbyterian church in the Caribou region in B.C. has converted
all their churches to house churches. Murray Moerman of Outreach
Canada believes that house churches have their place alongside
the existing expressions of Church.
The church began
in homes and grew explosively. Today, the first century model
of church has an increasing appeal because of its simplicity,
potential to evangelize the world and emphasis on committed relationships.
The word "church" can be negative for some people. They
believe it requires them to dress up, give money, or act in a
prescribed way. These negatives are overcome by a personal invitation
to an interactive Bible study in a neighbourhood home. Moerman
has found that Bible studies held in homes are much better attended
than the same courses offered in church buildings. "The beauty
of house church is that anyone with a kitchen table can start
a house church and reach out to their neighbourhood." In
China, about 25,000 people per day are receiving Christ in house
churches. In Seoul, Korea, house churches played a key role in
the building of the world's largest church founded by Dr. Cho.
At a recent Church
In The Home Conference in Kitchener, Ontario, house church planter,
Robert Fitts, challenged 250 cross-denominational attendees to
use the simple church model to reach their cities for God. "World
evangelism is too big a task to do it any other way but through
starting new churches." Fitts stressed the importance of
viewing all Christians in all types of church settings as the
city-wide Body of Christ and to work together to reach the lost.
Although the exact
number of house churches and their growth in Canada are difficult
to determine, it is believed by Moerman and others that the house
church movement is gaining momentum as a growing number of Christians
choose a simpler form of living their faith.
house church resources
www.outreach.ca/cpc/Housechurches.htm
www.skyfamily.com/gracew/index14.html
http://housechurch.ca
www.dwellingplacehop.org
Paul Weigel is the
author of "A Journey In The Wilderness - Becoming Fruitful
In The Kingdom" a book about entering into the promises of
God. For more information about the book and the Forerunner Ministry
visit www.theforerunner.net
Read
A Journey In The Wilderness -
Becoming Fruitful In The Kingdom
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