Posts Tagged ‘House Church Updates’

A young house church, Region 4’s West Chester group, has been meeting since May/June of 2009. For about five or six of those months they have been committed to serving once a month at The City Gospel Mission (http://www.citygospelmission.com/) located in Cincinnati. On the second Tuesday of each month, they purchase, prepare and serve a meal to 100-110 homeless people at the mission. Originally I had planned to participate with the house church as they served at the mission in February, but due to bad weather the group had to call off the meal. I had been included in the weather e-mails that day and was encouraged by the fact that the group made sure the mission not only had a back-up plan but they also planned on delivering a check so the mission would have a emergency meal in place for another occasion. Since my plans to join them were put on hold, I met with my friend and contact Jonathan to discuss the ministry.

Curious as to if it was an individual who had a specific desire to serve in this way, I found the answer was as simple as a few of the house church members having previously served with the City Gospel Mission and they, as a house church, had the desire and resources to fill this need. Each month, along with the general preparations, the members of the house church are able to serve each person their meal individually, which leads to a few chances to interact and converse.  So many people come through the mission though, that developing any sort of relationship or even familiarity has been difficult. Affirming that this could be a prayer request for their ministry, Jonathan stated that “Relationship-building is difficult, as even if we remember them, they usually don’t remember us…we try to take every opportunity to love on each person, as we never know if we’ll see them again.”  Since meeting with Jonathan, the mission has notified them of a few changes in format, which will hopefully start taking place in the Spring; changes which will hopefully allow for more time interacting and open doors to start forming relationships.

As a house church they have a system for ensuring accountability for funding for each month’s food purchases; any individual in the house church is free to give as much or as little as they can afford. Each month the food purchased to feed the 100-110 people totals about $200, which comes out to about $2 a meal. When I asked if it is a challenge for the house church to meet this goal every month, Jonathan replied that at first it was something that concerned him, but the house church has been faithful. “We have one married couple and the rest of us are mainly singles who are fairly fresh out of college… but when you break it down, its about $5 a week per person- which is basically the cost of a latte.” He also noted that the house church has made a commitment to the City Gospel Mission and that if they as a house church do not come through, there are real people who will go hungry. This leads to a true sense of responsibility from the group and there has yet to be a month when the total was not met.
I wasn’t surprised to hear that serving in this way has also been encouraging to the house church as a whole. Coming together, in a God centered way, with a common goal has truly built a stronger sense of community than merely gathering as a group and hanging out could have ever accomplish. They have been challenged to fast on the second Tuesday of each month. This is partly for personal spiritual discipline, but also to contemplate the abundant ways in which they are blessed when there are those who rarely have even one or two regular meals a day.

Even though we only spoke briefly, I found myself encouraged and excited for this group of people and the opportunity I have to serve alongside them next month. Its alway inspiring to hear about house churches who are serving outside the “house”. Making sure to stress the fact that he doesn’t think one ministry is “better” than another, Jonathan did point out the fact that as a house church we should all make it a priority to focus outward rather than inward. “Whether that means serving food to the homeless or going down to an apartment complex to throw a football around with the kids there, apostolic missions should be the desire of all house churches… after all, if there’s anyone who should have dirty hands, it should be the Christian.”

Apex is not what I would call a traditional church. Rather, it’s a network of house churches. House churches are smaller groups of believers that live near each other and meet in each others homes. As another sister in Christ details below, it’s in these house churches that we have a chance to actually live life together, to do more than sit beside one another in a pew. We can love each other practically, encourage each other to pursue Christ more in our daily lives and reach out to our communities together.

House churches are a multifaceted and dynamic aspect of Apex’s ministry.  These groups are designed to be loving, Christ-centered communities that strive to reach the lost and make disciples.  One purpose of this blog is to encourage and challenge the corporate body of Apex by sharing examples of healthy body life and community outreach that is happening within Apex house churches.

Before we convey stories of how God is working in and through Apex house churches, it is important to first lay some groundwork.  This blog, therefore, will discuss the relationship between Christian community and evangelism and why house churches are integral to the overall mission of Apex.

Body life refers to the kinds of relationships that Christians are to have with each other.  Romans 12:4-5 says, ‘For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.’  The statement, individually members of one another, implies a level of depth and intimacy that is very counter-cultural and flies in the face of western individualism.  It implies a commitment to other believers that doesn’t stop at weekly house church attendance but strives for interdependent relationships and genuine friendships.  Having these kinds of relationships with other Christians is not optional if we want to have healthy, growing house churches.

Let’s dig deeper and explore what the Bible says about body life.  Passages such as Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 liken the Body of Christ to our physical bodies.  The overall health of our physical bodies is dependent on the contribution of each individual organ.  If you remove your lungs, you are well on your way to sickness and death.  Similarly, each member of the Body of Christ plays a vital role in the overall health of the corporate Body.  Therefore, it is necessary for each member to understand his or her role and to act accordingly.  Oftentimes, Christians either devalue their contribution or overestimate their position in the Body of Christ.  However, scripture warns against both of these tendencies (1 Corinthians 12:15-17, Romans 12:3), and we must learn to lean against them.

One way that God enables us to serve one another is by equipping us with spiritual gifts (i.e. 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12).  Spiritual gifts are special spiritual abilities that enable us to lovingly serve others.  Though there is much to say about spiritual gifts, it is beyond the scope of this blog.  Suffice it to say that we are each gifted differently, and the best way to discover your gifts is to start serving in the Body.  Prayerfully and actively seek ways where you can minister to the individual or corporate needs of your house church and you will start to see God work through you in powerful ways.

Body life is further described in the passages found throughout the New Testament.  In John 13:34-35, Jesus said, “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  The One Another passages provide tangible ways that we express the love of Jesus to others in the Body of Christ: admonish one another, encourage one another, confess your sins to one another, and so forth.

When combined, these elements of healthy body life create a unique dynamic that cannot be replicated outside of Christian community.  Building and maintaining healthy friendships can only be accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit.

All people are created for and innately desire genuine love relationships.  However, the majority of Americans relate merely on a superficial level, and their deepest needs for intimacy and connection go unmet.  Consequently, nonbelievers are intrigued when they see Christians relating in a mature, healthy, and loving way.  They know that something is different, and they yearn for the kind of closeness that they observe in Christian relationships.  The following quote describes this very well:

God’s plan is that local bodies of believing Christians, functioning as loving and caring units, provide a dynamic community in which both personal witness and evangelistic communication become intensely productive.  The church that convinces people that there is a God is a church that manifests what only God can do, that is, to unite human beings in love… There is nothing that convinces people that God exists or that awakens their craving for him like the discovery of Christian brothers and sisters who love one another… The sight of loving unity among Christians arrests the non-Christian. It crashes through his intellect, stirs up his conscience and creates a tumult of longing in his heart because he was created to enjoy the very thing that you are demonstrating.¹

Apex, let us be Christians that demonstrate this kind of authentic Biblical love.  Let us not be content with once-a-week church attendance but strive for the kind of body life that is described in the Bible.  In doing so, may we demonstrate the love of Christ to a lost and hurting world that so desperately needs him.

1. John White, The Fight (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1979), pp 149-150.

So how are you, how is your  house church, loving your neighbors and and sharing the eternal hope that we have in the Lord?