Balancing Life in a Mayonaise Box

when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 glasses of wine.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “yes.” The professor then produced two glasses of wine from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

“Now,” said the professor, as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things; your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions; things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else; the small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.” “Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical check-ups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. Do one more run down the ski slope. There will always be time to clean the house and empty the bin. Take care of the golf balls first; the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.” One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the wine represented. The professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of glasses of wine with a friend.”

Seven Years of Journey

As a Church where Jesus lives, our lives were never meant then even to do 'right things' [for we make others fell guilty by doing the wrong things] but to obey what He called us to do. Offering our lives, as living sacrifices, or loving Jesus and others are our goal while living on this earth. We cannot fulfill these loving commandments by just attending meetings but by doing it practically: clothed the unclothe, feed the hungry, help the needy, visit orphans and attend widows, coz by doing these we do it likewise unto Jesus.

Evaluating our lives for 7 years after getting in to the house church ministry [this is our first family Christmas report for you] we say that the freedom that we feel by not attending [traditional] church for that long is awesome. Though we learn to do simple church the hard way [try and error for 3 years coz we know no one is doing it], but it is worthwhile doing it anyhow. We gave [me and my wife Lisa] our lives to the Lord, wherever He leads us we will follow, whatever He feeds us we will swallow. There are times that we're worried but then we look up to Him knowing He knows our needs and will never leave us. We have tasted His goodness to the fullest.

In a short summary of our long journey, after starting house churches and leave them as soon as I can [let the church grow with Jesus by showing them what to do during meetings, 1 Cor.14:26, and let Jesus and His Word are the main foundations of their faith, not meh, huh!] and now still starting simple churches but more on coaching others to do the same and serve as Regional Coordinator to the House Church Movement in the Philippines is a privilege to be able to serve the brethren who needs my assistance. And Jesus must be glorified in everything that I do, that is as much as I am this young [32 yr. old] I must learn now to humble myself. If there is a need to spank my butt coz you think I am proud enough, please do so without any delay!

For four years we have been married I can say that I am enjoying my marriage life. Even before being single I already prepared to go for it, Hmnn….not maybe financially, not worried about that so much, but mentally and spiritually prepared. That is I don't believe in adage, "Well, now I am married everything will just come as it goes!" That's a principle of disaster. Getting in to marriage life is a like jumping from a plane with a parachute, it's final, no testing. If you don't know how to use your parachute because you missed the sessions then you're dead pretty soon!

Me and my wife while in our early stage of friendship, actually classmate in a one-year Bible school training [Asia For Jesus Training School], we, including other 30 students studied love, courtship and marriage sort of seminar. It was a big blessing for us that for four years now too I teach what I learned doing 'Love and Courtship' seminar for young people and planning to continue doing it 'til I'm 40. I believe my next generation must learn it as much as I do.

After 8 months of our marriage life together we bore our first son named ZOE, that means, 'life of God.' And yes it is His. After 9mon and 2 weeks, He was taken already by the giver 17hours before he got out. "The Lord giveth away and the Lord taketh, blessed be the name of the Lord." This is what comes out in my mouth knowing that he's dead already inside. I have prayed every night, laying hands on our baby that God will use him. He is sovereign and I am glad for that. Then another 8 months comes our second baby girl named Shirley Faith was born. She gives us a lot of joy [every parent can tell that], though she's now 2 years and 2 months she's still doing breastfeeding! Well, our doctor says, "What's bad for that?" Okey, better listen. But she eats hard food now so don't worry. Anyway, we have the same birthday with my baby, which gives me double happiness!

She is very healthy, thought not chubby. She crawls in my back or my wife's back when we just sit around the room and cuddles us calling our names. So sweet. Hearing your name from your child's mouth is very sweet. Especially when she looks into your eyes.

In The Eye of The Storm

Our cloudy day has come last July 25, our house along with other 300 houses in our community were destroyed by fire. We live in one of the slum areas in Cebu. Where we live is about 2 million people and 1.6 lived below poverty line. Lots of dreamed in that community was gone after the fire but gratefully we are able to continue helping the widows there as well as some of the poor neighbors we know. This is part of my own family's ministry: to attend widows in their distress. [In the end part I will share what our vision is for them].

When the fire hit my community at around 8 in the morning I remember the first fire that destroyed in the same community last 1991. That's when I get saved a year later. So this is the second fire. What comes out as a disaster became a blessing in disguise to us [hate to say that not to a lot of my neighbors]. All I can say is that, it's time for my family to find nest somewhere, but not leaving our ministry there. Thanks for all the friends who helped financially. After the fire we join together with my sister's house in another town and now it's been two months that reside here in Downtown area that is the in the main city. A friend of mine asks me to partner with his restaurant for the student business and built a room for us. This is now the means of our living. At the same time keep on saving money to hopefully purchase a land for my family.

I continue traveling around the Philippines, the Lord is sending more and more church planters in the network, almost every week I received emails that they wanted to join the network in which of course we have no president, nor a chairman and even the title 'pastor' that we put on has been put away. All there is is friendship from the heart. No credentials to be given away. Starting next year there will be a lot of things that will happen. Several House Church Awareness Seminar will be held in different parts of the country as preparation of the coming first Regional House Church Congress and then comes after that is the 2^nd National House Church Conference which will be held in my province and then the 3rd Asian House Church Conference in Indonesia.

[Please join me in prayers that these Congresses and Conferences or Seminars on House Churches will become simple as it is as families of Jesus fellowshipping together. It is not so much about House churches but community in itself as God intended it to be. Our goal is not meetings but discipling the nations.]

On Christmas, Let's Remember Jesus and Others

A friend named Jon from New Zealand gave me an encouraging words this Christmas that changed our focus. That instead we thought of ourselves with other relatives it switches to other needy brethren. So this Christmas my family will share blessings to the needy. Some clothing's, toys for kids, and a bag of groceries will be given as gifts to them. Of course, some of these people are a part of Jesus family now but need constant material blessings and because we have invited others to do the same with us we can help more and minister to more people.

Future Plans

Our heart is for the widows. Every time I get invited to preach at churches I always find widows and ask one question: "Did you get any help from your church?" And for the dozens of churches I go to there's only one who received an amount of money every week [well, that's when I encourage the pastor on my first visit to his church]. For years my family continually helping 3 widows, 2 poor families, 2 children getting enrolled at school and helping one 6 year old girl who has a hole in her heart, maintaining her health through providing vitamins, medicines if needed, food and buying her new dress sometime [anyway, pray that doctor's who check her test results this week would accept her case for surgery]. It's time to start praying and planning and invite others to do the same either by themselves or with us here.

Prayerfully considering next year to start building a house for widows to stay in and then get volunteer friends to serve them like cleaning the house, washing their clothes, cooking their meals and other house chores. Either will build one or rent one, whichever. We know that it is much better to pour our resources in these kind of things than give them to church where your money just goes to owners of church buildings who are rich already and mostly unbelievers! There is a much much greater cause than these and this is it.

In my restaurant I don't sell old foods, as much as I can we sell good stuff and so we feed the hungry around the neighborhood. Sometimes there's a fool that would get in and we feed him. Oftentimes, one or two children and we feed them. And just tonight, a whole street family people, that is people living in the street, pass by and gave them food to eat. It's around close to 12 midnight when they passed and I politely ask them to pass by every night! Anyway, my restaurant opens at 6am and close at 12midnight includes cleaning around.

So, this is my tent-making business as what Paul does. We have been wishing and praying a lot of this to happen and it's finally come. This is to set as an example for my co-workers in the Philippines to work with their own hands. We are a victim of two myths here. One is, if you are called by God to pastor a church then don't work or do business. Second is, God is coming soon so we better serve Him fully, that is leave school or work and then be a full-time servant in the church even without a salary! All their churches promise is: We'll, you said God called you so let Him provide what you need. So a lot of us now in the house church movement reluctantly have faith in, "living by faith. We believe that we're applying it wrongly. Proverbs said, 'diligent hands succeed.' 'He who loves sleep ends poor.' The Bible says, 'everything we do, do it for the glory of God." This says that no 'part-time,' or 'full-time' here, but double time!

We will look forward for your Christmas message. We want to know what's going on after 365 days that passed in your family. If you sent one to us already just ignore this end note.

Merry Christmas,

Molong, Lisa and Baby Faith

Starting A House Church

I am Romulos Nacua, they call me Brother Molong and Lisa is my wife. Our house is in the city of Cebu, Jakosalem Street; we have a small room for us but have a big receiving area to welcome 20 people in a large dining table.

This is our first home and we decided to start a house church or a meeting place for Christians in our area. We didn’t make our house a place to hold a series of religious meetings but only a place to welcome those in need of encouragement in the midst of their problems they encounter everyday. [Acts 28:30]. And most of our invited visitors are only those in our neighborhoods.

We Are God’s Church

Christians are the temple of God because God’s spirit lives in them. [1 Cor. 3:16]. And these people of God as a church meet “from house to house.” [Acts 5:42]. “Greet the church that meets in their [Prisca and Aquila’s] house.” [Rom 16:3-5]

What Is a House church?

A house church is an extended family of God that meets for mutual edification. [1 Cor. 14:26; Heb. 10:25]. It is a reflection of God’s family on earth as it is in heaven. A house church also is God’s natural design to save the whole household. [Acts 16:31-34]. Is it not your hearts desire to be with your own loved ones in heaven?

Christians in a house church meets any time of the day, everyday and it limits only to 15-20 people. And if it reaches more than that it should be divided.

What They Do In a House church?

For every person who wants to live Christianity in an authentic way, five important things must happen in their meatings:

1. Meating [Acts 2:42, 46]

That means they eat as they meet. Every participant brings their own food either for breakfast, lunch, dinner or even [midnight] snacks. It depends upon the time agreed since their meeting is flexible. Oftentimes, when God wants to deliver His Word and be understood, He will liken it with our physical food. [Matt. 4:4; Ez. 3:1-3; Rev. 10:9-10] That is why whenever He teaches and preaches it is almost always accompanied with something to eat. Feeding the five thousand is one of the examples.

And this ‘meating’ also is a time to celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Since our Lord introduces it in the context of a meal. [“after supper” – Lk. 22:20] Throughout the New Testament period the Lord’s Supper was an actual meal shared in the homes of Christians. They do it until Christ’s return physically to those who are His. [1 Cor 11:26].

Essential qualities that will develop as they eat together:

a. In eating the command to “accept” or “receive” one another develops. A person who accepts another person is called a “Man of Peace.” [Lk 10:6]. If you ask a visitor in your house to eat with you is it not you agree [or accept him] with him? [See Jesus who receive sinners and eats with them – Lk 15:2] And make him your friends? [See Jesus who is a friend of sinners – Lk 7:34-36, and friend of His own people. – Jn 15:15]. In this context also develops the attitude of hospitality. “Given to hospitality” was one of the characteristics of the early Christians, and still marks out authentic Christianity. Our home is not meant to be enjoyed in lonely isolation: it is there to be shared. And the most important quality that will be developed in a person in this kind of environment is love and this will end up fulfilling the command of Jesus to “love one another.” Is this not how people will know us that we are His? [Jn 13:34,35]

b. Jesus came eating and drinking. [Lk 7:34]. Eating the Lord’s Supper in the house church meeting is a reminder of Jesus. He is the first, the center as well as the last to be honored in the meeting. In other words, they meet because of Jesus. Meating in the house church invites Jesus Himself. He’ll say something like; “I will surely come and dine with them.” [Rev. 3:20] Because He is the “Master of the house” and we are “His household.” [Lk 10:25].

2. Edifying [1 Cor. 14:26; Heb. 10:25]

The goal of their ‘meating’ is for the edification of every one – the body of Christ. Worship can be a part of it but not the reason because worship can happen when our lives are offered daily as a living sacrifice [Rom. 12:1]. We can worship when we’re alone anytime and everywhere but we cannot receive encouragement if we put ourselves in isolation. So if the reason of our meeting is for edification that means each one has a responsibility to encourage one. “How is it then brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, and has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” [1 Cor. 14:26]

There are 58 “one another” in the New Testament and that will mean that we cannot just live without one another. Our Christian experiences affects people everyday. That is why each one of us is important to be a part of especially in the meetings. The Bible does not guarantee that listening to a sermon even for hours will encourage everyone. Any preacher and member knows that fact. But as we encourage one another it certainly lead to the edification of the whole members of the body of Christ who are present in the meeting.

Environment like these in any church gathering promotes a couple of essential qualities:

a. They learn to submit to one another. The Bible clearly commands us to “submit one another in the fear of God.” [Eph 5:21]. What that means is that we need to be watchful in our actions and behavior and if our brother or sister corrects or rebukes us we should be willing to accept it. Submitting to one another does not exempt any members of God’s family. It is a two-way submission not a one-way. So if each one submits to another, the whole body is edified because both are responsible for each other.

b. They are accountable to one another. If we submit to one another then we are accountable to one another as well. That is why whatever happens to our brethren God will hold us accountable. [Gen. 4:9] This is one of the reasons why He gave us this “one another’s” command. Christians in a house church must have a feeling of accountability for if not many unhealthy attitudes and habits will develop in the meetings and most in our everyday lives.

c. They disciple each other. Everything we do in a house church meeting – accepting one another, pray for each other, encourage one another, exhorting one another, as well as submitting one another and all the “one another” in the Bible are the essential principles of making disciples for Christ. And these should be integrated with accountability for without it discipleship will never happen. Christ sent the twelve, not one, to do the making of disciples. One person could not just do that task to all nations. Modeling to someone is for everyone to learn. Not one man demonstrating or performing in front of everybody. It is “one another” not one man.

3. Teaching [Matthew 28:20]

In Hebrew culture, the traditional teacher was the father teaching his family in his house, usually at meal-times, says Wolfgang Simson in his book, Houses That Change the World. Teaching in Bible times even in the Old Testament is geared to show somebody how to do something, and to explain why things are the way they are. Its goal is not to acquire more knowledge but helping to obey and serve God and His purposes [Duet. 6:4-6; Rom. 1:5].

In a house church setting where everyone feels at home while eating, each can have each part of sharing what he thinks and feels of any certain matters concerning everything. This is followed by a question-and-answer time which is interactive and dynamic, and allows everyone to participate and get the explanation he or she needs. ‘Questions often what a person is thinking and can help to remove mental blocks if we deal with them rightly, and therefore encourage spiritual growth’, says Met Castillo.

Often the Greek word ‘preaching’ in the New Testament is translated dialogizomai, which means to have a dialogue between people [Acts 20:7]. We see this every time in Jesus’ preachings, there is always someone in the crowd that will interrupt by asking questions and oftentimes His teachings are a respond to someone’s curiosity. This teaching style is geared to help people become ‘doers of the word’, teaching them to obey everything He has taught us [Matt. 28:20].

4. Praying [Acts 1:14; 2:42]

Whenever and wherever the early believers meet there are two things that will happen: eating and praying. In a house church meeting prayer is a must by everyone. They prayed for anything and everything that concerns them. As interaction happens in their meeting each need automatically arise [by asking the right questions] and will be known by God through prayer. If one starts to pray for the other he will feel the burden and this leads to intimacy between each other.

Their prayer time happens anytime as they eat, before, during or after the meal. No set of programs to be followed in times of communicating God to man. No prayer lists to be made too. They can pray two by two or by group but make sure that everyone is involved. In an atmosphere like this everyone can easily adopt the habit and attitude of prayer. They learn it not by paper and ink nor in mind [knowledge about prayer] but in deed. Not one person mediating in prayer for everyone but everyone prays for one another.

5. Sharing [Acts 2:44; 4:34]

Spiritual, material and even financial needs and support are shared to everybody. If someone has a need someone is prepared to meet. This is what the early church did and our churches should follow it today. “No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.” [Acts 4:32].

If you want your blessing to be counted on men expect something in return when you give. But if you want your blessing to be counted on God, expect nothing in return when you give. Boeing Paras, who’s a dear friend of mine who liberally gives, sent me a message on my cell that has some truth in it. It says that, “If you feel the love of God in your heart you are blessed by God. But if you share the love of God in your heart then you are a blessing from God.” Writer John Bunyan maintained, “You have not lived today successfully unless you’ve done something for someone who can never repay you.”

How About Tithing?

Tithing was not mentioned in the time of the early church. We cannot find even one verse that proves that they practice it in their meetings. God requires 100% of our lives and everything we have. When He saved us we are not on our own but His. What the rich young ruler to whom Jesus said, “Sell everything you have and give to the poor…and come, follow Me.” [Lk. 18:22] did not do, the church did it, as what Wolfgang Simpson rightly said. Not 10% but all! How pity a wife who only receives 10 percent of her husbands love. And how pity a nation who only sends 10 percent of its soldiers into battle. How pity a Christian who only allows the Lord to control only 10 percent of his life. I have a very good illustration about this truth:

A newly committed Christian brother prayed to God and as he pray the Lord interrupted:

“Do you have any money today?”

“Yes. I have Lord.” The man answered.

“Give it to Me.” God said. This might be the 10 percent of his income.

“Do you still have any money left?” The Lord asked him again.

“Yes Lord but it’s in the bank.” The man replied.

“Oh, you have a bank account? [As if the Lord is unaware of it] Wow! Can I have that too?” The Lord said.

“What?” the man started to murmur. “Everything? What will happen to my family then? How can I sustain them?” He complained.

“Huh! You have a family too? The Lord asked. “Alright, give them to Me also.”

The man kept silent for a moment, took a deep sigh and asked in a meek voice, “Even my beautiful wife?”

“Son,” The Lord explained, “you know that it’s not only you that I love and wanted to be mine. Your children also and yes your dear wife. Can I have them?”

Before the man uttered a word, The Lord continued, “Did you not surrender your whole life to Me as I had surrendered mine to you? And with all your heart, mind, soul and strength have you not loved Me? How come you are holding back everything you own?”

“Alright, it’s all yours.” The man said. “And since you’re taking all what is dear to me, so what am I here for? Everything that’s left is useless now so you might as well take my house too. That if you like.” The man tried acting for self-pity hoping God will change His mind.

“Wow, you have a house too? How many? How about cars and maybe businesses, can I have them all? The Lord was glad to hear the man’s offer.

“Go ahead, whatever, you can have it all.” The man replied with grumpy face.

A moment of silence occurs and God smiles while watching him sitting lonely.

And God said:

“Son, because you gave everything you had, all that is yours have become Mine and now I’m giving it all back to you in one condition.”

“What Lord?” The man replied as if heaven fell down on him. And the Lord said:

“Take good care of them, will you?”

Remember, God can only keep what you have committed to Him. [2 Tim. 1:12]

Two marks of a Christian: giving and forgiving. In a house church Christians give with a cheerful heart.

Who Leads a House church?

An elder leads the house church. [Acts 14:23] Simply older than anyone around the group not necessarily being the oldest. Elders do not have to be skilled Masters of Ceremony and learned teachers, but having modest and authentic fathers and mothers with obedient children will be great to start with. They should be mature in serving in God not freshlings from a seminary. Mature in family life experiences for, “how will he take care of the church of God if he does not know how to rule his own house?” [1 Tim. 3:5]

If Jesus had said it in the Mount of Beatitudes it would have been that, “Whoever can take care of his marriage and his family can take care of the church.” Specially, we as a church are just one in the house of faith [Gal. 6:10], and each one treats every one as his/her own part of family [1 Tim. 5:1, 2].

Christ became the head of His body which is the church because the meeting of its members is not led by one professional clergy man but fathered by an elder who cares and nurtures as his own “Dear Children” in the Lord. [1st, 2nd, 3rd John’s] The elders’ leadership can only be known and recognized if problems arise. But if the goal of such gathering is to encourage one another, the, leadership will be less needed because everyone commits to help, support and pray for one another.

WHY DO IT IN THE HOUSE?

The concept of this kind of meeting is most suitable in the most natural place in the world called home, where we are at home. The early disciples did it “from house to house” and when they wanted to have a big gathering or a celebration, they would do it outside the temple – temple court. But they can do it best in a small group with their family and in their own homes. What matters most in church meetings is intimacy and the bonding that happens with just a few people namely, your family, your friends and surrounding neighbors.

Why in a natural setting such as in a house? Because we all act more natural to ourselves than anywhere else on this earth. If I want to know you better then I’ll have to go to your home and watch how you treats your spouse and your children. Someone aptly said, “You cannot judge a person based on Sunday’s.” The most hypocrite person today can be found in our beautiful buildings with surrounding greenery scenes we called “Church.” Some people pretend to be somebody else on Sundays’. I can fool anyone outside my home but inside I fool no one.

Loving and believing God must be taught in the context of a family [Duet. 6:4-6]; In Jesus time He preferred to teach and minister in private than in public. There was a time when Jesus healed a demon-possessed man and when the man was healed He commanded him to go home to his family and tell them what the Lord has done for him. [Mk. 5:19].

Christianity Is A Way of Life

Christianity is not a mask you use to hide a sad life; Christianity should be a reflection of Christ’s image in you. It is neither a costume you wear on “holy days” but it is the righteous character of Christ clothed in you. Christianity should become a lifestyle – and this kind of lifestyle should be consistently practiced daily until it becomes a habit. In other words, Christianity is twenty four hours a day, one hundred percent, full time! We know that Christianity is not a religion, and I would say that it is not a scheduled service as well. Thus, Christianity in the time of Jesus became a life to live; it is being the church than merely doing or going to church. It’s not that we do church differently but it’s how we live life differently.

Religion is following a set of church system but Christianity is following a set of life system – the life of Christ. He said, “I am the … life… [Jn. 14:6]. And, “I have come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly” [Jn. 10:10]. In Greek word, that life that Christ gave us is the life of God. And Jesus wants us to live that life. You may ask, how? Well, He said, “Follow Me!” It is to live the new life that God gave us. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” [2 Cor. 5:17]

This is how is it was in the Old Testament: What you learn in the temple teach it in your homes. But in the New Testament, what you learn at home share it in the church meetings. If everybody’s doing this, we will all end up edifying and encouraging one another, which fulfill the main reason of our gathering [1 Cor. 14:26; Heb. 10:25].

When I shared this to two Christian ladies at Mc Donald the other one said with excitement, “Oh, just like what Jesus did!”

“Yes,” I reply. “It was how He ministered in the house of Matthew [Lk 5:29-39], Zaccheus [Lk 19:1-27], and in Simon the Pharisee. [Lk 7:36-50]. And in fact it is what we’re doing now, eating, encouraging, praying, teaching and sharing as in the days of the early, early church. And this is how Jesus defined church too: ‘Two or three gathered together in my Name I am in the midst of them.’ And we should be doing it as well following His steps.”

Isn’t it easy? Jesus is waiting right outside your home for you to invite Him in. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me.” [Rev 3:20]

May your house be used as an informal gathering of Christians in your community, your church at home.

Your Church At Home

Time is 7:21 p.m.

“Hi Sonia, please come in.”

As Lisa opened the door and greeted her new friend who’s a single mother of two children.

“How are you and your kids?” asked Lisa.

“A bit busy and fussy.” Sonia answered with a meek voice. “This older one,” [scratching her son’s head] “is ready to go to school but my other boy will continue his medication to minimize convulsion.”

Sonia’s husband has just died in an accident, they have two children, the younger had an epilepsy so when Lisa heard what had happened she began to be friend her and invited her for dinner.

It was Sunday when a couple of Christian friends decided to bring their own food and have dinner in the house of Brother Molong. They agreed also to bring some of their colleagues and neighbors and friends. First who showed up in the meeting was Sonia, she is uninformed about the said eating but was invited by Lisa after knowing her urgent need of comfort.

Beside them, a sister in the Lord named Nikki came with her Christian friend Sister Wilsa. They worked in one of the big companies in the city of Lapu-lapu.

A friend Brother Darbie soon arrived with a bag of food in his hand; with him were two street people, Richard and Michael. He will pass them by when there is meeting in any house. They have these kinds of meeting everyday, anywhere at anytime with different people and from house to house.

Seconds passed, Brother Gary came with Sister Maricar. With them is a street couple, Jocelyn and Ken with their baby. Along with their families – Tatay Gamay and Nanay Celia, Jocelyn’s parents and her two brothers, Roel and Weng-weng.

And lastly, came Sister Christine straight from her work. She brought with her toys and foods for kids, and clothing’s to be given away.

All in all the people having a sort of a party is 20. Three couples, eleven singles - men and women, one widow, and three children. And by the way, there’s one more, a 6-month old baby inside Jocelyn’s womb.

“Okay, everyone can take their seats in the table now.” As Brother Molong the host announces.

As they all sat, Brother Darbie presented himself to give thanks for the food and later on announces that he is already engaged. They all rejoiced and congratulate him.

“Soon he will become a ‘good’ man.” Molong said.

“Good because the Bible says that, ‘It is not good for man to be alone.’” Everyone laughed as they nodded their heads hearing Molong’s words.

“Marriage day is the day you’ll going to be with someone you love forever. And how happy it is to marry someone you love” Molong shared and continue. “And marriage too is God’s expression of His gift that is given to you through her.”

“Tell me Brother, how is it like being married?” Brother Darbie asks Molong.

“We’ll, they say marriage is a mystery and will always be like that.”

“That’s weird, that means I’ll be living with someone who’s completely strange?” Brother Darbie laughs as he comments.

“Maybe,” Molong says, “but I think if communication lines are open and secrets revealed it’s not anymore a mystery but ecstasy. Let me share to you what Mr. Harold Sala, an expert in marriage said, ‘Communication is vital in any relationship especially between spouses. It is the most difficult quality to develop and therefore must be given time and space between husband and wife.”

“But most,” he continued “If we follow the rules of a Christian home in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and Colossians we will have a better family in the coming years.”

Brother Darbie listened intently as Brother Molong shared some verses with him from the Bible.

In the opposite end of the table was Sister Wilsa ministering to Sister Jocelyn and Sonia. They talked and shared each other’s feelings especially their present situation and then prayed for both of them.

“What?” Nikki’s eyes opened wide while conversing with Ken. “You just killed three people at the age of sixteen?”

“Yes,” answered Ken. “And I just spent three years in prison.”

Ken is a silent type of person. He just nods his head whatsoever you share with him but now he talks. They continued discussing about what happened to Ken those years.

“So, how did you changed?” Nikki asked.

Ken replied that ever since he joined in gatherings such as this, his life was changed.

In the middle of the conversation of Brother Gary, Richard and Michael, Sister Maricar interrupted and asked, “How did you guys met?” Where do you come from? Do you have families?”

“Yes, we have families,” Richard replied in anger, “but they’ve abandoned us! And I always blamed God for it!”

“Is that good?” Gary questioned.

“Well, I know it’s not good but I always will.” He said.

“Why, what has happened to your family?” Maricar asked Richard.

“My mom and dad left me. My Dad died when I was eight, I am 25 now, and my Mom left me to find another man to be with. I am their only child.” And he began cursing his Mom and praised his Dad’s goodness in the past.

“You know what? God has a planned for you because despite everything that happened, you’re still here and alive.”

“Yah, that’s true.” Michael agrees.

“The Bible says,” Maricar added, ‘Though my father and my mother forsake me the Lord will receive me.’”

“Why don’t you guys consider us as your new friends? Come and join us here in Brother Molong’s house. Brother Darbie will also be happy to have you.” Gary excitingly said.

They all enjoyed eating and sharing, and getting to know each other. Some laughed on jokes, some cried while they get prayed and some expressed their hatred and anger as they shared their burdens with their parents, brothers and friends. What a fellowship there was, shame was gone, transparency was present, behavior exposed and intimacy was shared. And suddenly…

“Whaaahhhh…”

Screaming and shouting from the kids. They ran to their mothers except one. A boy struggling to breathe and bubbles came out from his mouth. It’s Sonia’s epileptic child.

Brother Molong and some of the brethren got up rebuke and prayed for the boy while others are praying in their seats. And after a few seconds the boy got back to normal. They returned to their seats and Sister Christine brought some toys and began to distribute it to the children. She joined with them too in sharing stories.

“Before we go to the distribution of gifts,” As Brother Molong announced, “let us have Tatay Gamay share to us what he noticed in our fellowship.”

“Since I joined eating here,” Tatay says while every one laughs, “I collected more cartoons to be sold.”

Selling cartoons is their way of living. At this time he accepts that he needs to change. Brother Gary leads him in a sinner’s prayer at the corner. After that, Wengweng asked if he could sing the song that he just made. It’s a Tagalog song, and while he sang everyone listens. Brother Molong and Sister Nikki were crying while listening. If you knew him, you would have cried also for he is a drug addict and got overdose. The experience made him unable to speak clearly. But now despite of this, he sings with all confidence in front of them.

These all happened in the table while enjoying their meal. They ended up praying for each other and distributing some clothing’s especially for those who are in need. And they encourage financial offerings to be made and gave some to Sonia to help her buy some food and medicines for her child since she’s still recovering from her husband’s death.

And one by one as they felt the need to go home said ‘goodbyes and goodnights.’

The next meeting will be in the house of Brother Gary just right in the next Barangay. And the time of their ‘meating’, that means they meet to eat is at lunch time, the next day.

Time is 9:46 p.m.

Who Am I?

The "Wanderer"— Unplanned House Church Planting

by Molong Nacua

Molong Nacua is a house church planter in the Philippines. He also travels extensively training Christians in saturation house church planting as a strategy to reach his nation for Christ. He has ministered in the context of both traditional churches and house churches for many years.

INTRODUCTION

Over 90% of people in the Philippines are affiliated at least in name with some form of Christianity. Great strides by evangelicals have also been made in the 1980's and 1990's in terms of numerical growth and unity. However, the challenges the country faces include shallow discipleship at the grassroots, second-generation nominalism, and poverty. A strategy of house church planting can be a viable alternative to meet these challenges. In this article, I hope to give a brief but adequate account of my own story as a "wandering" house church planter.

A SOLID BUT TRADITIONAL CHRISTIAN BACKGROUND

I have been in the traditional church ever since I became a Christian. For over 10 years, I served the church with my whole heart. I had been literally joining Bible studies every night with my pastor, being a part of a worship team, and doing evangelism myself or with a group. I have also been a church stage decorator, a church painter, a church electrician, a church caretaker, a church round-the-clock security guard, and a church janitor. It was the best place I ever found on Earth to offer my ability, talents, gifts, time, and energy. I did this all as a volunteer. And for all those years, I never missed a single Sunday church service.

I got saved at a camp, and that very day I knew the Lord was calling me to pastor a church. At the same time, I was aware that it would be a process. It was not until 9 years later that I finally started a traditional church in our house. For the first couple of months, I was involved with 21 Bible studies each week, 12 of which I led. I was also engaged in prayer meetings, youth night, Sunday night services, a twice weekly crusade that stretched out for 6 months, weekly discipleship training, overnight prayer meetings, and other special events.

However, it was all draining my strength. I began to feel bored and confused and finally asked God "Why?" I believed that when God called someone to pastor, He would tell them what kind of church it should be. And I began questioning myself too. I told God in my prayers, "Be it a traditional church or a cell church, as long as it comes from You, I will do it." The house church concept, though, at that time never came to my mind. This was simply because, in my view, it was merely an immature way of doing church. The phrase "house church" here in the Philippines is often seen as a "not yet" full-grown church, a "baby church," a "phase one" church that someday may become a "real" church once it has enough members to warrant a larger meeting place, like a hall or building.

"HOMES" AND "HOUSES" EVERYWHERE!

To deal with my confusion, I began seeking the Lord and searching the Bible for a way of doing church for me. I did find books on church planting, but they did not fit what I was called to do. As I continued reading, especially the Gospels, Acts, and the letters of Paul, my mind always stuck on the word "homes" and "house." Jesus ministered in the house, preached and taught in the house, healed in the house, ate in the house, and trained his disciples to find a house of peace. There were also households of faith, the household of Stephanas and others, the church in the house, and just "houses" everywhere! And then I also began reading phrases like, "they have turned the world upside-down," and "they have filled Jerusalem with their teaching." I concluded, then, that if I wanted to see their results in evangelizing my world, then I had to follow their principles!

TRIAL AND ERROR CAN START HOUSE CHURCHES

In the year 2000, a few of us began the adventure of starting house churches, with only the Word of God as our training resource. It was simply quite exciting. We decided not to rent nor build any church buildings and started thinking of our gatherings in homes, not as Bible Study ministries, but as church in a revolutionary way. We started 13 house churches in our first year! We gathered our groups together to meet in one place, and we numbered around 180 people in 3 cities. This was quite a large gathering, especially since traditional church membership here in the Philippines is from 50-120 people.

"If you mix the rabbits with the elephants," as someone said in the house church movement, "the rabbits will die eventually." We indeed mixed the traditional church concept with the house churches we had started. We did get rid of the building, but traditional mentality prevailed. We had a program with a master of ceremonies, a Sunday school teacher, a worship team, a testimony time, a preaching time, a tithe, an altar call, and a benediction. In other words, we became a traditional church that was meeting in houses!

We did all of that for 3 long years from year 2000 to 2003. While doing this "trial and error" church planting, I continually visited Christian Bookstores in search of books on house churches, but failed to find even one book. I really thought I was alone in this journey, but I held on to what I felt to be the right thing. Then, one day, a friend handed me a copy of Acts Magazine. It was an old 1995 issue. The article was entitled "The Church in the House", by Robert Fitts, Sr. Then and there, I found myself floating in the air reading his article from cover to cover! Then I reached the end of the article where Robert said, "I predict that in the year 2000, house churches will spring up all over the earth…" And, indeed, we were part of this in the year 2,000 without realizing it. Later, I found Wolfgang Simson's book Houses that Change the World in one of the bookstores, Rad Zdero's book The Global House Church Movement and also Steve Atkerson's Ekklesia-to the roots of Biblical House Church life. Since then, we have been in constant communication with these people.

THE VISAYAS HOUSE CHURCH NETWORK

Since that time, I have become part of an apostolic team that meets monthly for the purpose of discussing our vision of starting house churches around the Visayas area, a major region in my country. We have started 20-plus house churches, and we are looking forward to doubling them yearly as we continue training house church planters. We have developed the H.O.U.S.E.C.H.U.R.C.H strategy for our network of house churches.

H—House of Peace. We encourage our house church planters to find people in the community that "offer a meal" as an initial sign from Luke 10 that they are open to the Gospel. Eating is still a mark of hospitality to most Filipinos and, thus, speaks a message of acceptance.

O—Ongoing Follow-up. At least they can visit those families twice-a-week with a lot of listening to their needs.

U—Unsaved People. Experience has taught us that is it much easier to start a house church with non-believing people, rather than those who already have a background of religious affiliation. The exceptions are those Christians who are truly hungry for ministry.

S—Someone Needs to Go with You. Jesus sent the disciples 2 by 2. We want to make sure that people have the chance to learn from each other and support each other while house church planting.

E—Establish Your Relationship with the Family. Most of those we train are young people, so we implore them to respect their elders by addressing them in culturally appropriate ways, such as "Nanay" and "Tatay", "Mam" and "Sir."

C—Congregate. After a month or two of visits with an interested family—which involves eating, sharing, praying, and listening—we encourage them to invite their neighbors to these get-togethers or other more special events like birthdays.

H—Huddle. Some sort of singing or games are used to make the host family and any newcomers feel at ease. We try to create a celebratory environment when we start house churches.

U—Unify. After the host family has become friends with their neighbors and a critical mass has been reached, we would encourage a regular get-together in that house. We might say something like this: "Since we know each other already and we live in the same community, why don't we gather together in this house once or twice each week?"

R—Represent the House Church Concept. This is the time when we introduce the idea of having a simple church in the host home. We share basic concepts of what the church is and how they can meet in someone's home as a Christian church. Sharing some verses from the Bible helps them understand more.

C—Create Your Own Time Management. Flexibility is the key to cater to all kinds of people, especially those who have different schedules and lifestyles that may not be mainstream, like street people, taxi drivers, inmates, the hospitalized, the elderly, etc.

H—House Church Established! And finally, after getting to know each other's needs and availability, a house church can be established.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

My calling is to start house churches, train others to do so, and link with other house church planters wherever the Lord leads me in the Philippines.

A church in Toledo City, for instance, where I have been invited to speak many times, eventually asked me about house churches. We held some seminars on house churches and, at the same time, modelled house church meetings during dinner. This traditional church has had a heart for reaching the mountain people, but has failed to bring these people to their church building and has faced financial challenges in funding another building in the area. But now, they plan to start planting house churches among the mountain people.

Similarly, in Pagadian City, the church struggles because their church building will be reclaimed by the owner, and they have to vacate soon. After my speaking engagement there, they called the leadership and had a short meeting regarding what their next move was. The pastor called me and asked me to share about house churches. The night before, he and I had a little discussion about house churches, but I did not know that they were facing a building problem. What happened as a result was a rapid planting of 5 house churches in 5 different neighbourhoods with 5 of the church's leaders leading them. Later, the pastor asked me about what he should do now. I suggested that he start a house church in his own house, gather all the house churches in a big place once a month, and have weekly church planter training and progress reports.

From time to time, I have also had the privilege of teaching house church principles to 15 to 25 students in one of the Bible schools. They have decided that, during their year-long studies, they will start planting house churches in their community until they graduate. This has become a sort of practical ministry workshop for the students. The dean of the school and the small band of student church planters has allowed me to coach them as they continue in these endeavours.

Though I work closely with my team and travel often, I also work with other house church leaders in the Philippines for greater impact. Some networks have focused on college students. Some leaders are in particular cities or towns, such as ones that have started 100 house churches all over Visayas. Another dear partner works in the mountain area. We have different assignments, yet work together for a greater purpose—saturation house church planting. Our next move will be to have a corporate gathering of house church leaders and have the Lord's Supper together to speak for unity in the body of Christ. This will hopefully lead to city-wide gatherings of Christians in each city, so that we can speak as one voice to the world that we love one another.

Source: The World House Church Movement by Rad Zdero (expected publication date: April, 2007)