1) Dennis and I started what we call campus church in one of the big university here. Basically, we are applying the HC concept to students in the campus with the hope that as they graduate and actually even now, they can be the ones who can be our person of peace to start housechurches in their own homes and or communities. Just want to ask, have you been partnering with some thing like this? We appreciate if again you can tell us your story.
Yes, we have been partnering with someone who works in campuses like the Living Seas Campus Ministry. It is good to have contacts with the students with the purpose of them being 'person of peace' and start their own house churches where they live. We have the same heart in these. However, there are some dangers if we don't get the right perspective when it comes to doing house church. Here i explain thoroughly.
Do not make up a name or a group in your house churches in campuses like "Living Seas or "Light of Jesus", etc. That if you want your house church ministry as 'pure' one and 'house church is the way we live' not religious meetings. I mean, if house churches is a way of life, how we live like: building healthy relationships [one anothering] with other believers or not, meeting needs, or to picture it is - having meals together, [like a families] and sharing life together with God's Word in our mouth where we live either in our homes or plaza, or beach, or campuses, two or three getting together like 'barkada's' then why need to be registered at SEC? Why make up a name other than we are 'followers of Jesus'?
Calling ourself a Christian means that we have a church name, and a pastor, our identity then is that. In NT, the unbelievers are the ones who called "The Way -followers of Jesus" Christians, not them. Means, 'you little Christ' or 'you like Christ' which is good. In modern way, we THEY say the same words but not the same tune and so not the same meaning: "Ganyan and mga Kristianos" or "Ganyan ang mga Kristianos?" - the second statement has a question mark in it, means our life is questionable as they us.
Problems of having a group names are:
1. Other than you didn't get really what's a house church, you are also 'polling' other people to you. Paul says, 'there are some among you hear who will draw disciples for themselves.' Or, "I am Cephas, I am apollos, I am Christ." Creating a name for it is wanting to fulfill your small vision of ministry. We already have a leader which is Christ as we follow Him and He has vision 'for us', means that we don't have a vision for ourselves 'for God's glory', asking God to cooperate with us instead of joining Him. His vision got us! Let us pray the our small vision will not hinder His big vision.
2. Having a name for it, simply entitled for others to ask another question: Who's the leader? or the founder? the director? the president? It ask a 'clerical' question which is against the patterns of the NT church [priesthood of all believers, no more clergy system]
3. Creating a name is a big temptation to exalt yourself than others. Simply because you are the one who create that name, or you are the one naming the group. If disagreements arises then you just have to push yourself up above others. Why should you be the one who will leave, you make up the name, not them, they better get out the organization and labeled them as rebellious.
4. If you are the founder of that group, then you must have a 'board of trustees' that is made up of respected pastors' in order to be registered as 'legal' organization and can start operate in campuses. And worst, you cannot make your own decision because you have to ask them first if they allow you to do your hearts desire rather than asking God what He wants you to do. [This happens now in Agape here]
5. Having a name is having a 'membership form' to be sign-up.
6. 5-10 years from now, these so-called house church names or groups will soon become institutionalized, like traditional churches having their own denominational names - building their own 'little empires' of churches around the city and around the globe and when they're gone their ministries gone too.
Again, that if you want your ministry as 'pure' house church 100% then do not do this.
I work with house church 'campuses' ministries but not 'closely.' I focus more on those who want pure house church who have the same heart and mind like me. I have friends in campuses who are not a part of 'Agape Campus House church Ministries' and they do house church with their classmates and friends, being personally and closely trained to start house churches wherever they are. If someone says to me, "God uses those who have names didn't He?" My answer is yes God uses them "but that does mean that He cannot use them if they don't have a name right?"
If i work with these house church with their own names, i know my limitations then. They are still my friends and still love them and ate with them. House Church principles is not a question of saving people, any group names can do just that. But it is a question of how fast you reach them out without the hazel of having rules and regulations and how quick they mature in their Christianity because you let them being accountable to God and in submission to God and not to you. They mature fast because you are more on releasing and empowering like the 5-fold gifts. You can send them out directly to their homes, offices, not just in schools.
What you can however, is teach them how to make friends, build relationships and win their friends heart to the Lord, and then do church life together with their classmates.
Here is what I mean about do church life together. Let their life be the materials, let them ask each other questions about anything and then put God's Word on it. This is 'life' discipleship', not 'curriculum' discipleship. You can never run out of topics about life. Talk about each others opinions, facts and feelings then put God's Word on it. The secret for each of them to share their life and share God's word is let them all read their Bibles daily. In this way, while sharing and talking the Holy Spirit will remind them of what they read. So it is important for them to read their Bibles to remember. How can the Holy Spirit can remind them of something that they don't read in God's Word? We call this 'relevancy of God's Word' meaning the Word of God can be applied to our everyday life and situations.
Make this kind of 'life' meeting valid to them wherever they go. Say it in their faces that this is valid.
Hey, we can use materials of course but be careful it will not become a pattern, specially we Filipinos are easy to become use to it of something, then it will turn to become a tradition, then the tradition will become sacred -you sin if you change it! If this becomes a pattern my challenge to those who use it is: "If you're finished with Class 101 -Maturity subjects you are mature then? If you're done with one curriculum what's next? then you start looking for manuals, etc. Until when will you use this kind of training, until Jesus comes? What a boring Christianity. Jesus gives us life and life to the fullest. he didn't leave us manuals upon manuals, like TV manuals and never have to use the TV. No wonder most Christians never enjoy their Christianity because they don't know how to use their life in Christ. They have been joining Sunday schools for 20 years never graduated! Imagine, you've been trained going to school for 20 years as a doctor but never have an actual surgery? Send them out because God can give them work to do, and that work will teach them how to do it. Now, this is fully trusting the Holy Spirit. I did try crazy things for God, you just have to do and I can witness life being change in a different way -they learn to do ministry on their own.
Be careful to listen to what I say, listen instead to the Holy Spirit in you my friend.
Do not make up a name or a group in your house churches in campuses like "Living Seas or "Light of Jesus", etc. That if you want your house church ministry as 'pure' one and 'house church is the way we live' not religious meetings. I mean, if house churches is a way of life, how we live like: building healthy relationships [one anothering] with other believers or not, meeting needs, or to picture it is - having meals together, [like a families] and sharing life together with God's Word in our mouth where we live either in our homes or plaza, or beach, or campuses, two or three getting together like 'barkada's' then why need to be registered at SEC? Why make up a name other than we are 'followers of Jesus'?
Calling ourself a Christian means that we have a church name, and a pastor, our identity then is that. In NT, the unbelievers are the ones who called "The Way -followers of Jesus" Christians, not them. Means, 'you little Christ' or 'you like Christ' which is good. In modern way, we THEY say the same words but not the same tune and so not the same meaning: "Ganyan and mga Kristianos" or "Ganyan ang mga Kristianos?" - the second statement has a question mark in it, means our life is questionable as they us.
Problems of having a group names are:
1. Other than you didn't get really what's a house church, you are also 'polling' other people to you. Paul says, 'there are some among you hear who will draw disciples for themselves.' Or, "I am Cephas, I am apollos, I am Christ." Creating a name for it is wanting to fulfill your small vision of ministry. We already have a leader which is Christ as we follow Him and He has vision 'for us', means that we don't have a vision for ourselves 'for God's glory', asking God to cooperate with us instead of joining Him. His vision got us! Let us pray the our small vision will not hinder His big vision.
2. Having a name for it, simply entitled for others to ask another question: Who's the leader? or the founder? the director? the president? It ask a 'clerical' question which is against the patterns of the NT church [priesthood of all believers, no more clergy system]
3. Creating a name is a big temptation to exalt yourself than others. Simply because you are the one who create that name, or you are the one naming the group. If disagreements arises then you just have to push yourself up above others. Why should you be the one who will leave, you make up the name, not them, they better get out the organization and labeled them as rebellious.
4. If you are the founder of that group, then you must have a 'board of trustees' that is made up of respected pastors' in order to be registered as 'legal' organization and can start operate in campuses. And worst, you cannot make your own decision because you have to ask them first if they allow you to do your hearts desire rather than asking God what He wants you to do. [This happens now in Agape here]
5. Having a name is having a 'membership form' to be sign-up.
6. 5-10 years from now, these so-called house church names or groups will soon become institutionalized, like traditional churches having their own denominational names - building their own 'little empires' of churches around the city and around the globe and when they're gone their ministries gone too.
Again, that if you want your ministry as 'pure' house church 100% then do not do this.
I work with house church 'campuses' ministries but not 'closely.' I focus more on those who want pure house church who have the same heart and mind like me. I have friends in campuses who are not a part of 'Agape Campus House church Ministries' and they do house church with their classmates and friends, being personally and closely trained to start house churches wherever they are. If someone says to me, "God uses those who have names didn't He?" My answer is yes God uses them "but that does mean that He cannot use them if they don't have a name right?"
If i work with these house church with their own names, i know my limitations then. They are still my friends and still love them and ate with them. House Church principles is not a question of saving people, any group names can do just that. But it is a question of how fast you reach them out without the hazel of having rules and regulations and how quick they mature in their Christianity because you let them being accountable to God and in submission to God and not to you. They mature fast because you are more on releasing and empowering like the 5-fold gifts. You can send them out directly to their homes, offices, not just in schools.
What you can however, is teach them how to make friends, build relationships and win their friends heart to the Lord, and then do church life together with their classmates.
Here is what I mean about do church life together. Let their life be the materials, let them ask each other questions about anything and then put God's Word on it. This is 'life' discipleship', not 'curriculum' discipleship. You can never run out of topics about life. Talk about each others opinions, facts and feelings then put God's Word on it. The secret for each of them to share their life and share God's word is let them all read their Bibles daily. In this way, while sharing and talking the Holy Spirit will remind them of what they read. So it is important for them to read their Bibles to remember. How can the Holy Spirit can remind them of something that they don't read in God's Word? We call this 'relevancy of God's Word' meaning the Word of God can be applied to our everyday life and situations.
Make this kind of 'life' meeting valid to them wherever they go. Say it in their faces that this is valid.
Hey, we can use materials of course but be careful it will not become a pattern, specially we Filipinos are easy to become use to it of something, then it will turn to become a tradition, then the tradition will become sacred -you sin if you change it! If this becomes a pattern my challenge to those who use it is: "If you're finished with Class 101 -Maturity subjects you are mature then? If you're done with one curriculum what's next? then you start looking for manuals, etc. Until when will you use this kind of training, until Jesus comes? What a boring Christianity. Jesus gives us life and life to the fullest. he didn't leave us manuals upon manuals, like TV manuals and never have to use the TV. No wonder most Christians never enjoy their Christianity because they don't know how to use their life in Christ. They have been joining Sunday schools for 20 years never graduated! Imagine, you've been trained going to school for 20 years as a doctor but never have an actual surgery? Send them out because God can give them work to do, and that work will teach them how to do it. Now, this is fully trusting the Holy Spirit. I did try crazy things for God, you just have to do and I can witness life being change in a different way -they learn to do ministry on their own.
Be careful to listen to what I say, listen instead to the Holy Spirit in you my friend.
2) Dennis also arranged to do Rice distribution to the poorest of the poor in one of our nearby barangay here. He planned to do dis for 3 months of distributing 3-5 kilos per week per family of about 25 families. I am just wondering, how can we do develop relationship with them that would hopefully result into multiplying housechurches even among the poorest? This is Dennis' obedience to his Bible readings!You must have been doing something like this!
Yes, i do the same though not fully due to financial status. But we do help people in anything they need whatever way we can. Like yesterday we enrolled a 6 year old girl who has a heart problem, we send her to school and paid her bills. Then, we found twin babies who has problem in their heads, wounds that itched, we try to help buy their medicines. Helping the poor is Biblical, it is Jesus heart. The rich man advice to sell his property and give them to the poor. What he did not do, the church did, they sell things and help the poor.
In poor areas, i would suggest one worker or church planter focus on 2-3 families a week visiting and doing Bible Studies. Bible studies, though not real church, but its a good start because Filipino's have been used to it and Roman Catholics received them specially now a days. Make sure that these 3 houses or families were not far from each other -in this way they are easy to gather together in one big house during birthdays or other celebrations. Make sure if there is at least one house that's big enough for the three families to gather. During birthdays encourage them to bring foods, drinks, anything that help the celebrant enjoy his birthday. Mostly i buy a case of drinks as my part. They we ate together, have games, dancing, singing, enjoy, huddle, build relationships -easy because mostly they know each other already as neighbors, then share about house church principles - this is what they did in Jesus times in the house of Matthew, Zaccheus and Simon the Pharisees - a house church meeting. Share some verses as well this time. Then let them all agree to meet together in that house, if its okay for them two times a week mostly. Other kind of meetings.
Mobile meetings -from house to house, transfer to other houses to witness their families as well. or stay in one house. As you keep on gathering you or the church planter can pick up potential someone to be train and do the same. Lots of kinds, some would not allow others to come but help him start his own house church with his household in his house. Much more, model house church then let them do it as they watch you. Until it becomes their lifestyle wherever they go... programs are good, materials are good but don't make it as a rule.
In poor areas, i would suggest one worker or church planter focus on 2-3 families a week visiting and doing Bible Studies. Bible studies, though not real church, but its a good start because Filipino's have been used to it and Roman Catholics received them specially now a days. Make sure that these 3 houses or families were not far from each other -in this way they are easy to gather together in one big house during birthdays or other celebrations. Make sure if there is at least one house that's big enough for the three families to gather. During birthdays encourage them to bring foods, drinks, anything that help the celebrant enjoy his birthday. Mostly i buy a case of drinks as my part. They we ate together, have games, dancing, singing, enjoy, huddle, build relationships -easy because mostly they know each other already as neighbors, then share about house church principles - this is what they did in Jesus times in the house of Matthew, Zaccheus and Simon the Pharisees - a house church meeting. Share some verses as well this time. Then let them all agree to meet together in that house, if its okay for them two times a week mostly. Other kind of meetings.
Mobile meetings -from house to house, transfer to other houses to witness their families as well. or stay in one house. As you keep on gathering you or the church planter can pick up potential someone to be train and do the same. Lots of kinds, some would not allow others to come but help him start his own house church with his household in his house. Much more, model house church then let them do it as they watch you. Until it becomes their lifestyle wherever they go... programs are good, materials are good but don't make it as a rule.
3) With regards to your coming here on September 27-29, we are not sure when will you plan to be home, is it on the 29th or you must be home that day already? I am curious to ask too if its profitable in your experience to do an open Housechurch seminar in town inviting pastors, lay leaders and members in churches here that are already aware about housechurch movement?
It depends on you. It's ok for me if i stay long as long as you need me. We call this kind of seminar 'House Church Awareness Seminar.' Of course we will not be harsh with them, and will not give them heavy teaching, but just an overview of it, then do a workshop, and maybe share some notes. One day awareness is good enough. I may need your assistance here and Dennis. Dennis also can share and you. It's important fro us three to share for them to see the collaboration and networking of each other.
Additional thoughts:
Would it be nice if house churches in the Philippines is one, but plurality of elders in every cities and towns?
By Country: The Church in Jerusalem, The Church in the Gentiles...
House Church, Philippines; House Church, Canada; House Church, India, etc.
[We use the word 'house' church to differentiate with traditional]
By Province: The Church[es] is Galatia...
House Churches, Manila; House Churches, Neuva Viscaya; House Churches, Cebu; House Churches, Cagayan do Oro.
By Cities and Towns: House Church, Ephesus...
House Church, Mandaue; House Church, Talisay City; House Church, Pampanga...
House Church is a way of uniting Christ's Body. One body, One Spirit. Would this be very nice?
In helping others: Paul get offerings in Corinthian Church to help other churches in crises...
We will all collect, lets say 5 peso each believer in all house churches in the Philippines to help those families who loved one who died in Sulpicio Lines sinking ship. Let's say, we have now around 100,000 believers in house churches, that makes 500,000 pesos to help them. The media might not recognize this but I am sure traditional church who are divided by NAMES can notice it, right?
Now, this can only happen if you are a 'pure' house church. This is Christianity.
Glad can help.
Molong
--
Molong
Being Church 24/7
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