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Overview
About
the Church
We have
wholeheartedly embraced a prominent concept in the New
Testament of Christian disciples sharing meals and their
lives generally through regular gatherings in people’s
homes.
Basically
this means we are on about relationships - our relationship
with God and our relationships with one another. We believe
God is forming us into a community of people in the process
of being transformed into the image of Christ. We're on
this journey of spiritual growth together with the conviction
that this process happens best in the context of intimate
relationships.
Our
Mission
We are moving
toward a structure that looks like this: a collective
of small communities who form one body together. This
means that at our core, we will be several different small
communities of people who meet together weekly at different
times and places, who are all part of the same larger
Community or "church", and who all come together
possibly monthly in a larger gathering to celebrate, build
each other up and share with each other what God has been
doing in the communities.
We believe that true Christian community is contagious
as the shared life of the church overflows into the wider
community around it. The personal spiritual growth of
each believer naturally influences others by the power
of the Holy Spirit working the life of Christ through
him or her.
Why
House Churches?
House churches
attempt to replicate the meeting style of the very early
Christian movement. According to the historical record,
there was very little church organization. There was no
central religious government, no hierarchy of pope, bishops
and priests. Most Christians met in each other’s
homes, as informal fellowships that were frequently led
by women.
House churches
emphasise the place of worship, fellowship, mutual ministry
through exercising spiritual gifts, the practical application
of God’s Word, prayer and accountability.
In most
modern-day house churches, all members are considered
to be equal and uniquely gifted by God for service. There
are no professionals in charge; though leaders are selected
democratically to facilitate discussions, prayer, and
sharing of spiritual gifts and resources. The position
in the early Church that is referred to as pastor, elder,
bishop, and overseer were in reality leaders chosen to
watch over the membership.
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