Today (on November 3rd) I am ministering in the Word at the North
London church. Even as I look forward to
a fellowship in praise, study and at the table, I am also looking forward to be
with our church family tonight as we begin the Week of Prayer.
This weekend leaders of North American Adventist
churches (Conferences and Unions) are gathered together in Washington DC for
the annual council. The session was
preceded by the Diversity Celebration.
Pray for our leaders as they chart course and adjust the strategy for
the next year of leading people to Christ.
I am looking forward to the communication after the meeting, as we would
be organizing our calendar of events in coordination with the sisterhood of
churches in Ontario. Next Thursday,
November 8 our Church Growth team for Ontario Conference will meet again to
consider how to move from status quo management toward expansion of work,
toward entering new territories with the three Angels’ Message.
Meanwhile my greatest concern is for our church
in London, where we need to begin community forming for discipleship, for
mentoring new believers through small groups.
Talking “church growth” without a follow up strategy is like planning to
harvest without barns built to store the harvest. When we do evangelism and bring people into
commitments to follow Jesus they must be placed into nurturing
communities. Such are house
churches/small groups, and we are lacking in this area. We have church for believers, for those who
had been in the “message” for a while.
The new believers need more nurturing.
This week as we come to pray together,
reflecting on our year, asking God for vision toward the future, some of you
may not be able to be here every evening.
Some may be opening their homes and inviting friends to pray
together. Remember that these are
qualities of truly Holistic Small Group
(or a House Church) - it is a group which:
o Helps me with the
challenges of my life
o Spends lots of time on
things that are urgent and relevant to me
o Helps me to grow
spiritually, and connects me with Christ more
o Is safe to talk about
personal problems
o Has an environment of
trust, where we trust each other
o Integrates newcomers
quickly, and is welcoming
o Will pray with me when I
need it
o Makes me feel at home
o Has caring leaders well
trained to serve
o Actively seeks to
multiply and grow other groups
We hope to have a few functional groups in
addition to the two existing groups, ready to welcome and look after new
believers before the end of this year. But
first – commit this to sincere prayer.
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