GlocalNet

I just returned from a very small gathering of pastors from around the world.  All of us have started our church, we start churches out of our church, and we engage with other nations in the domains of society.  These churches are generally huge - but not all.  There are things we are teaching one another and ways of mentoring each other and it is one of the most incredible things “ministry-wise” I’ve ever been a part of. 

We met in the middle-east and the pace was very fast - as well as some other things I was involved in there so I didn’t have a chance to blog.  I’ll do some catch up with it the next couple of weeks.  Here are some observations and statements made that were unexpected that were intriguing for me:

“Asia will not be won by the house church and/or simple movement alone.”  This wasn’t from one man, but all of them - each of them also having more simple churches than any other model.  All of these men have huge churches, and simple, cell, and small church planting networks that also have larger churches in them.  That they use all the models and expressions of the church has always been clear.  They were really reacting against those that would define all models of church as being one form.  In the past I’ve heard push back on U.S. mega-church “only” type guys.  I was hearing a strong push back on “simple” church only.  They start simple churches by the thousands, but many of those grow into large churches - each has a different function and purpose.  Their contention is we are all organic if Christ is the head and the whole body needs the whole body. 

“Cells, churches, and ministries must flow from the domains of society.”  It’s what I wrote about in my last blog and Matt Carter talked about on the video that was there.  I think we are finally starting to move away from doing “religious” work to doing “kingdom” work.  All of them were talking domains at this meeting and what they were doing and how church planting was coming out of it. 

“We are on the front end of something we can’t describe yet.”  I heard this from every pastor.  Most of these men have faced persecution or are in difficult places.  Each has a sense that God is really up to something unique globally.  It was thick in the air as we met.  As we were sharing our models and teaching one another, there was a strong sense of “holy awe” and God’s work which can’t be systematized - but his call that must be obeyed. 

Feel free to ask questions - I’m back!