Starfish Fall 2008

SPAWNING THE HOUSE CHURCH REVOLUTION

Feature Article

Fresh Perspective on Paul’s Missionary Strategies: The Mentoring-for-Multiplication Model (Part 2) by Neil Cole

Regional House Church Events by Sam Buick & Rad Zdero

Kickin’ It Old School

E.H. Broadbent: Globe Trotter and Church Planter

Editorial

Kingdom Pattern and Power by Rad Zdero & Kyle Bultman

FALL 2008

DESIGN BY YELLOWCANARYDESIGN.COM & PRINTED BY SYNKROS.ORG

look e insid

The Starfish Files What?! Yes, starfish. These little creatures that line the shores of the world’s beaches are uncanny. Chop off an arm, and a new one grows to take its place. Tear a starfish in half, and you’ll soon have two starfish on your hands. In some varieties, a torn-off limb will become a brand new starfish. And what’s more, they populate by releasing hundreds of thousands, and sometimes millions, of eggs in just a few hours. Reminds one of the house church movement down through the ages. Fire and sword could not wipe it out. Heresy could not destroy it. And it’s making a huge comeback in our day and age. The house church movement is exploding around the world. An estimated 300,000 new house churches have started between 1998 and 2006. And this doesn’t include what’s happening in China, which has about 80 to 100 million believers in house churches. In the nations of the west, numerous denominations and mission agencies are starting to pay attention. Christians of all stripes are realizing that something is afoot and that God is reshaping the church so it can more effectively reach the world with the good news of Jesus Christ. It’s known by different nicknames. The Second Reformation. The House Church Movement. Organic Church Planting. Grassroots Christianity. Out-of-thebox Church. Whatever label is attached to it, one thing is for sure, it’s also taking root in Ontario, Quebec, and New York state. Enter The Starfish Files. The aim of this magazine is to inform and interconnect the house church networks in this region with an eye to making an impact far beyond. Welcome to The Starfish Files, the little magazine that could. Submissions: Send all your writings, suggestions, photos, and musings to Rad Zdero (editor), c/o The Starfish Files, P.O. Box 39528, Lakeshore P.O., Mississauga, ON, Canada, L5G-4S6, or send email to [email protected] Publication Details: Intended publication is 3 or 4 times per year—winter, spring, summer, and/or fall. Available free online at www.housechurch.ca (go to “Resources” section).

Feature Article

Fresh Perspective on Paul’s Missionary Strategies: The Mentoring-for-Multiplication Model (Part 2) by Neil Cole PAGE 1

Our Mission is... PAGE 4

Revolutionary Art PAGE 5

Regional House Church Events by Sam Buick & Rad Zdero PAGE 6 & 7

Kickin’ It Old School PAGE 8

Editorial

Kingdom Pattern and Power by Rad Zdero & Kyle Bultman PAGE 9

DESIGN BY YELLOWCANARYDESIGN.COM PRINTED BY SYNKROS.ORG

FRESH PERSPECTIVE ON PAUL’S MISSIONARY STRATEGIES: The Mentoring-for-Multiplication Model (Part 2)

Neil Cole is the founder of Church Multiplication Associates (www.cmaresources.org), a worldwide network of 1,000 ‘organic’ churches that meet in homes, offices, and just about anywhere. His several books include Organic Church: Growing Faith Where Life Happens (2005) and Cultivating a Life for God (1999). Email: [email protected]. REACHING AN ENTIRE REGION WITH THE GOSPEL Paul’s third missionary journey (Acts 18:23-21:16) occurred from 52 to 56 A.D. and covered Asia, about 4,000 miles. Having learned a valuable lesson on the need for mentoring, Paul, on this next journey, invested himself completely to the task of mentoring and multiplying leaders from the harvest who could be deployed into the harvest. With this trip, only a one-man team was needed: Paul the multiplying mentor. Paul implemented a regional church planting saturation strategy from Ephesus for three years and in that time reached all of Asia with multiplication (Acts 19:8-10; 20:31). From Paul’s first century perspective of the world,

there was great urgency to get the good news out to everyone everywhere. It is important to understand that Paul would not willingly venture into an area that had already been evangelized. He had a strict philosophy that he would not build on another’s foundation. He wrote to the Romans: “And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build upon another man’s foundation.” (Rom 15:20 NAS). So when Paul arrived in Ephesus and set up his ministry there, first in the synagogue and later in the school of Tyrannus, we can be assured that there were no other Christians in the city. There were some strong evangelistic contacts in the city which Paul had met briefly on his previous journey but none had actually accepted the gospel as yet (Acts 18:19-21). Paul claims to be the apostle for the church (Eph. 1:1) and as such to have laid the foundation for the church (Eph. 2:20). He was the first to bring the gospel to Asia. The School of Tyrannus was probably a school of philosophy and discourse owned and taught by a man named Tyrannus. Tyrannus means “a despot or tyrant,”

1

which begs the question why his parents would choose such a name? Perhaps it was a name given to him by his students! Either way, he doesn’t seem to live up to his name when it came to showing hospitality to Paul and his new companions. There is manuscript evidence that Paul used the school during the hot afternoon hours which would make sense since the customs of the day would have the school in session during the cooler morning hours leaving it available to Paul in the afternoon while most would be resting. Others would build on the foundation, but only Paul can claim to be the foundation layer. Paul’s missionary journeys never took him to all the cities of Asia Minor. Instead he stayed in Ephesus, trained men, and sent them out to reach all Asia with the word of the Lord. Ephesus became the mother church to all the churches of Asia Minor. INFLUENCING THE NEXT GENERATION Paul was also able to influence the next generation through those he trained. Paul is an apostle to the Colossians (Col. 1:1-2), but they did not receive the gospel directly from him, but through his apprentices. It seems that it was Epaphras who was trained by Paul in the school of Tyrannus and sent to Colossae to start the work (Col. 1:3-8). Epaphras, an Asian (Col. 4:12), is probably one of those whom Paul personally trained in Ephesus and sent out to start churches. Originally from Colossae, Epaphras came under Paul’s influence while in Ephesus, found Christ, was trained and equipped with God’s word and sent back to bring the message to his family, friends and home town. Once the ministry was established, being trained by Paul as a missionary, Epaphras was then sent by the Colossian church to carry on with more church planting ministry (Laodicea and Hieropolis) and eventually to stand with Paul in Roman chains (Philemon 23). Another example of one whom Paul led to Christ, discipled, and who went out to Colossae to start a church is Philemon. Perhaps the two were sent out as a team following the pattern of Paul’s earlier church planting missions. In verse 19, Paul seems to indicate that Philemon was indeed one of his own disciples: “I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (lest I should mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well).” Other Asian leaders Paul raised from the harvest and sent out for the harvest would include Trophimus (Acts 20:4; Acts 21:29; 2 Tim. 4:20), Tychicus (Acts 20:4; Eph 6:21; Col. 4:7; 2Ti 4:12; Tit 3:12), Archippus (Col. 4:17; Philemon 2), Nympha (Col. 4:15), Apphia (Philemon 2), and perhaps Artemas (Titus 3:12) and Onesiphorus (2 Tim. 1:16; 4:19). Apparently, many of

2

Paul’s Ephesian leaders rose to great prominence in the kingdom of God. There were, however, some Asian elders who did not come to great stature in the kingdom, though they may have gained a bad reputation (Acts 20:29-31; 1 Tim. 1:20; 2 Tim. 1:15). The Asian churches that were born out of the Ephesian years were not dependent upon Paul, since he didn’t start them. He gave a short and emotional challenge to the elders, then left (Acts 20:17-38). Paul never needed to visit the other Asian churches. PAUL’S STRATEGY FOR TRAINING LEADERS How could one man effectively reach the entire Asia Minor region in just two to three years without having left the city of Ephesus? Paul effectively raised leaders from the harvest for the harvest. There is no other adequate explanation for such a prolific expansion of the kingdom in Asia. In both Acts 19 as well as Acts 20:17-35. Dr.Luke gives us some clues to Paul’s Asian strategy in which he established an effective leadership system from the School of Tyrannus. We can identify seven strategic objectives that Paul implemented while in Ephesus which unleashed and fueled the grassroots spread of the gospel across the continent. 1. Paul established a regional base of church planter development (Acts 19:9, 20:18). The Scripture says “…he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks” (Acts 19:9-10 NAS). At first Paul remained in the Synagogue (Acts 19:8), but after three months of preaching this became unwelcomed (Acts 19:9). A man by the name of Tyrannus allowed Paul use of his own academy during the off hours. Paul did not merely plant a church in Ephesus, he established a training base for world missions! This training center also happened to be the formation of the church of Ephesus. In essence, Paul planted a church-based Leadership Farm System to strategically multiply and mobilize a missions force for all of Asia. When he called the elders in Ephesus to himself for his farewell admonition, he begins by stating, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time” (Acts 20:18). 2. Paul implemented a teaching/mentoring strategy by life example, both in large gatherings and small groups (Acts 20:19-20). Paul gave himself to mentoring these disciples in a context of real life. They saw how he handled himself in the most threatening of circumstances. Throughout

their lives, they would all remember how Paul behaved, and they would follow the patterns he set (1 Cor. 11:1; Philippians 3:17). In his own words, Paul said to the elders from Ephesus: “I was with you the whole time, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:18-21 NAS). 3. Paul integrated evangelism into the spiritual formation of his disciples as a foundation for training leaders for ministry (Acts 20:21). One passion Paul had more than any other, was to share the Good News about Jesus Christ. He wrote to the Corinthians, “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2). The gospel was so much a part of Paul that he referred to it as “my gospel” (Rom. 2:16; 16:25; 2 Tim. 2:8). Any who would spend any time at all with Paul would soon learn to tell others about Christ. This is essential for all Christians, but especially for those who are to start churches in unreached places. This is why Paul reminds the elders of their early spiritual formation in the context of evangelism. He says: “I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house, solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:20-21 NAS). 4. Paul released the power of God’s Word in people’s lives to carry the grassroots movement of multiplication (Acts 19:20). The Lord made it clear that the word of God is the seed of new life (Luke 8:4-15). In Acts, Luke demonstrates for us that it is the word that takes flight in men’s hearts and ignites widespread evangelism. To gain a perspective of the power of the word in saturation church planting, we can start in Luke’s

account of the Asian Minor church multiplication movement and take a brief walk backwards through the book to track the spread of the church thus far. You will see how the word of God is the fire that spreads the new life in Christ. (From Acts 19:20, Acts 19:10, Acts 18:11, Acts 13:49, Acts 12:24, Acts 8:4, all the way back to Acts 6:7). Given this view of the expansion of the church and the power of God’s word we can certainly understand why the apostles would conclude, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God” (Acts 6:2). Instead of being distracted from the essential ministry of spreading God’s word among the growing disciples, they determined, “But we will devote ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). By getting his disciples into the Word, and getting the Word into his disciples, Paul empowered them to be disciples of the Lord, and not just followers of Paul (Acts 20:32). Thus, when they were deployed as missionaries, they in turn could do the same. 5. Paul gave the Holy Spirit His rightful place in leading his disciples into ministry (Acts 20:28). This book Luke wrote on the expansion of Christianity is not really the Acts of the Apostles, it is really the Acts of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is mentioned or alluded to by the author 57 times in 28 chapters! There is no human leader who orchestrated and organized the growth and expansion of the New Testament church! From a strictly human perspective this operation was completely out of control! Each time Jesus gave the command to preach the gospel, He emphasized the need for spiritual power (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 24:45-49; John 20:21-23; Acts 1:8). Paul commands us to be full of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18), to walk/live by the Spirit (Gal. 5:16, 25-26; Rom. 8:4), to be led by the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:18; Rom. 8:14), to bear the fruit that comes from the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) and to pursue the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 14:1). Ministry for church leaders is to be in the power of the Holy Spirit and not according to the flesh (Rom. 8:5-9; Gal. 5:16-17; 6:7-10). Spiritual empowerment should not be hard to see in an emerging leader. When searching for ministry leaders, the early church looked for those who were “full of the Spirit” (Acts 6:1-10), which meant that being full of the Spirit was something easily distinguishable. When Paul first went to Ephesus he came upon a group of disciples and immediately noticed something was wrong. They were blatantly missing something. He asked if they had ever received the Holy Spirit, to which they replied, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” Paul then looked into their salvation and discovered that they did not know Jesus. He told them about Christ, they believed, were

3

baptized and then Paul laid hands on them and they received the missing ingredient-the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:1-7). 6. Paul mentored individuals on a one-to-one basis (Acts 20:31). People develop at differing rates. Emerging leaders don’t all start and finish together at the same time. One of the problems with current training models which run on a class schedule with set curriculum is that it does not take into account the different rates of development that a group of leaders may experience. It also assumes that every one in the group is ready to learn the same thing at the same time. We are foolish to think that each of us need the same admonishment, for the same sin, at the same time, in the same way. This is not a system that the New Testament church would understand. Paul discipled and mentored each one at their own pace. He states to the Ephesian elders: “Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears” (Acts 20:31 NAS). 7. Paul empowered his leaders with accountability to God for the work that he modeled for them, so that his presence wasn’t needed for the work to continue after him (Acts 20:32). When one makes a photo copy from another photo copy the quality is slightly reduced. When one makes a fourth generation copy the quality degenerates even more. With each succeeding generation the product becomes more and more corrupted until eventually it is more unlike the original than like it. Every new copy of a previous copy contains all the flaws of all

the generations before it as well as its own unique blemishes. The solution is to make all your copies directly from the master itself; this will reduce almost all of the corruption and assure a copy most like the master. The best that a photocopy can be is very much like the original, but there is only one original. When it comes to reproducing disciples and leaders, the same principles apply. Each succeeding generation must be directly linked to the Master if it is to maintain and reflect the purity and beauty of the Lord. Every generation that only mimics a copy of the Master will reflect back the flaws of both generations. Jesus said that a student cannot be better than his teacher; at best he can be like his teacher (Matt. 10:24-25). If the teacher is always the next generation down the chain, than the quality of students and teachers diminishes with each generation. But if the student can learn to have the Lord as his or her teacher, than the quality of disciples will remain high. Paul had discovered a key strategy which not only multiplied his efforts, but also empowered the work to carry on in his absence, which apparently was a problem for the churches started in his earlier journeys (Gal. 4:18-20). Now that Paul had fully comprehended the multiplication strategy the Lord had been teaching him, he was to put this strategy to the test in an extreme way on his next outing. As we will see, his next phase of mission is his most effective and emerges in the most confined of situations (Continued in Part 3).

OUR MISSION IS … “To see the Kingdom of God manifest in our region, by linking arms as a relational, intentional, and missional network of house churches, that develop and deploy all believers into maturity in Christ as they impact others.” (This mission statement was crafted at a regional “think tank” meeting of a dozen house church leaders in February 2007 in Guelph, Ontario. This joint statement was not meant to be carved-in-stone or to indicate any desire to start a centralized house church “organization”. Rather, it was the result of a day of prayerfully dreaming and scheming with God. We need to step forward together in spiritual and practical unity into God’s purposes for the regional house church movement. We must become a fluid yet cohesive “network of networks” to see a new spiritual nation arise in this region!).

4

THE ART OF REVOLUTION Starfish Art Original artwork by Cynthia Klassen (Woodstock, ON, Canada) Cynthia uses watercolour to mostly paint realistic macro floral and animal close-ups. On a visit to her childhood home of North Vancouver, she saw this starfish. Carefully analyzing and painting it brought back early west coast memories. Cynthia was part of this year’s Oxford County Studio Tour in southwestern Ontario. She is involved in a house church in the town of Woodstock (cynthiapaints. blogspot.com)

The Starfish All starfish are not in the water Some are on the land They are fishing for the kingdom They’re a different brand

When the first church was born Thousands came to Jesus Now the whole world must be informed

They shine like stars for Jesus They are his fishermen They spread the good news all around That Jesus died for them

They learn that Jesus is the way to heaven That’s why he died for you and me To bear our sin and shame On the cross at Calvary

They can be found in many places Are called the House Church They meet together in each other’s homes When they go to church

Wayward sons and daughters Lost and lonely men and women Come and give their lives to Jesus And become star fishermen

House Church is for everyone Young and old alike They learn to spread the timeless message That Jesus is the way, the truth, the life

The leaders are inspiring They are great fishermen The workers are enthusiastic Behold the catch that they bring in

I’d rather be a starfish Than any other kind of star To see Jesus up in heaven Will be the best reward by far

Seekers look and listen They want what they see and hear The House Church is growing While the host of heaven cheers

To hear him say, “Well done, My faithful fisherman” To feel his sweet embrace Will be priceless in the end

They spend time each day fishing For all to come to Christ They shine like stars with heaven’s

Betty Findlay

They breakfast together Worship the King of kings Sing praises to their master And study many things Their manual is the Bible Written by God himself It tells them how to be good fishermen How to serve and help Their model is the Book of Acts

glory They are the world’s light This movement called House Church Is growing speedily Relationships are formed That will last for eternity

(Hamilton, ON, Canada)

5

REGIONAL HOUSE The 2008 House Church “Think Tank”: Exploring Partnerships and Networks

Operation Burma: Getting Involved in Global Mission

Sam Buick (Waterloo, ON, Canada)

Rad Zdero (Mississauga, ON, Canada)

It was great to gather for a full day in March 2008, in Mississauga (Ontario, Canada) with 20 folks for a regional “think tank” from a variety of house churches and house church networks across the province of Ontario. People came from cities and towns like Ajax, Baden, Barrie, Dunville, Guelph, Mississauga, Norwich, Ottawa, Toronto, and Waterloo. Folks shared their journeys since the last time we gathered six months earlier. This revealed the importance of relationship and friendship. We gathered to share the vision of practically partnering together in furthering God’s Kingdom through planting house church networks in our region. We had breakout groups that discussed an article on partnerships. Some of the points were eliminated as being too command-and-control in structure, but others were embraced, such as the need to share ourselves, our gifts, and our resources, such as our homes and finances. This is especially needed for the emerging itinerant ministry linking and equipping the house churches. We agreed that we are more effective for the Kingdom when we work together as house churches, rather than on our own. We do not have all we require, but others do, each one bringing what God has deposited and developed in them. We left encouraged, strengthened, and motivated to seek the Lord as to what He would do in this region. We realize that we need the Lord to knit us to Himself and to reveal His heart and purpose. And then we need to ask, “Lord, how can I come alongside You and others to see this happen?” That is the key question for the expanding network of house churches in our region.

In early May 2008, I joined the Rochester (New York, USA) house church as they hosted Dr. Ram Lian (pictured in the middle above), a church planter visiting from his native Burma (a.k.a. Myanmar). There was great interest in hearing about the country’s political, economic, and spiritual landscape. Lian told us that “Before the first missionary came to our country, Buddhism is rooted more than eight centuries, and the country right now is ruled by military government.” Christians are at risk. “For a Buddhist to become a Christian is very risky,” Lian said. “After they accept Jesus, the church planters have to provide food, shelter, and everything to new believers.” Dr. Lian founded Household Church Myanmar in 2005. His vision is “to see 1000 house churches planted by the year 2030” by coaching “100 church planters who are committed to plant at least 10 house churches in their lifetime.” They have already started a network of 20 house churches. Lian’s team has translated my book The Global House Church Movement into Burmese. “We have printed already 1000 books and distributed 700,” he said. “I ask the students and church planters to use the book in their homes to train other church planters and evangelists.” In Rochester, we donated $1200 in cash, a printer, a laptop computer, several books, and a telephone card to Dr. Lian. As a regional house church movement, let’s continue to pray, send finances, encourage by email, send Christian books, and perhaps even visit. For more info: Ram Lian ([email protected]) or Rad Zdero ([email protected]).

6

CHURCH EVENTS Touring the House Churches

Coming Soon to a Planet Near You!

Rad Zdero (Mississauga, ON, Canada)

‘STARFISH NETWORK’ RETREAT (March 2009) A strategic and relational gathering of house church leaders across our region is planned. We will seek God, connect with each other, assess where we are as a movement, determine where we need to go, eat lots, play games, and just hang out! Open to all. First come, first serve. Limited room. Kids welcome. Cost is $50/person for full weekend and $15/person for day visitors. Bring cash or make cheque payable to “Starfish Network.” Three daily meals will be bought beforehand and prepared onsite by participants in shifts. The Faith Mission Centre (Campbellville, ON) facilities include 2 kitchens, 2 living rooms, a large dining hall, a large meeting room, 50 beds, and the great outdoors. Scheduled for Friday March 6 to Sunday March 8, 2009. To register, contact Rad Zdero ([email protected], 905-278-1805).

One car. Two weeks. Seven cities. Numerous super hosts. A trunk full of books. Moments of exuberance and exhaustion. And 2200 kilometres. This barely begins to describe my recent visits with house churches, seminars to various groups, and meetings with leaders from May 28 to June 13 of 2008. This nomad had the eye-opening privilege of seeing first-hand what God is doing, as he ventured to cast a birds-eye glance across our region.

Here are just a few highlights. A fledgling house church in Trenton is asking God for 40,000 new believers in their area. A traditional church in Frankford wants to start missional small groups and house churches. A house church in Kingston desires to see a network formed in their end of the province. An actively evangelistic couple outside Montreal envisions 1000 house churches in their area. A house church leader in Quebec City desires connection with a larger house church network. A small network of three house churches is beginning to form in the St. Lazare area. A man of peace in Ottawa is taking steps to establish a prototype house church in the city. There were several common themes no matter where I went. There was a penetrating passion for God and love for people that I sensed in everyone I met. There was a recognition by house churches for their need to work together in relational networks in order to be all that God has called them to be. There was a hunger to see families, neighbourhoods, workplaces, cities, and the region impacted with the good news of Jesus Christ. In our region, we are indeed on the verge of reaching a milestone in maturity, a potency in networking, and a critical mass in numbers in this simple, strategic, and Holy Spirit-powered living-room revolution!

‘STARFISH NETWORK’ TRAINING COURSE (October 2008 to June 2009) Do you want to do church differently? Do you want to start a house church? Do you lead a house church, but want to learn from others? Here’s your chance! A once-a-month, interactive, house church planting course is being offered in Ontario to help encourage and train you in the basics and help connect you with others. Topics include: What does it take to be a church planter? What about local and mobile leadership? How does hosting and hospitality work? How about impacting non-believers? What about one-to-one mentoring? Sessions are once-a-month on a Saturday, 10 am to 12:30 noon, followed by lunch together. Starts in October 2008 and ends June 2009. There is a one-time $15/person fee to cover learning materials (cash or cheque payable to “Starfish Network”) and a $5/person cost each time for lunch. Location will rotate from house to house. Facilitated by Rad Zdero and Mark-John Bruwer. For more details, contact: Mark-John Bruwer ([email protected], 905-777-1876). SPIRITUAL MENTORING SEMINAR (October 2008) The spiritual landscape is covered with half-built towers. Many new believers get off on the right foot, but then they give up. Part of the reason is that no one took the time to help them learn the basics of the Christian life. Come to Newmarket, ON, in Oct 2008, for a one-day seminar of practical teaching on spiritual mentoring by Larry Kreider (DOVE Christian Fellowship), an internationally recognized leader in the cell and house church movement. For details contact: Brian Sauder ([email protected]) or Ed Peng ([email protected]).

7

KICKIN’ IT OLD SCHOOL E.H. BROADBENT:

GLOBE TROTTER, CHURCH PLANTER, AND AUTHOR

An Englishman by birth, Edmund Hamer Broadbent (1861-1945) was thrilled by the idea that, since apostolic times, there have always been movements in history outside the institutional church that have sought to fully restore the power and pattern of true Christianity as found in the New Testament. He founded non-denominational, independent, New Testament-style churches nearly everywhere he went in his travels throughout the Middle East, Central Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. His convictions and experiences are best expressed in his classic book, The Pilgrim Church (1931), from which the following excerpt is taken. Events in the history of the churches in the time to effect a compromise, returning in part, but not of the apostles have been selected and recorded in altogether, to the acknowledged pattern, as Luther, the Book of the Acts in such a way as to provide a Spener, and others. permanent pattern for the churches. (4) Some have abandoned the attempt, as the Departure from this pattern has had disastrous Mystics, who devoted themselves instead to the consequences, and all revival and restoration attainment of personal holiness and communion have been due to some return to with God… the pattern and principles in the (5) Evangelical revival has set it Scriptures… aside as unimportant, concentrating The Church question, that is on the conversion of sinners and “All revival and to say, the question whether we organizing what seemed suitable to restoration have can, and should, continue to carry meet practical needs, as Wesley’s been due to out the New Testament teaching Methodist Societies, or the Salvation some return to and example as to the ordering of Army. churches, has been answered in (6) But there have in all times the pattern and various ways: been brethren who have answered principles in the (1) The theory of “yes” to the question though they Scriptures” “development” would make it have been called by many names… undesirable to do so, because, they have been one in their endeavor as is claimed by the ritualistic to act upon the New Testament and churches, such as the Church of to follow the example of the New Rome, the Greek Orthodox Church, and others Testament churches. like them, something better than that which was Closely connected with the former question is practiced in the beginning has been attained, another: Is it possible today to preach the gospel as and the Scriptures have been modified, or even at the beginning and might not a much more rapid supplanted, by tradition. spread of the gospel result from doing so? (2) Rationalism gives the same answer, looking Indeed, the question enlarges and presses itself upon it as retrogression to go back to the original upon us: Is it not only by a return to the Scriptures pattern, since it denies that the Scriptures provide that the unity of the children of God can be an abiding authority. manifested and the evangelization of the world be (3) Reformers of existing churches have tried accomplished?

8

EDITORIAL

Kingdom Pattern and Power

Rad Zdero (Mississauga, ON, Canada) and Kyle Bultman (Rochester, NY, USA) Two unbiblical and unhealthy extremes exist in some parts of the house church movement. The “spiritualists” say that structure is unimportant and that all we need is heart and passion and Spirit-led activity. The “technocrats” say that house churches should be placed into highly structured networks with a vertical chain-ofcommand, an official doctrinal statement, a formal denominational connection, and the right scriptural ‘formula’, etc. But, the reality is that we need a healthy and Holy Spirit-led balance of pattern and power. The scriptural pattern is like the vehicle that harnesses the spiritual power needed to accomplish God’s purposes. What is the essence of the scriptural pattern? A human body without a skeleton simply cannot function. A house without wooden beams forming a frame cannot stand. From the smallest amoeba to the largest galaxy, the universe holds together through an arrangement of atoms and molecules whose interactions are governed by the laws of physics. As we gaze upon the church of Jesus Christ, we can see several “building blocks” in place. These are described in the New

Testament and show up in Church history time and time again. God has used them to accomplish his Kingdom purposes. We see, first off, that Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone to the entire structure of the church. Without him, all of it is pointless and it will eventually crumble. We see “macro” leaders who focus on the big picture and who function as trainers, decision-makers, connectors, and pioneers. These apostles, prophets, evangelists, and teachers impact cities, regions, and nations, often starting entire networks

of churches out of nothing. We see “micro” leaders who focus on the care, training, and releasing of a local body of believers, encouraging all to use their spiritual gifts, talents, and resources. These elders (also known as ‘pastors’ and ‘bishops’ in the New Testament) are like the spiritual moms and dads of their own little spiritual family. We see ordinary places and spaces used for Spirit-led and interactive gatherings, like homes, classrooms, offices, front porches, community centers, and the like. There is no need for large, expensive, church buildings when small circles of disciples are fully committed to multiplication growth in order to see a spiritual rabbit plague. May we become a house church movement that is organized (rather than organizational), intentional (rather than accidental), and missional (rather than aimless)!

after drill that helps to hone skills, develop leadership, and bring unity through years of struggle. Entire pagan villages come to embrace the gospel and experience dramatic healings and societal transformation. We usually focus on those moments rather than on the decades of prayer and faithful sacri-

What does it look like to operate in God’s power? Certainly, this includes dreams, visions, prophetic words, angelic activity, miraculous healings, demonic deliverance, and raising people from the dead. And it also means listening to the Spirit as he leads in spontaneous and unexpected ways. However, many times God speaks things into our lives that take the process of decades to be worked out in fullness—process. As finite humans, we tend to see dramatic displays of power and only notice that moment. That glorious moment seems as if it is the fullness of power—right there, immediately in front of us. However, for each of those moments of power revealed in fullness, there is a long, focused, perseverant time of process that ultimately is power. Power and process cannot be separated—indeed, they are two sides of the same coin. Consider the following examples. A military power demonstrates great force through numbers, skill, strategy, and weaponry, combining to bring decisive victories in battle. We behold the moment of victory and exclaim of how it is such a powerful military. However, we rarely focus on the grueling years of training that the troops go through. A sports team wins a top title, such as the Super Bowl, the Stanley Cup, or the like. We usually notice the power and glory demonstrated in the games. But, it is drill

fice by those bearing the gospel with their very lives. Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection resulted in the cataclysmic change in mankind’s opportunity to know their Creator. It is the defining moment of all history. We focus primarily on that ‘moment’, and yet even God’s expression of power in and through the incarnate Christ was the climax of a process that had been set in motion through faithful people many centuries prior such as Noah, Enoch, Abraham, and so on. The greater the power expressed, the greater the process required. Our flesh and weakness looks for a quick transformation of circumstances apart from our own growth and transformation. We want God’s power to change things around us and for us, (even for Kingdom purposes), but often without our own change being at the core of the solution. Instead of blazing, circumstance-changing, lightning bolt type displays of power, the Lord wants to speak to our hearts one basic concept – the power is in the process. What is the crux of the matter? Let us as a movement of house churches recognize our need for both pattern and power and be willing to persevere in the process! Let’s be able to resolutely confess that, “Jesus is building his church, in his timing, with his methods, using his Scriptures, and empowered by his Spirit.”

9

REVOLUTIONARY BOOKS by RAD ZDERO

The Global House Church Movement Rad Zdero gives you biblical, historical, and practical insights for a radical new type of church that is arising all around the world. This book is guaranteed to challenge your understanding of what the church is really meant to be and do! Perfect as a study guide to kickstart a new house church! (paperback, 155 pages)

Nexus: The World House Church Movement Reader As the editor of this volume, Rad Zdero has compiled the writings of almost 40 house church leaders and scholars from 20 countries in over 60 provocative articles. Get trained to start your own network of missional house churches no matter where you live! (paperback, 528 pages)

Best price from … www.missionbooks.org

Best price from … www.missionbooks.org

Entopia: Revolution of the Ants An allegorical tale written in the tradition of C.S. Lewis’s Narnia chronicles and George Orwell’s Animal Farm. An adventure of grassroots revolution in the hierarchical and ordered world of an anthill. The system must change! Although just a fable, it has challenges for the church to grapple with. Fun for kids of all ages! (paperback, illustrated, 132 pages) Best price from … www.capstonefiction.com www.amazon.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR RAD ZDERO earned his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Queen’s University (Kingston, Ontario, Canada), specializing in orthopaedic biomechanics. He is currently the director of a hospital-based research lab in Toronto. Rad has been actively involved in the house church and small group movement since 1985 and is dedicated to encouraging the full restoration of original New Testament Christianity in our day. He lives in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.