How can the world engage in a conversation about Jesus when I am always inside those comfortable walls?
The Holy Spirit has been moving in my heart about the need to start some sort of conversation in coffee shops and bars throughout the city. These are places people gather to strike up natural conversation. It is also a place where others go to be alone, people watch and listen in on others.
Below is a short encouragement and follow up from this blog post: Gavin came to speak at the Perspectives class on UK’s campus a few weeks before the end of the semester. After hearing about the simple church movement, I had an idea that I couldn’t get rid of: start a church in my dorm. So many people and things were telling me not to go forward with it; it was too late in the semester, I was crazy, that’s heretical. But I went for it anyway. God’s movement stirred up some commotion in my dorm. Everyone was talking about… Read More »Church In My Dorm?
Women need other women! Around here we don’t gather at communal water wells or shared clothes lines. So, we’re creating space. We’re making time for being together in the form of a retreat. We need it and it will be good. Sue Clark has invited Simple Church ladies and their friends for a day at her farm. Lunch will be provided. We will start at 10Am and end by 5pm. Teaching, singing, small group prayer, communion and an extended personal reflection time are all scheduled. Please email Karla Duerson (karladuerson@yahoo.com) to make your reservation and receive your retreat e-packet with… Read More »
Allow me to encourage you with a story about a young man on the campus of the University of Kentucky who has jumped into “simple church.” He began with an announcement in his dorm that there would be a simple church meeting to discuss “church.”
No money. No church staff. No fancy program. Just one man faithfully praying for people in an apartment complex.
I recently received this email from Jeff Herron who along with his family are in the process of starting down the simple church path. I’m continually encouraged by Kingdom Minded “legacy” church folks who see the value in house/simple church and want to encourage simple church multiplication. May Jeff’s words encourage you and may we all join in praying for God to do a mighty work in the northern part of our state! Just wanted to pass along a quick update as an encouragement to you all. The senior pastor from the last “legacy church” (to use the Dale’s phrase)… Read More »An Encouragement From Pendleton, Co. KY
Beachheads The early hours of June 6, 1944 the Axis defenders saw, through the early morning haze off the Normandy Coast, a vast armada of Allied ships carrying hopeful liberators to those occupied shores. That wicked empire was secure as long as freedom’s defenders remained on distant shores. As young men dashed from plywood transports onto the blood soaked sands of invasion beaches named Juno, Omaha, Sword and Gold a watching world finally obtained the hope that the oppressor’s jack-boot would at last be removed from beloved homelands. A beachhead is the first fruit of invasion, a foothold that precedes… Read More »Beachheads – A Guest Blog by Joseph Horevay (Neo House Church Network)
The meal is potluck, or as we jokingly say, “pot-providence.” Everyone brings food to share with everyone else. When the weather is nice, all the food is placed on a long folding table outside. A chest full of ice sits beside the drink table. Kids run wildly around. They are having so much fun that they must be rounded up by parents and encouraged to eat. After a prayer of thanksgiving is offered, people line up, talking and laughing as they load their plates with food. In the middle of all the food sits a single loaf of bread next… Read More »The Lords Supper – The Reason We Gather?
Upon returning from a recent trip to India, a friend took me out for coffee to tell me of his encounter with a former nun, Sister Angelica, who has trained over 20,000 Christian “soldiers” to lead “troops” throughout her country. Below is a training handout that Sister Angelica uses while helping to start troops and train up new leaders. Some of this may seem odd to our western use of language and sensibilities. To be clear, I would not advocate starting simple churches here with such guidelines. That being said, I wonder if there are more than a few good… Read More »“Troops” in India
By Karla Duerson Gavin asked today, “In what way does God want me to be more childlike in my humility?” referring to Matthew 18:2-4 from the Bible. Nothing personal came to mind at first. Then later when I was cleaning up from our Simple Church gathering, something came. It was a new thought based on a familiar dilemma. Normally, after everyone leaves I busily and easily put all the dishes in the washer, scrape the leftovers into the garbage disposal, put the toys in the bin, place books on the shelf, but then I come to the elements. I go… Read More »Communion Lessons: Childlike Humility