House Church

So, I wondered, what actually happens at a house church? We found out on Sunday morning. The group was gathering at Jonathan and Karen's, so it was really nice not to have to go anywhere for church! Just before 11, one couple, Derek and Naomi, arrived with their three children. Rebecca, a single woman, was there as well. Robert and Mary, and their two children, Ben and Caroline, arrived a little later. So, when all were present and accounted for, there were 9 adults and 8 children.

The kids started off outside playing (since the weather was nice) and Jonathan asked us to tell everybody what we were doing. As we talked, people in the group began to share some of their journeys, their frustrations with traditional church, and their desire for authentic Christian community. We shared for over half an hour, then the kids came back in, we sang a couple of songs, accompanied by Derek's violin, and then they asked if they could pray for us. Surrounded by our new friends in Christ, we received prayers for our trip and our ministry. There were a couple of prophetic words offered and several of the children prayed. Sometime after noon, we went to the dining room to share the food that everybody had brought. We were still there at 3:00!

Karen warned us that it could be a little bit chaotic, and it was. But there was a tremendous spirit of authenticity and community present in that living room. The group were really open about their struggles. They wonder constantly whether they're doing what God wants them to do, and whether they should be doing more to reach out to new Christians. But what really struck me is in a group like this, there's nowhere to hide. People have to take each other as they are and relate to each other with love and forgiveness.

When we told Robert about being at St. Thomas, he said, "Wow, that's going from the sublime to the 'Cor Blimey!'" (about as English an expression as you could imagine.) But we felt really privileged to be invited into this circle of Christians on the way.