Summer 2020 multiply.net
together that the world may know
Witness
Discipleship Movements
Witness Summer 2020 Contents Editorial: Our Disciple-Making Mission....... 2 Small Church in a Hard Place...........................4 Samurai Discipleship.............................................6 Zaza..................................................................................8
Our DiscipleMaking Mission Editorial by Randy Friesen
Special Permission................................................10 Locked Doors, Open Hearts.............................11 Listening Together................................................ 12 Church at Home.....................................................14
Staff Editor-in-Chief..............................Randy Friesen Managing Editor..................Mark J.H. Klassen Layout & Design..........................Darcy Scholes Illustration & Design..................... Colton Floris Writing & Prayer Mobilization.......Nikki White Media Director................................ Daniel Lichty Circulation & Administration.........Kyle Hendy
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The Church is at a crossroads. Due to the changes and restrictions of the current pandemic, we are being invited to consider new ways of fulfilling our mission together. As Mennonite Brethren, we recall our beginnings in Russia during the 1860s when our movement began as a result of revival. We met in homes to read Scripture, worship, and break bread together. We lived on mission regardless of the cost, sharing our renewed faith in Jesus freely with family members and neighbors. By 2020, we have become a global network of churches, united by a common mission of making disciples in the way of Jesus. We have a strong heritage of Biblical teaching in the context of gathered worship services. Small groups and Sunday School classes have provided additional teaching, fellowship, and prayer. We’ve done well, but the world is changing. During this crisis, we are being given an opportunity to re-evaluate our methods and to refresh our disciple-making mission according to our new reality. I’ve learned some valuable lessons from my friend Claude Tamba-Tamba. A few years ago, when violence overtook his homeland in South Kivu, Congo, he and his family began a hectic journey. From Congo, they fled to Uganda where they ended up in a refugee camp. From there, they were given an opportunity to go to the US, where they finally landed as refugees in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Along the way, Claude planted churches wherever he went, regardless of the context. But when he arrived in Sioux Falls, he felt immobilized by culture shock. Suddenly, he didn’t know who he was. He only knew that he had nothing.
As Claude cried out in prayer, he heard God say, “You have me, and I am all you need.” As Claude cried out in prayer, he heard God say, “You have me, and I am all you need.” That day, Claude and his wife decided to turn their bedroom into a sanctuary. Every day from then on, they prayed and fasted together and cried out to God. After several weeks, God brought another family to them, and together they began praying in their living room. Soon, other families joined them as well and the group moved to larger spaces as it became necessary. Before long, the gathering had grown into the hundreds as they continued to meet for prayer and worship, both in larger gatherings and in homes. Their faith in God’s all-sufficiency reminds us that we too can ask God for a new beginning, whatever our context!
Many Christ followers like Claude and his family are renewed in their faith as they re-discover their missional identity and calling. Are we in the midst of a similar renewal today? Are you crying out to God? I love how God has been using our short-term mission programs like SOAR, ACTION, TREK and Disciple Making International to disciple thousands of participants, both young and old, over the past thirty years. We have emphasized discipleship-in-mission training, which means creating a context that is Gospel-centered, Spirit-led and team-based. When people experience that same kind of intimate community, as well as the clarity of witness and the discipleship accountability, lives are transformed. How can we experience more of that kind of discipleship in our local churches? Discipleship movements are often characterized by small missional communities that feature close relationships, vibrant spirituality, and genuine hospitality and sharing. As these groups grow, they multiply. Often, a few of the leaders take on coaching roles and oversee multiple groups. In places like North Africa and North India, we are seeing this model of church more and more, especially where government and religious opposition require a more flexible, family-based approach. In a similar way, the current pandemic is demanding a creative response from our churches here in North America. With restrictions on the size of our gatherings, is God calling us to re-organize ourselves into small missional communities? In many ways, this is what we find in the Book of Acts where the Early Church is described: “All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Acts 2:44-47). What an
inspiring story of togetherness and mission effectiveness! How can we experience this kind of community and unity in our expressions of worship and witness today? As MBs, do we understand ourselves collectively as a mission? We exist as a disciple-making mission, but do our structures, whether locally, nationally, or globally, serve that mission well? In both Canada and the US, we are working toward collaborative strategic plans within our national conferences that are focused on mission. We are learning to listen together and work together that the world may know Jesus! I’ve been challenged by the way the Khmu Mission Conference in Southeast Asia functions in their disciplemaking mission. When I spoke at a Khmu leaders conference at our training center in northern Thailand, I went to bed in the evening after a full day of teaching. The next morning, I heard that the Khmu pastors in attendance had spent half the night discussing the material that I had taught on. They were intent on working it through so that everyone understood and could apply what was taught. I was so impressed by their sense of togetherness and their commitment to every member of the community, to ensure that even the youngest were able to grow and contribute. That conference has been one of the fastest growing church movements around the world in recent years. These unusual times of crisis challenge us all to think differently about how we express the mission of the Church. I believe the Lord will give us wisdom and grace to live this disciple-making mission with renewed fruitfulness and faith as we discern this together. In this issue of Witness, we have focused on how our global family is finding opportunity to make disciples during the changes and challenges of today’s world. We pray that you will be encouraged to live on mission right where you are and to get involved in our collaborative efforts among the least reached around the world. Thank you for your ongoing prayer and support!
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Small Church in a Hard Place CENTRAL ASIA By Mark J.H. Klassen
It was an unlikely place for a church. Not only was it in a part of Central Asia with very few churches, it was in a part of the city known as a hotbed of dissent. Just opposite the church building was a city square where radical Muslims would regularly rally to promote their ideals and where extreme opponents of the government gathered to protest. In this hostile environment, Multiply’s national partners had felt strongly that God was calling them to plant a church. In fact, even before the church was started, the national leaders had invited churches from around the world to pray for this specific neighborhood. Many people began to intercede. As God moved in hearts, two churches in North America responded by mobilizing prayer teams to Central Asia, to walk the streets of this neighborhood and to ask God for his blessing. The faith and encouragement of these visiting teams gave the local believers renewed energy and vision. By that time, there was a core group of young believers who were ready to form the new church. All from Muslim background, they were eager to proclaim the hope of the Gospel among their own people. One of them was a young man named Shahid. Not long ago, Shahid had been a devout Muslim who regularly argued with others about Islam. Eventually, he was in a debate with an atheist who confronted him about his beliefs, saying that Shahid was only relying on his knowledge of the Qu’ran in his arguments. The atheist challenged him to read the Bible! As Shahid read the Bible, he had questions. But he could not find anyone to answer them. Finally, a pastor from 4 | witness
one of the churches in the city sat down with him. They talked through his questions for five hours and one by one they were answered. It was a major turning point in Shahid’s life. The conversation helped to dismantle the obstacles in Shahid’s mind and heart. The pastor not only answered his intellectual questions, but he showed Shahid a sincere love that spoke deeply to the young Muslim. Soon after the conversation, Shahid decided to surrender his heart to Jesus and become a part of the church.
“It’s so inspiring to see the passion of these new believers to go to the hardest of the hard places.” Together with his new brothers and sisters in Christ, Shahid was intent on proclaiming the Gospel with integrity and courage. They expected their small church to grow, yet not without opposition. They understood that their presence in the core of the city was both strategic and bold. Recently, when they erected a church sign on the outside of their building, it was quickly torn down and discarded by unknown opponents. On a recent ministry trip to Central Asia, Nasser al’Qahtani, a member of Multiply’s Global Lead Team, visited the church. “It’s so inspiring to see the passion of these new believers to go to the hardest of the hard places,” said Nasser. “There are definitely easier places to
start a church, friendlier areas to share the Gospel. But the leaders heard the voice of the Lord saying ‘Go!’, and they went. And now they are seeing the fruit of their radical obedience, in the lives of people like Shahid.” Nasser, who also comes from a militant Muslim background, was able to encourage these new believers and strengthen their commitment to the work of the Gospel in their city. Yet when he had finished his visit, he was the one who was encouraged. “These new believers have shown such amazing perseverance,” Nasser said. “They told us about how they searched for a building in this neighborhood where the church could gather. But landlords kept turning them down when they heard that it was for a church.” However, the church kept pushing, believing that God had called them to that neighborhood. Churches around the world stood with them and asked God for the timely provision of a perfect location for them to gather. Intercessors prayed in faith and the small church family persevered. Finally, God provided a beautiful space for them to rent right in the heart of the city. For Shahid and the others, it was an affirmation of their strong sense of calling to be a beacon of light in a part of the city where no one expected to see a church. “The eyes of that community are fixed on that space,” said Nasser. “They’ve never had a church in their neighborhood before. The people are curious; some are probably against
it. But the church is sending a message, ‘Come and see. Come and join us. See what we’re doing.’ It’s a very honest and openhearted approach, and I think it’s a model of church planting that is needed all over Central Asia and around the world today.” The recent advances for this small church in Central Asia are a telling tribute to strong visionary leadership from national leaders, close partnership with praying churches around the world, and the vibrant faith of new believers like Shahid. Ultimately, it is a testimony to God’s grace and a reminder of the words of Jesus to a similar church: “I know your deeds. See I have placed before you an open door, which no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name” (Revelation 3:8).
PRAY & GO Please pray for this small church in Central Asia and many more like it around the world that are beacons of light in the darkness. Pray for courage for new believers and boldness for church leaders to proclaim the hope of the Gospel in the face of opposition. Is God calling you not only to pray from a distance but to be a part of a prayer team on location where churches are being planted? To explore opportunities with prayer teams and global church partnerships, call your local Mission Mobilizer at 1.888.866.6267.
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Samurai Discipleship JAPAN By Nikki White
Just before COVID-19 hit Japan, Masashi felt that he heard God asking him a question: “When do you plan on growing up?” Only months before, Masashi had completed a men’s discipleship course at the Ishibashi MB church. The course incorporated many elements of the traditional values of the samurai, the Japanese warrior class. So, when God spoke to Masashi about growing up, he did not flinch from the challenge. “Masashi did not always have such courage,” reflected Cory Giesbrecht, one of Multiply’s global workers in Japan. “He and another man from our church who went through the course with me experienced enormous changes. They went from confusion to clarity, apathy to passion, timidity to boldness, secrecy to vulnerability and shame to freedom. During this time, God told Masashi that he was to lead, and he replied that he would lead only if God would lead through him. He has been completely transformed!” Cory described how he and the two men bonded together during thirty-three days of intense discipleship. “Building a relationship with a warrior brother is key to success,” he explained. “Together we hold each other accountable to the ways of Jesus, which in many respects is similar to the ways of the traditional Japanese samurai.” Cory pointed out that the warrior creed of the samurai —Obey Heaven, Serve People, Conquer Self, Crush Evil— parallels Christian values. “But we learn how to do these things as brothers of Christ,” he explained, “not as individuals. We seek to find a brother, and to be a brother, in community.” 6 | witness
Admittedly, this perspective can conflict with the traditional Japanese spirit of self-sufficiency. Masashi himself is painfully aware of his own tendency towards proud self-reliance.
“Together we hold each other accountable to the ways of Jesus, which are similar to the ways of the traditional Japanese samurai.” “I am a paramedic,” he said. “and I have taken pride in that. Like many Japanese, I have very high standards for myself, and rely on my own strength. I have taken action based upon my own judgment and I have succeeded in my own power! Experiencing this success made it difficult for me to submit to God or acknowledge my need of him.” Masashi’s self-reliance had isolated him both from God and from others. However, after experiencing the intimacy of brotherhood through the discipleship course, he began to see that honesty and vulnerability with other believers offered a freedom that he had never experienced before. He found his appetite for fellowship growing with each day, and more and more he enjoyed spending time together with his brothers in Christ, studying the Word of God and worshipping together. Until everything stopped.
Cory Giesbrecht (center in black t-shirt) and Masashi (next to him in brown t-shirt) with members of their samurai discipleship group. With the advent of COVID-19, all gatherings were banned, including church gatherings and discipleship groups. “But God had prepared me for this moment,” Masashi said. “I knew it was time for me to grow up! The restrictions of the pandemic made me realize just how much I hungered and thirsted for worship, true worship, with others. In some ways, quarantine was a gift to me! It made me even more determined to stay connected to my community.”
Their commitment to God and to God’s people grew deeper and richer with each passing day of quarantine. Masashi began to meet online every day with his brother warriors, and they strengthened one another’s resolve to follow in the ways of Jesus, confessing their sins to one another and finding freedom from shame. Their
Is God calling you to start a discipleship group? For ideas and encouragement, call your local Mission Mobilizer at 1.888.866.6267.
commitment to God and to God’s people grew deeper and richer with each passing day of quarantine. “COVID-19 cannot stop God!” Masashi said. “God has already won! I will fight with joy and hope and shine in the dark by serving others!” Masashi now knows that this is what it looks like when a warrior grows up.
GIVE To invest in Japanese discipleship movements through the Mennonite Brethren Conference in Japan, go to multiply.net/japan-mb-conference or send a donation to Multiply designated to Japan MB Conference. multiply.net | 7
Zaza experienced the love of Jesus on the coffee farm.
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Zaza THAILAND By Louise Sinclair-Peters
Not long ago, I walked into our house and saw a stranger sitting in our living room. “Hi,” I said to the young woman. Then I turned to Amon, Pastor Isaiah’s wife, who stood nearby. “Do you know who this girl is?” I asked. “No,” she replied, “but I think my husband might have something to do with it!” We both laughed. After ten years of doing ministry with Isaiah, I am never surprised to come home and find strangers in our living room. This is the kind of intentional missional community we have come to expect and value. The twenty-year-old woman was named Zaza. She was Isaiah’s first cousin who had just returned from working in Singapore. “I don’t want to go back,” she told us firmly. “It was not a good experience. Can I stay here for a few days?” Of course, we agreed. A few days turned into a few weeks as Zaza jumped in to help Amon take care of their children. A devout Buddhist, Zaza watched us closely every day as we worshipped Jesus and prayed for anyone who came through our door. Before long, she began to help us with ministry, even praying for the sick. Her thirsty spirit soaked up the love of Jesus like a sponge. Zaza wanted to help support her family financially, so we invited her to work on the coffee farm. She was shocked by the kindness, honesty and love she received from our pastors and other workers. Since she had once worked as a medical assistant, Zaza began to use her basic first aid experience to treat wounds. She also prayed for the sick. Word travelled to the surrounding villages and soon people were walking for hours to see her. Pastor Isaiah was very happy to have even more opportunities to share the love of Jesus Christ with those who came! Before long, Zaza courageously declared her faith in Jesus Christ. Together with eighteen others from Buddhist background, she was baptized on our coffee farm in front of family and friends. We give thanks for Zaza and we look forward to seeing who God will send us next!
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Special Permission CENTRAL ASIA By Mark J.H. Klassen
Tariq seemed destined to be a troublemaker. Most of his life, he was in conflict with the police, first as a rebellious and reckless youth and then as a follower of Jesus and preacher of the Gospel in a strictly Muslim society. In recent years, Tariq regularly faced opposition to his faith and his ministry.
“Our community was in lock-down,” he explained. “with overwhelming needs for delivery of food and transportation to hospitals. The government could not cope, so they started to ask for volunteers. It was a perfect opportunity!” Before long, Tariq and members of seven MB churches in the area began to assist the local authorities by supporting families in need. It not only gave them opportunity to serve their community in practical ways, but it opened a door for them to share more freely about their faith in Jesus.
A few months back, prior to COVID-19, he decided to bring together several small churches to host a baseball camp for local children. Tariq knew he was taking a risk. “First, I didn’t know if people even knew what baseball was!” he said. “Second, I didn’t know how people would It not only gave them respond to the Gospel.” The camp drew over fifty children from the area. All heard the Gospel, and most prayed to receive Christ. However, when the broader community heard about what happened, some became angry and vandalized the building that Tariq had rented for the camp.
opportunity to serve their community in practical ways, but it opened a door for them to share more freely about their faith in Jesus.
“I called the police,” said Tariq, “thinking that they would help.” When the police found out that it was a Christian camp, instead of helping Tariq, they took him and his team down to the police station for interrogation, finger-printing and further harassment. They were later released by police, but Tariq was discouraged. Within weeks, COVID-19 turned the world upside-down, including Tariq’s country and community. But instead of becoming more difficult for Tariq and his churches, the pandemic opened a new opportunity for them.
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Eventually, Tariq’s service and leadership caught the attention of the mayor of the city. Ironically, at the mayor’s request, Tariq was assigned to work directly with the police department!
Tariq was thrilled. The same authorities that had opposed him and harassed him were now giving him special permission to go wherever he needed to go. “They gave me a special pass to hang in my car,” he said, “and they gave me lists of families to visit and help. Now we are working together. The police have become our new partners in ministry.”
PRAY Please pray for Tariq and the churches within his network, that they would continue to find favor in the eyes of local authorities so that the Gospel would be proclaimed and the people within this country would have the freedom to respond to Jesus and gather as believers.
Locked Doors, Open Hearts THAILAND By Nikki White
“Jesus is with us,” said Myanmar Pastor Yoshua on a recent call from Thailand. “When trials come, we do not pray for them to stop. Instead, we ask God, ‘What do you want to teach us?’ This takes our prayers to a deeper level.” In both Thailand and Myanmar, it is the marginalized who have been impacted most by the COVID-19 crisis. Myanmar migrant workers living in Thai factories are in lock-down, unable to leave the buildings where they work, eat and sleep. Other workers outside the factory have been locked out and are now jobless. “When life is too easy, we forget God,” Yoshua pointed out. “But now we pray more, working to find creative ways to fellowship and disciple others. Myanmar migrant workers have always been transient, moving from factory to factory. This spreads the Gospel but makes it hard to be community. I tell believers, ‘Stay wherever you are! Reach your co-workers, your bosses!’” During the crisis, doors are locked, but hearts are open. The Myanmar believers keep in touch through their mobile phones. “I teach some short lesson by phone,” said Yoshua. “I tell them, ‘Pass this on right away! You have learned it, now teach this to someone else.’” He also encourages them to pool their resources to care for whomever in the network is in greatest need. “There is a powerful presence of Christ when we do this,” he added. “It makes us feel like a big church even though we are very small. Though the doors of our building are closed, the church is alive.” Across the border in Myanmar itself, the crisis is no less dire, but manifesting differently. “There was already a lot of prejudice in Myanmar towards Christians,” said one long-term Multiply worker. “In a
Pastor Yoshua and family are living on mission in a time of crisis
crisis, Christians are often blamed, because they refuse to appease the spirits with sacrifices.” Now, with the pandemic, there is even more hostility. Villages erect signs that say, “This is a Buddhist village. No Christians allowed!” Despite this, believers continue to deliver rice and truth to the villages, stopping at a safe and respectful distance. Hearts are opening to the Gospel as they serve out of the Father’s heart of love. At the end of the call, Pastor Yoshua encouraged the Church in North America. “Don’t live in fear. God has already rescued us and saved us! We are all one family. I am praying for you as you serve God in these days!”
GIVE Migrant workers in Thailand continue to suffer from the economic impact of COVID-19 restrictions. You can join the efforts to help them by giving online at multiply.net/migrant-workers-in-thailand Multiply has been staying connected to the global Church during COVID-19. To watch recent video calls with key partners like Pastor Yoshua and to learn more about how they are living on mission in times of crisis, go to multiply.net/livingonmission
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Listening Together Partnership with US Mennonite Brethren By Galen Wiest
In 2019, Multiply began to restructure its global leadership. A new Global Lead Team was formed, made up of ten regional leaders from around the world, and was tasked with helping Multiply develop its mission strategy with national partners worldwide. In 2020, I was invited to represent the US on this team, working together with Stephen Humber, my fellow Mission Mobilizer in the Midwest, to clarify our common mission with the US Mennonite Brethren (USMB). In order to effectively build a strategy together, and to serve humbly as the mission arm of MB churches, Multiply needed to make sure that they were hearing the voice of USMB churches. Partnerships have the potential for great synergy, allowing us to accomplish more together than we could on our own. But they also require a lot of listening, dialogue and mutual learning. The Multiply partnership with USMB leadership has not always been strong, yet we are optimistic as we work toward strengthening these relationships, building trust, and learning to collaborate and communicate better.
The new Global Lead Team (from left to right): DH (South Asia), Nasser al'Qahtani (North Africa & the Middle East), Doug Penner (Lead), Galen Wiest (USA), Johann Matthies (Europe & Central Asia), Vic Wiens (Multiply-ICOMB Liaison), Randy Friesen (North America), Doug Hiebert (Sub-Saharan Africa), Bob Davis (Southeast & East Asia), and Emerson Cardoso (Latin America).
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Today, as we face a global pandemic and heightened racial tension, we are rethinking what it means to be the Church on mission. My prayer is that we can develop strategies that represent well our diversity and our shared commitment to the Gospel. More than ever, the Church needs to be the loving and transforming community that Christ intended it to be. As I consider our current challenges, I am drawn to the words of the prophet in Isaiah 43:18-19. Despite the chaos of his time, Isaiah spoke the heart of God with compassion and grace: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am God is speaking to us in the doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you midst of these current disruptions. not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” I believe that God is speaking to us in the midst of these current disruptions. He is doing something new as he breaks into our routine and interrupts our lives. These are times to pay attention to what God is saying and doing! At Multiply, we have been taking time to stop and ask ourselves, “Lord, what are the former things that you want us to leave behind in our lives and in our ministries? What are the new things that you are doing that you are inviting us into? Can you give us eyes to see and the ability to discern the times?” By faith we believe that God is doing something new, something that we could never have believed would happen. The US today is a broad and diverse mission field. All around us, the lost and hurting world is waiting for our bold witness and our love in action. Among immigrant communities, there are so many opportunities for our churches to engage people with the hope of the Gospel. As well, emerging MB conferences around the globe are looking to form partnerships with our churches to do mission together. And we still have so much work to do (and blessing to receive) as we seek to integrate the ethnic diversity within our own conference into ministry together. Finally, the next generation of leaders is waiting to be called out and trained for planting churches both at home and abroad. As the Multiply team in the US, we are asking God to help us see and obey, as we serve churches, facilitate partnerships, and mobilize workers into the harvest. We are inviting our churches to pray and engage with us as we work with our national and district leaders and as we seek the Spirit’s direction for the future of our mission partnership. We look forward to listening together.
PRAY Please pray for unity among USMB churches and for wisdom on behalf of the USMB and Multiply leadership as they affirm their joint passion for mission and forge an effective partnership. If you have any feedback or questions for Galen or Stephen, please contact them by email: galenw@multiply.net or stephenh@multiply.net.
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Church at Home Learning from Another Model CANADA By Mark J.H. Klassen
“I came to Christ in a house church,” said Ingrid Reichard at a recent Town Hall meeting sponsored by the MB Churches of Canada. “I was discipled in that setting for the first two years of my faith journey. Since I didn’t grow up in the church, I didn’t go to Sunday school; I thought house churches were normal.” Of course, in many settings, house churches are normal. The Book of Acts describes the Early Church as a house church movement. In fact, it was not until three hundred years after Pentecost that church buildings started to appear. Even today, in many countries around the world, house churches are the norm. As well, throughout history, many of the Church’s revivals survived and thrived as believers met in homes. Gradually, as the Gospel spread around the world and was incarnated into more and more cultural contexts, other models of church soon became prevalent.
“As churches continue to navigate restrictions,” Reichard posed, “perhaps the house church model could offer insight into how we should think not only about our gatherings but about our overall disciplemaking mission.” Reichard’s conversation partner for the Town Hall meeting was Derek Parenteau, Multiply missionary among First Nations people in Ontario, Canada.
As big churches adjust to this new reality, many are encouraging home-based alternatives and small group initiatives.
As Director of the MB’s National Faith and Life Team, Reichard hosted the Town Hall meeting and clarified that it was not a question of right or wrong models, but rather of being aware of the strengths and weaknesses of different models. “When I finally came into a big church,” she said, “I was blown away by bulletins, bands, and all the chairs facing in one direction. All of that was overwhelming. Now I love a well-organized big church, but I also know the many benefits of the house church.”
Parenteau shared compelling insights from his own journey among indigenous peoples. “When we first started, we had all kinds of thoughts about what it would look like to plant a church. But someone told us to take it slow and pray. I noticed that every reservation had a church building on it that was empty. If it was being used at all, it was serving one or two people and the minister was coming from outside of the community. I thought there must be a better way.”
Reichard reminded listeners of how COVID-19 has challenged the Church and prompted us to re-think our gatherings. Prior to the pandemic, of course, many of us were accustomed to weekly church services in the hundreds. But those gatherings are no longer happening, at least not for the time being. As big churches adjust to this new reality, many are encouraging home-based alternatives and small group initiatives.
Parenteau started studying the methods of missionaries around the world and he discovered that the house church model was being used very effectively in places like China and India. He turned to the Scriptures and came to a simple realization: “Maybe house churches weren’t the consolation prize, a Plan B or any kind of downgrade, but that they actually had some major benefits in terms of both evangelism and discipleship.”
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Derek and his wife, Tiffani, started gathering their First Nations friends together in homes, mostly non-believers at first. Then people started coming to faith in Jesus and they invited their family and friends into the group. “It was a very powerful experience,” said Derek, “to see whole households come to faith. It changed my life and changed my family’s life.” In the Town Hall meeting, Reichard acknowledged that many churchgoers in North America probably had no experience with house churches. She was open about common misconceptions: “Maybe we think it’s for those who are bucking the system, or for those who can’t afford a meeting space, so meeting in a home is a second option until they can grow up and become a real church.” However, for both Reichard and Parenteau, the house church model had offered a vibrant and powerful experience of authentic spiritual community and mission effectiveness. Reichard shared beautifully about her husband’s transformative experience: “After I came to Christ, my husband wanted to come with me to the house church. It was so obvious that he was not a believer just by the questions he asked. But there was so much grace for him. He received so much love and encouragement that he inevitably came to Christ. That community created the most natural highway to Jesus.” Parenteau added, “Sometimes we forget how hard it is for an outsider to walk into our larger church gatherings. Since our North American culture is less and less Christian, the cultural gap for a non-believer is huge. It’s easier for them to walk into someone’s home and share a meal. It’s much more casual, less structured, so the cultural leap is far less.”
“Every group is unique,” reminded Parenteau. “But most groups have time for studying the Bible, sharing testimonies, praying for each other, and worshiping together. It’s usually very personal and very interactive.” “In our bigger churches,” Reicher shared forthrightly, “sometimes we get caught up in the glitz and glamour of the stage. We get used to the professionalism. When you meet in homes, it’s just couches and chairs and an open Bible. That’s all you need.” “Simple and intimate,” Parenteau concluded about house churches. “There’s depth to relationships and it makes room for everyone to get involved. Everyone can contribute something, whether it’s teaching, serving food, caring for kids, or reading Scripture. Everyone is known. Everyone belongs.”
“He received so much love and encouragement that he inevitably came to Christ. That community created the most natural highway to Jesus.” Both Reichard and Parenteau emphasized that they were not recommending one model over another. They simply wanted to remind people that, during these times of restrictions, we can perhaps adapt our structures and learn from a model that has been historically and internationally very fruitful.
In terms of discipleship, the smaller size of the house church is certainly one of the clearest advantages to life-on-life learning. “In that setting, it’s hard to fake it. As a leader, you’re modeling what it looks like to be a parent, because your kids are there. You’re modeling your marriage because your spouse is there. Everything is on display for everyone. Everyone can see what obedience to Jesus looks like for you in everyday life.” “Our group was about twenty-five people,” Reichard said, “and we got together twice a week: on Sundays for worship and on Wednesdays for Bible study. We sat in a circle and different people lead. There was always sharing, always food, and usually kids crawling all over the place. There was some teaching, and there was lots of singing. In the group I belonged to, most of the people were from Jamaica, so our singing was phenomenal.”
For the full video recording of the conversation between Reichard and Parenteau, including more about leadership development and outreach, and some engaging question-andanswer with other listeners, go to mennonitebrethren.ca/town-hall-meeting
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