door2Open Door WA

How The Vision Started

Hi. I'm Al from Perth Australia. Many years ago back in 1991 while we were living in Mongolia, we invited a group from Singapore who were pioneering what was then called "Cell Church" to come and teach us what they were doing. For two weeks they taught us about how to involve all the members of the church through Cell Group Meetings. After they left Mongolia we began to implement what they had taught us and before long the early church in Mongolia began to grow very rapidly. Now many years later the Cell Churches along with the traditional and formal churches have grown to over an estimated twelve thousand Christians in Mongolia.

Late in 1994 we left Mongolia and for two years began to get involved in other Cell Churches in Malaysia. Eventually, for our children’s higher education, we moved back to Canada and shortly there after immigrated to Australia. Over the years the term "Cell Church" evolved into House Church and more recently the terms, Organic Church, Simple Church, and Home Church are being used as well. My wife and I were involved in some and visited many House Churches in Canada and Australia and discovered many flavors within the House Church movement. Some were like little formal churches in a house complete with projector, offering bags and a weekly sermon by a pastor. While others were on the other end of the scale being very laid back with no order or vision.  Probably the one House Church that sat right with us the most was one in Calgary Alberta. This group started with a pot luck meal (everyone brings food) and was followed by talks, Bible studies, music, prayer, encouragement and what ever else the Holy Spirit would guide them to do. This seemed to be the closest model to the early New Testament church that I had found in a western culture. There are many similar to this through out Asia and other parts of the world. We left Calgary in 2004 and returned to Perth Australia.

Well since returning to Perth Australia it has been difficult for us to find a House Church that we feel fits the vision I believe God has given me. Although I attend my children's church on a few occasions I have found myself, like many others, on a bit of a lonely road. But might I add that my commitment and closeness to God has definitely increased during this time. This has been wonderful.

So, lonely as it has been does not mean I sit around and do nothing about the situation. We have planted cell churches in the past and God continues to water them as they continue to grow and multiply. So after a few years of moaning and trial and error with House Church in Australia, I have decided to stop procrastinating do what I feel God has been saying to me for a while now. And that is to begin communities of Simple House Churches that usually start with fellowship and a meal and continue with other Spirit led activities such as discussion on various topics or issues, prayer, singing, bible study, giving, missions, and whatever else the Holy Spirit would have us do. The term, "Simple Church" adequately fits the description of what we want to do because the things of God and His Church should never be complicated.

The Simple Church

There certainly is a growing interest and involvement in "Simple Church". I should add here that there are also other names such as; Organic Church, House Church, and Home Church that people use to describe basically the same thing. They all gather together in small groups in homes and sometimes in open areas or public facilities. So why have we called it Simple Church? Well because Christ's Church should never become complicated. As a loosely affiliated (to Oikos Australia) group of believers we want to see the Kingdom of God grow in a simple and organic(natural) super-natural way. We believe that church, the communities of believers, needs to be simple in this complicated world while at the same time being relevant and culturally sensitive. And we are convinced that God causes these communities to grow as we walk with Him.

Simple Church is not just church in a house, but it's the natural expression of Jesus Christ-filled friendships. It evolves naturally in that it relies on natural, organic growth by one person inviting another. It is people doing life together.

And why 'Open Door WA'?

Well because we invite all people who desire to know more of God and Christ centered fellowship to participate with us here in WA (Western Australia). The door is open, come along and see what happens. And also because Jesus Christ stands at the door of our heart(our lives)and knocks as He waits for us to open the door and invite Him into our lives.

Our Vision

Our vision for simple church is to begin many new home (and sometimes outdoor) based fellowships and engage believers and those who aren't believers in Christ like living both locally and overseas. Our hope is to develope a commitment to community in Christ like love, being guided by the Spirit as we walk with Him.

Affiliation And Covering

Our covering is Jesus Christ. We are affiliated with Oikos Australia. Their purpose is as follows:
"We are a servant ministry seeking to advance God's Kingdom purposes in our land by supporting and encouraging home churches both within and independent of the traditional church. We do this through: provision of relevant news and information, quarterly newsletter, personal contact, pastoral care, seminars and speaking engagements. We seek to network and encourage the new ways of 'being church' that God is bringing about in Australia today."

Leadership

Who can lead a simple church? Well we prefer not to use the term "lead", but rather we would ask, "Who can facilitate a church?". We would describe Leadership as inspirational servanthood. When the call on our lives is to revolutionary Christian living, it is not hard to find good facilitators, people who will help others achieve their goals and use the gifts and talents God has given them.
And of course Jesus Christ is our ultimate Leader.
We do have people with an apostolic and teaching gift who will visit our gatherings from time to time for words of encouragement, guidance and extra teaching.

Deviating From The Truth

Because of the high emphasis on relational living and participation in one another's lives, there is accountability which developes into relational and community orientated Christians. The truth comes from the Bible as well as what the Holy Spirit guides us to do. As we walk with God daily we walk in truth. We are also affiliated with Oikos Australia and other house church people within Perth so we can have and give support to one another.

Other More Traditional Forms Of Church

We do not at all ridicule other more traditional forms of church. If people want to attend the more traditional and formal types of church then that is fine. We believe God can minister through all of His willing followers regardless of where they are.
The simple church involves a different mindset of what "traditional" church is. What we are talking about is simpler organizationally and the participation of every believer. You might say we have become dissatisfied with a Sunday building/hall centered and pastor centered event. But again, for those who call this type of event "church" then that is fine.

What We Do At The Gatherings

During our gatherings we usually start with a healthy pot luck meal and a time of fellowship and sharing life. During or after this we are open to whatever the Holy Spirit guides us to do. This could include discussion about life issues(but not promoting negativity), Bible study, music/singing, prayer, healings, prophecy, etc.  It is a very encouraging and fun time of the week.

We also sense God leading us to develop simple churches within geographical areas. In other words people from within four or five suburbs meeting together. This would naturally develop into a community mindset where people are helping, fellowshipping and supporting one another but within close proximity of each other.

Missions  We also desire to be involved in ministering and helping others in Perth, in Australia, and other countries and ethnic groups around the world. This is God's vision, the foundation of our vision.

Presently there are thousands of believers in Perth WA who no longer attend the "traditional church". Most would very much like to become part of a Christian fellowship operating in a more relaxed, relational, Christ centered and Holy Spirit led way. We promote this and invite them to join us.