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How The Vision Started
Hi. I'm Al married to Debbie, formerly from Canada, having ministered in Asia for 10 years and now living in 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, or the House Church or Simple Church as it is called now, along with the traditional and formal churches have grown to over an estimated 30,000 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 guidance, order or vision. Probably the one House Church that sat right with us 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. The gathering time, which would last between two to four hours, was guided by a facilitator. 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 then left Calgary in 2004 and returned to Perth Australia.
Upon returning to Perth Australia it was difficult for us to find a House Church or Simple Church that we feel fit the vision I believe God had given us. Although we attend our children's church on a few occasions, I had found myself, like many others, on a bit of a lonely road with respect to fellowship. But my commitment and closeness to God has definitely increased. This has been wonderful.
So I have decided to do what I feel God had been saying to me for a while. And that is to begin communities of Simple House Churches like we had in Calgary Alberta Canada and which were similar to the early New Testament churches. The term, "Simple Church" adequately fits the description of what we want to do because the things of God and Jesus Christ should never be complicated.
The Simple Church
There certainly is a growing interest and involvement in Simple Church or House Church. I should add here that there are also other names such as; Organic 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, need 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 a gathering of Jesus Christ-filled friendships. It grows 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.
Our Vision
Our vision for simple church or house church is to grow together in community and in Jesus Christ and also to begin new home based fellowships and engage believers and those who aren't believers in Christ. Our hope is to develope a commitment to community, in Christ like love, being guided by the Spirit as we walk with Him.
We also sense God leading us to develop simple churches within geographical areas. In other words people from within five or six 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.
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 or guide a simple church?". We would describe Leadership as inspirational servanthood, like an Elder. When there is true Christian living, it is not hard to find good facilitators and guides, 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.
There are 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. Being affiliated with Oikos Australia and other house church people within Perth we can have and give support to one another. We endevour not to focus on any one teaching or belief.
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 and pastor centered fellowship. But again, for those who call this type of fellowship "church" then that is fine, we are not against it..
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.
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