July 27, 2022
Written by Tim Vink
“30,000-50,000 New North Indian House Churches.”
You see that headline? This is the Lord Jesus at work in the global church at the speed of trust, the speed of love, the speed of light. This disciple-making movement in India since 2012 has removed the barriers of high cost, high complexity and high control. They took off the weights and brakes and the gospel took off!
“By God’s grace alone,” Nicole says, “we think that roughly 100,000 families have become disciples of Jesus. We stand amazed.” In 2020 alone, they estimate that 30,000 – 50,000 new house churches were birthed. How do we know these were churches?
In a recent newsletter, Ethan and Nicole shared: “Every day in these new churches we see:
- Husbands stop beating their wives and begin to spend their income on family needs instead of alcohol
- Wives and daughters are accepted and honored as equal
- Families freely share with their neighbors during times of need
- Individuals practically and wholeheartedly love former enemies — regardless of caste, religion, or political leaning
- House churches fund literacy projects and micro-enterprise efforts in their communities
- Miraculous healings and deliverances
To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! (Ephs 3:21). ” (For reference, see the article Beyond in the May 22, 2021 newsletter.)
As churches in America and beyond embrace Christ as our truly innovative leader of his churches, here are 12 contrasting values that that describe some shifts of thinking and practice we want to see more:
- From rules/regulations to more relationship with the living Christ (a Person-centered movement instead of relying on great principles to guide us, or programs or policies.)
- From maintenance to increasing mission
- From institution to movement
- From large infrequent assemblies to nimble engagement of boards
- From controlling to empowering (more adult to adult relationship than adult to small child)
- From shrinking to expanding
- From addition to multiplication as a mindset/operating system
- From democracy to theocracy
- From prescriptive to descriptive
- 10.From self-preserving to self-giving
- 11.From legal/legislative/judicial to relational and spiritual
- 12.From monitoring to equipping
