Home church people gathered over the weekend to share and learn more about being church as micro rather than macro. Stuart Gramenz and the church that meets with him, arranged the gathering in beautiful surroundings at Alexandra Headland on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. We listened as long time practitioners shared stories of their journey. There was an atmosphere charged with enthusiasm as conversations mirrored the ‘one anothers’ of the New Testament Church.
As well as hearing many local stories several home church groups told of mission enterprises that often encouraged and challenged us to see the possibilities of home church. Because we aren’t building buildings and paying clergy salaries, money is being released for the Kingdom, and the possibilities are limitless. There are those building houses for an orphanage in Uganda, others encouraging similar work in other African countries, and others establishing Microbusinesses in India. I hope to write up some of these ventures in future OIKOS newsletters.
Stuart outlined the difficulty of people in home church, having been used to being passive in ‘big church’, remaining ‘babies’ rather than moving forward in maturity to become ‘sons’ and then ‘fathers and mothers’. He encouraged us to seek to develop the giftings and ministries around us, and allowing room for them to function for the Kingdom. Rather than drawing people and ministry towards us, we need to encourage and equip ministries so that greater works than ours will develop outwards from us. Of course Jesus showed us that is the way!
One of the main benefits of such gatherings is the connections people make across the nation. For those who are isolated, it is enlightening and encouraging learning of those on the same journey in other places.
There will be future such gatherings and OIKOS will make sure you will know about them.