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About OIKOS
Mission Statement
OIKOS Australia Inc. is 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
Our Vision
To network and encourage the new ways of 'being church' that God is bringing about in Australia today.
Return To Top Of Page >>Philosophy
OIKOS is called to glorify Jesus Christ, and to be a servant ministry to the church in our day.We believe that God is calling individual Christians
- to realise His life within them,
- and to come together under His Lordship
- to be the Church where He has planted them,
- to reach out as a Kingdom people so that the world will truly know that Jesus lives.
OIKOS is the Greek word used in the Bible for 'household'. In Romans 16:5 for example, reference is made to the church that meets in a home.
OIKOS is a friendship ministry to new ways of church.
It's not the venue that is descriptive, but rather the way of 'being church'. Church sometimes meets in loungerooms, offices, factories, aged facilities, prisons and even car parks.
OIKOS is encouraging of ways of church that are non hierarchical and grassroots, and of gatherings in small groups to enable relationships to develop and go deep.
There is a fresh move of the Holy Spirit changing the way of being 'church' back to ways that the first Christians would have recognised. This is the movement we seek to follow and serve.
OIKOS is not a 'covering' for Home Churches. We believe Jesus Christ is the 'covering' for His church and no other is needed. OIKOS does not run Home Churches and has no authority over any Home Church or any other gathering of Christians.
OIKOS sometimes supports and encourages the beginnings of Home Churches but then moves aside for the group to develop in the way God would have. We continue as a friend if the group so wishes.
Return To Top Of Page >>The OIKOS TeamThe OIKOS Team (National)
Director - Bessie Pereira
My background was in the Anglican ministry having worked in several Melbourne parishes. In 1989 God called me to be encouraging of new ways of church that are relational and to work with Home Churches in particular. OIKOS started soon after as a newsletter to Home Churches but has developed as a resource and means of contact for new ways of church. Through OIKOS, relationships have grown across the nation with Home Churches and with many Christians seeking to be church in ways that the earliest Christians would recognise.
I am married and have three adult children and one grandson and another granchild due.
Peter Fowler
We are both West Aussies although we have spent a considerable amount of time on the East Coast. I grew up in Wongan Hills, the son of a local farmer, and Cheryl in Mandurah. We have two adult Children.
In mid 1995 I was fighting for my life having contracted a very virulent form of malaria. God gave me a dream of a new church and told me I would live to see this happen. Since that time, Cheryl, my wife and I have been on a very exciting journey and now believe that the house church movement is where God wants us to be.
I currently work as a high school chaplain. Most of my ministry has been with youth work including high school teaching.
I also run a house church for men called "Ourcell" and it is our intention to network this into a number of strategically placed groups around Perth. Our focus is on understanding and practicing the spirituality which Jesus taught.
Des Stewart
Des Stewart, married to Meredith with 3 grown up sons. 1 married with 1 son, the other two unmarried. I live in Quirindi a small country town of 3000 people about 65 km south of Tamworth. I work as a mortgage broker helping people obtain home /investment loans anywhere in Australia.
I belong to the Quirindi Christian Fellowship, a house church of approx 10 people. We meet each Sunday in the homes of our members. Our background is mainline church but formed our home group about 10 years ago. We have a strong emphasis on teaching the word and ministering to the needs of our group and others. We also have a major emphasis in missionary support. We help support 2 pastors in India and an outreach in the former countries of the Soviet Union.
We have good relationships with the local Churchs/Christians in Quirindi and join in most of the local combined events.
We enjoy the freedom of house church, and the sharing of our lives together. Most of our members are involved in other ministries within the community, eg Emmaus, Kairos Prison ministries.
Susan Snare
I am a wife to Ian, and mother to four sons. I work part-time as an RN in Aged Care. My main interests are sewing ( especially quilting), crafts, gardening and reading. Ian works as a Counsellor for Carers and is in Workplace Support.
I enjoy living near the sea at Hawley Beach in N. Tasmania . Here we are part of a Home Church which encourages relationships, creativity and celebration. We hope that others will know that we are Christians by our love.
Bruce Kerr
After years of Pastoring in different place we have settled in Nambour which is on the Sunshine Coast. Where we meet with many others who are looking for relationships not just meetings. The Lord seems to bring people into our lives that need encouraging for a time and then they become encouragers of others, which is very fulfilling.
We meet at a house church at Eumundi at the home of Neville and Andrea Maclean every second week where we worship and share what the Lord is doing and saying to us. On the other week we have open house at our place in Nambour where we have a cup of tea and just fellowship with whoever comes. We have some precious times together and are seeing a growth in peoples spirits over all. Neville and Andrea bring such a stability to the group so every one feels safe.
Treasurer - Ed Bishop
I grew up in a traditional church but found that it was not meeting the mark especially as my wife and I had young children. We joined the group we are with now because of the emphase on the priesthood of all believers, the importance of the Communion and the centrality of Jesus Christ as Lord.
Secretary - Joan Grinlaw
I am a widow with two daughters and three grandchildren. I occasionally travel with Bessie on OIKOS trips and assist with seminars. I am her secretary and work in the OIKOS office every Thursday. I enjoy Family History and I am currently working on a Diploma course to further my skills.
Graeme Cooksley
Friends Of OIKOS
OIKOS Illustrator - Graham Preston
My wife, Liz, and I and our seven children live in Brisbane where we have been heavily involved in pro-life activity of various forms for many years. We were part of a home church for quite a while but for various reasons we are presently attending a traditional church but still hope to rejoin a home church again. I'm very glad to be able to make some contribution to OIKOS as an amateur illustrator.