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Simple Church—A Promising Start

Posted on Mar 23, 2010

A new missions approach takes root in West Auckland

A few weeks into its start, Simple Church in West Auckland has proved to be a rewarding experience for its participants and its leaders.

At last report, 12 attended, with signs of more on the way. Five of these attendees are lay leaders from the Adventist community; the rest are people from the secular community. Some guests, by their own testimony, are atheists.

Co-leaders Robert and Joy Fish meet at the home of Graham, Ailsa and Elise Ure at 10 am on Sabbaths for prayer. Guests arrive at 10:30, and stay until 2 or 2:30 pm, following a fellowship meal. Leaders stay on for another hour to evaluate and to plan.

The method of Jesus

The focus is on meeting people where they are, and letting the Spirit set the agenda. Rather than coming in with a set programme, leaders respond to the actual presenting needs and interests of participants.

Leaders have adopted the method of Jesus as expressed in Ministry of Healing, p143: "The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then he bade them, ‘Follow me.'"

The general theme is principles of life-how to face life with wisdom and courage. Scripture is integrated naturally into the discussion. Prayer is not in the forefront right now-but a lot of it is taking place in the background. Leaders ask if they can pray for guests during the week, and a meaningful prayer is offered before the fellowship meal.

Guests respond

Guests say how impressed they are that the leaders have been willing to leave their long-standing church family to begin this venture. "We know how much your church attendance meant to you."

Guests are already starting to invite their own guests! And one visiting couple has said their home is available for Simple Church if needed.

A frontier mission

Adventist Simple Church is a house church movement with a carefully defined character, purpose and method. It has been compared to Adventist Frontier Missions-but it's a mission targeted to people in Western, secular society, rather than to foreign lands.

Simple Church is lay-led; it meets solely in homes; and it's designed to multiply into additional Simple Church units, rather than growing into a "regular" church or feeding into an established church.

This effort is sponsored by the North NZ Conference, and receives guidance and resources from Adventist Simple Church in the USA, which is led by Milton Adams.
If you would like more information, check out simplechurch.org.nz and simplechurchathome.com. You may also contact Graham Ure, ph. 09 818 0090; or send an email: graham@simplechurch.org.nz.

Because of its distinctive character and a requirement for training, Simple Church is not encouraging casual visits from the Adventist community. However, prayers from church members everywhere are coveted! Please intercede for this missionary venture.

By Ed Gallagher, Sr Pastor for Healthy Adventist Churches, NNZC
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