Over the past number of years especially, there has been a growing movement of house churches around the world which God seems to be initiating in order to help to not only reach with the Gospel many of the missed segments of society, but also to more effectively disciple/nurture believers and encourage the development of spiritual growth/godly character by providing the loving accountability we all need through the kind of close fellowship that is available in house fellowships.

House churches can be catalysts to help us to mature spiritually and to be what God has called us to be as we live out our part in the Great Commission. They can also solve many of the financial struggles of more traditional models of churches and of seeing the Great Commission financed by freeing up funds which would not normally be available. They can help to raise up, train and multiply many servant leaders (resulting in much less burn-out of leaders).

House churches can also provide a built-in protection system in case of persecution, can provide the sense of family and belonging that we all long for (Generation X especially seems to cry out for this dimension) and address the daily authentic reality of living the Christian life in the world today. Quality of believers and Quantity of believers can be multiplied and can mushroom because when the groups grow to a certain number (around 10), they multiply by beginning additional groups, which then also multiply. House churches can be very effective lights in the dark neighborhoods in which they exist/function, and often become houses of prayer for the nations, with not only a growing passion to reach the lost in their communities but around the world.

The very nature of house churches enables them to be an excellent incubator, nursery, Bible school, hands on training site, etc. for new believers all the way to seasoned/mature believers. It is also poised to be an excellent missionary sending support network. House churches can provide an excellent atmosphere to develop and utilize the spiritual gifts.

House churches are more flat in structure and less administrative, thus cutting out a lot of the bureaucracy and politics that are often involved in most more traditional models, so they are freed up to move and act quickly as God leads. The low administration also keeps down the costs which can be then be directed towards the poor and reaching the lost. The 5-fold ministry of pastor, teacher, apostle, prophet and evangelist can also be utilized throughout the networks to bring greater effectiveness to these churches, and to multiply new pastors, teachers, apostles, prophets and evangelists to also train and multiply others with these giftings.

Although house churches also have imperfections because people are still people, the nature of house churches is a model extremely conducive to Christ's command to DISCIPLE THE NATIONS, especially as house churches network with other house churches in their community and throughout their country, and indeed with other house church networks throughout the world. Many long for the reality of a church experience similar to that of Acts, and I believe that God has heard the cry of many of our hearts and is moving us increasingly into these directions.

A lot of people think your point true Ross. They look the same from those who are looking in from the outside of these two things (cells and/or house churches). Yet, there are few similarities beyond the obvious but simple external of getting together in a home.

Cell churches belong to a lrger "church" and as such are conrolled and directed by another group outside themselves. Home churches have no structural linkage to others (although many have a heart linkage). This makes for very different dynamics and opportunities for ministry, growth, action, and function. In a cell, you need permission to do these things. In a house church, you are expected to do whatever God leads you to do. Cell churches have a long chain of hierarchy one can climb, house churches have no hierarchy to climb (most have no formal leadership at all by design). Cell churches are often designed to be temporary, and to have limited purpose- ie, they are NOT the "real" church, but only a program of a "real" church.

This is very abbreviated, if you want to explore the differences further, please just continue the dialogue.