House Church Talk - public meetings

[NigelTree at aol.com]

Jim wrote: I think I might enjoy writing more about these "potentials"  
concerning HC
visibility IF we can get some flow in Spirit ...    Are there others that
might join in?




Jim, you have tempted me out of the closet. No, not that one!!
 
Our home church in Prudhoe is small in numbers but that has not stopped us  
getting involved publicly. We believe that there is only one church in this  
town, although that church is made up of a number of fellowships. (Whisper  it 
quietly, including IC ones). We have, therefore, joined "Churches Together in  
Prudhoe" and I meet with the "ministers" from the local churches for lunch 
every  couple of months. At first, there was a certain amount of sarcasm towards 
home  church, but over time that has disappeared and a respect has developed. 
So much  so, that I have been asked to preach at the service for Christian 
unity in the  Anglican church next January!
 
We have also been at the forefront in starting a project 2 years ago to  
foster Christian work and ministry amongst the teenagers. Every church had a few  
teenagers, but most of them felt isolated. After a lot of work we now have 27  
churches working together and are aiming for 50. We have something like 10  
different denominations working together, and our home church actually joined  
with the local Baptist church to put on a 10 week Introduction to Christianity 
 course for about 15 unsaved teenageers. We have a Christian Concert this 
Sunday  at which we are hoping to see between 200 and 300 teenagers, both 
Christian and  non-Christian. Lots more events are lined up and we are now employing 
a  part-time Youth Worker to co-ordinate activities.
 
These things are exciting and necessary but we still remember that our  
Christian walk is all about "being" rather than "doing". At the end of the road  it 
will all be about relationship. We know that unless we are totally in love  
with Him, we cannot love anyone else and our righteousness is like "filthy  
rags". 
 
I just want to say that although I am largely a "sleeping partner", I have  
been on this list for several years now and value deeply the contributions of 
my  brothers and sisters in Christ. 
 
Be quick to learn, and slow to censure.
 
Your brother in Christ,
 
Nigel Tree
Prudhoe Home Church, Northumberland, UK