The DNA of the House Church Is Missions: When Acts 1:8 Is Ignored, Acts 8:1 Awakens
Picture taken in Dadaab Refugee Camp.
Throughout Scripture, God’s heart is revealed: He longs for all nations to know Him. The command in Acts 1:8 was not a suggestion—it was the divine mandate given by Jesus Himself before His ascension:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
This verse reveals a blueprint: a Spirit-filled people sent to proclaim the good news to every people group—Ta Ethne. The Greek term "ethne" does not merely refer to modern-day countries but to ethnic groups, tribes, cultures, and languages. God's vision is global, detailed, and intimate.
But what happens when the Church refuses to go?
Acts 8:1 Awakens When Acts 1:8 Is Ignored
“On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.” — Acts 8:1
When the early believers became too comfortable in Jerusalem, persecution became the very tool God used to scatter them—ironically, to fulfill the very mission they had been slow to obey.
House churches exist for missions, not for comfort, not for seclusion, and certainly not for self-preservation. They are meant to be missional communities, small enough to move and multiply, yet powerful enough to transform entire cultures.
Why the Simplicity of the House Church?
The modern Church is returning to the simplicity of the early Church—not as a trend, but as a divine restoration. In homes, fields, and secret places, believers are gathering not just for fellowship but for mission. This simplicity removes the religious complexities and brings us back to the core—making disciples of all nations.
It’s about multiplication, not addition. Every believer becomes a disciple-maker, every home a sending base, and every gathering a platform for equipping and going.
The Unreached in Kenya: A Call to Action
Many don’t realize that Kenya itself has over 23 unreached people groups—communities that have little to no access to the gospel. One of the largest and most strategic of these is the Somali people.
Who Are the Somalis?
The Somali are an ethnic group originating from the Horn of Africa. In Kenya, large populations reside in the northeastern region, particularly in Garissa County and in refugee camps like Dadaab.
- Religion: The vast majority are Muslim 99%.
- Language: Somali and Arabic.
- Culture: They have a strong clan system and a deeply rooted Islamic identity.
- Challenges: Converts to Christianity often face severe persecution, rejection by family, and even threats to their lives.
Dadaab Refugee Camp
Dadaab is one of the world’s largest refugee complexes, located in northeastern Kenya. It houses hundreds of thousands of refugees, mostly Somali, fleeing conflict, famine, and instability from Somalia.
But beyond the statistics, Dadaab is a ripe harvest field. Amid hardship, God is moving. I've had the privilege of reaching out to the Somali people in Dadaab—sharing Christ in love, building relationships, and supporting underground fellowships that are shining the light of Jesus in the midst of deep darkness.
These new believers are courageous, often risking everything to follow Christ. Yet they remain hidden, scattered, and in need of discipleship and support.
Our Assignment: Make Disciples Who Make Disciples
Jesus didn’t call us to start programs or build empires—He called us to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). This is the mission of the house church. To go, to preach, to baptize, to teach, and to multiply.
We are the generation that can see this global commission completed. But it starts with obedience.
✋ Be Part of This Movement
Pray for the Unreached
Begin praying specifically for people groups who have no access to the gospel. Prayer is the power that breaks strongholds and opens doors.
“Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.” — Psalm 2:8
Partner Financially and Practically
Support missions that focus on reaching unreached people groups. Help equip disciple-makers, fund translations of Bibles, and sustain those on the frontlines.
Go to the Field
Not everyone is called to go overseas, but everyone is called to make disciples—starting in your neighborhood. And if God stirs your heart for places like Dadaab, the doors are open. The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
⚠️ Final Word
If the Church—especially the house church—refuses to obey Acts 1:8, Acts 8:1 will awaken us through shaking, scattering, or suffering. But it doesn't have to be that way. We can respond now. We can obey the Spirit's call and rise as a generation that finishes the task.
The DNA of the house church is missions. It’s in our spiritual blood. Let's not lose sight of the assignment.
Make disciples. Multiply. Go. The world awaits.
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Who could look at these pictures and not be moved? Moved both to pity and to sorrow that the Western churches seem to have such little interest in helping those beyond their own little worlds.
(One major USA denomination actually recalled and defunded their foreign missionaries.)
Look what humble dwellings these brothers and sisters occupy! And yet they are eager to open their homes for church with others...
The vast proportion of Muslims of which you mention - is their faith a genuine faith or is it mostly a nominal one?
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Among the Muslim communities I’ve engaged with—particularly the Somali people and other unreached groups in East Africa—the reality is a mixture of both genuine and nominal faith. Some individuals are deeply devoted, practicing Islam with conviction, while others follow the religion more out of cultural obligation than personal belief. However, even those who may not be devout still identify strongly as Muslims because Islam is deeply intertwined with their ethnic, cultural, and family identity.
In these communities, Islam is not just a religion—it is the defining marker of who they are. As a result, there is a strong collective resistance to anything seen as foreign, especially Christianity. They see the acceptance of the Gospel not just as a personal decision, but as an act of betrayal to their people. There is a deep-rooted pride in being Muslim, and any deviation—especially toward faith in Jesus—is viewed as a disgrace.
For someone to embrace Christ in such a context often means becoming an outcast, disowned by their family, and cut off from their community. In many cases, the greatest persecution doesn’t come from the government or outsiders—but from one's own family. The pain runs deep, because the rejection comes from those who once loved you most. Some new believers are seen as such a shame to the family that, tragically, it is even considered an honor to kill them.
If you take time to listen to the stories of the few courageous believers who have chosen to follow Christ from these communities, you will be moved to tears. The suffering they endure—the isolation, threats, and emotional trauma—is unlike anything most of us can imagine. And yet, their faith is genuine, their love for Jesus is unshakable, and their lives are powerful testimonies of the Gospel’s transforming grace.
This is why discipleship and missions in these regions must be rooted in deep relationships, long-term commitment, and radical love. The cost of following Christ is so high that only through the work of the Holy Spirit and the witness of a loving, faithful Christian community can hearts be opened to the truth.