Myth: Cell Church coaching models bring life and growth
Truth: Coaching models have no life; they only organize the coaching that is already taking place.
The largest cell churches in the world have incredible coaching models. That is, they’ve learned how to provide coaching/supervision for each cell leader. Each cell leader feels vitally cared for and supported. I’ve written a number of books on these coaching models: Passion and Persistence, Groups of Twelve, and From Twelve to Three. The problem is not with the model.

The problem occurs when a pastor thinks that having a coaching organization will produce coaching results. It doesn’t. The act of actually coaching cell leaders brings the results. The coaching model simply organizes the coaching that is already happening–it doesn’t force it to happen.

Some of the mega church coaching models (G12, 5X5) are found in places like Korea, San Salvador, Sinapore, and Africa. The tendency is to go there and copy the coaching model, hoping for similar results. Yet, in the western world, where growth isn’t happening as rapidly, the coaching model isn’t nearly as important as the coaching process itself.

Comments?

p.s.: I’m here in southern Ireland! My entire family is with me. Ireland is beautiful and the people are very friendly. But the roads are so narrow! We’re taking a week vacation. I spoke at a cell conference last week in northern Ireland, along with Laurence Singlehurst from the UK. The conference was held at Christian Fellowship Church, a cell church in which Robin Mark (”Revival in Belfast” CD) leads worship.

Joel

John is a missionary who has planted a thriving cell-based church in Kazakhstan. The church has grown to over 1,000 (most former Muslims) and is starting other churches in their country.

I asked John what he would say to one of his pastors whose network of cells was not growing. John replied that the first thing he would explore is the pastor’s faith for his network.

As I thought about this, I realized if that mishandled, the focus on faith could be damaging to a pastor; that is, it would be false and damaging to imply that if your network isn’t growing it must invariably mean you have a defective faith. That can lead to condemnation and shame.

On the other hand, I took John to mean that it is unlikely our ministries will grow if we don’t believe they can and that God desires it. This kind of faith is related to vision: can you inwardly “see” your cell or your network growing and multiplying? Do you have the conviction that not only does God want this, but that God wants to use YOU to lead it? How would your leaders answer this question? How can you help fan that faith?

• Myth: It’s desireable to grow to mega church status
• Truth: It’s better to plant cell churches at a smaller size

God has called some to be apostles (Ephesians 4, 1 Corinthians 12). Those in the cell church movement who have apostolic leadership gifts can grow their churches to mega-church status.

Yet the vast majority of pastors are not apostles. And the truth is that planting smaller churches is far more healthy than trying to grow one huge mega-church. Christian Schwarz and Natural Church Development research have made it crystal clear that church plants do a much better job of actually winning souls, baptizing members, and ministering to particular needs than the mega churches—they are1600 times more effective! (Natural Church Development, Carol Stream, IL: ChurchSmart Resources, 1996, pp. 46-48).

I do believe that some cell churches will grow to mega proportion and that’s great, but this isn’t the norm or the goal. Many cell churches stay very simple, growing to 50, 75, or 100 and then planting new cell churches.

Comments?

Joel

I’m writing this post from the beautiful country of Uganda. I’m here with six fellow church members including my daughter who is a high school senior. We are leading a cell church seminar and Encounter retreat for a network of churches led by Morris and Aida Ogenga. Since 1993, God has used this delightful couple to begin 47 churches in Uganda and Kenya. They will be planting an additional eight churches in 2007. Indeed, Morris and Aida are leading a church planting movement. My church family partners with this network of churches in planting one church every year.

Morris and Aida are transitioning all their churches to cell churches. Today, I asked Morris, “Why are you pursuing such a transition?” He stated, “We are transitioning to the cell church model for the following three reasons: 1. We want to provide our members an opportunity to serve placing them on the front lines of ministry, 2. Our pastors want to empower people for the work of ministry, 3. I believe the cell church model is the best way to reach and equip the harvest.”

Although this network of churches is just now transitioning to the cell model, it was amazing to me to discover that people are already receiving Christ during cell gatherings. I met a woman today who received Christ at a cell gathering. The entire church family received her during Sunday’s Celebration service.

May I encourage you to take your cell members on mission? Serving together at your city’s food bank or homeless shelter, sprucing up a local school campus, or traveling overseas and participating in cross-cultural ministry endeavors allows your cell members to see outside of themselves. In other words, take your cell on wheels and participate in equipping and expanding the kingdom of God. This can be accomplished in your city, your country, and world. This should not be an annual experience for your cell, but go on mission on a monthly basis.

Let me close with three thoughts which you may choose to adopt. First, have each cell in your church partner with another local or international ministry that needs support, assistance, and/or equipping. Second, as you gather for your cell time– pray each week for this ministry. Finally, have your cell members visit this ministry on a consistent basis. Be ready for God to bring life to your cell! Rest assured you will receive much more than you give away!

Please comment,

Rob

Myth: Cell churches are megachurches
Truth: Relatively few cell churches will reach mega church status

Some people think that house churches are simple and grass-root oriented, but cell churches are huge, complicated mega-structures. Admittedly, I’ve added to this confusion by writing books on the largest cell churches in the world. Yet, the impetus of my orginal study on the largest cell churches in the world was to fulfill my Ph.D requirements for Fuller Theological Seminary. The doctoral committee directed me to study specific, prominent churches to discover principles common in all of them. My book, Reap the Harvest, details those principles.

The fact is that the average size church in North America is 72 people. My observation is that most cell churches in the western world are small. I’ve also observed, however, that these smaller churches are seeing life transformation happen as the cells minister to both believers and unbelivers on a personal level.

It’s easy for pastors of smaller cell churches to feel unsuccessful in comparison with the larger mega cell churches. Yet, Jesus measures succcess in terms of lives changed through your ministry. If your church is seeing life transformation, you need to rejoice that Christ’s mission is being acomplished through you, whatever the size of your church.

Comments?

Joel

Myth: cells don’t work in North America and other western cultures (e.g., Europe, Australia)
Truth: Very few strategies work in North America and the western culture.Yet, cell church works better than any other strategy for long term health and growth .I’ve heard this argument over and over from a wide variety of sources. This myth states that while cell church works great in Africa, Asia, and South America, the cell strategy doesn’t work in the western world. .

The fact is that very few strategies truly WORK in the western world. Statiticians tell us that church attendance has dwindled in North American from a high of 65% after World War II to the current 18%. Yet, those same statistics tell us that the cell church strategy is not only the healthiest strategy but also allows churches to grow the fastest–even in the western world. In my book Cell Church Solutions: Transforming the Church in North America, I go into detail about growing cell churches throughout North America.

Granted, planting a cell church in North America or transitioning an existing traditional church is very difficult in the western world. The spiritual receptivity level is much lower in the west than in places like Africa, Asia, and South America. Wealth and affluence has caused many to live secular, isolated lives, rather than focusing on spiritual priorities. The fact is that Europe and North American are now mission fields, rather than the source of missionary zeal.

Comments?

Joel

Last week I shared how important it is for group leaders to understand that they minister with authority delegated from the senior pastoral leadership. This week I want to share the other half: receiving authority from God.

This might be obvious for some, but group leaders who minister effectively know that it is God who has called and empowered them to minister. Receiving authority from the church leadership is not enough – they need to realize that it is Jesus Himself who empowers them.

Just as the early disciples were sent out in Jesus’ name, so are we! When leaders are over the hospital bed of a member, they can pray in the power and authority of Jesus’ name. When they share their faith, it is through the leading and power of Jesus. When they receive vision for their group, it is from the Lord.

When new cell leaders begin their groups, it can be an empowering experience for them to be brought forward and commissioned. The pastors can lay hands on them and pray, perhaps even giving them a symbol of their leadership role. It is also a great time for the pastors to verbally communicate to the whole congregation their confidence in the Lord’s moving in their lives. Comments?

Steve

Myth: Any pastor can lead a cell church
Truth: Cell church leadership demands administration and attention to detail.

I’ve reflected on this for a long time. I’ve worked with pastors who just didn’t make it in cell ministry. And then I’ve had the joy of witnessing pastors who were perfectly cut out for cell church life.

Often the difference between those who successfully make it and those who fall by the way side is attention to details. Some pastors love the thrill of the pulpit and especially the attention of numerous people hearing them each Sunday. They live for the Sunday morning service. Often these same pastors have zero administration skillls. They take every counseling appointment that walks through the church. They feel the need to be at every social gathering.

The fact is that the senior leader in the cell church must delegate to others. Cell ministry, in fact, is all about empowering the lay people to do the work of the ministry. Those who are leading cells must be trained, coached, and kept under quality control through some kind of statistical follow-up. The senior pastor and his team must administrate those who are doing the work of the ministry.

The good news is that pastors who don’t naturally pay attention to detail can find those who are more administratively oriented. But I’ve found that some pastors are so disorganized that they don’t organize themselves to the point of finding help!

What are your thoughts on this topic?

Joel

Why has “it” worked?This question was posed to me by a leading, innovative nationwide ministry consultant. She was asking, “Why has your church worked?” After I explained that we were very much a “work” in progress—imperfect in so many ways—I answered her question as I always do. My answer: “Prayer.”

John Wesley once said, “God will do nothing on earth except in answer to believing prayer.”Think of Christ’s powerful modeling of prayer while here on earth. Let me paint a picture for you.

You see Christ hugging the blood stained rock nestled among the gnarly roots of the olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane. His prayer shawl is covering his head and his dark hair splashes onto his shoulders. He is praying. You are listening in on his prayers. As you inch toward Christ, you hear your name! The Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, the Creator, the Lamb of God is praying for you. You are humbled, shocked and filled with awe and gratitude. Christ is praying for you!

Now, that would be an incredible experience, would it not? You bet. Suffice to say, He is praying for youB as your chief intercessor and great advocate even now.

Is the church today guilty of substituting stylistic techniques, articulate messages and technological razzle-dazzle for the eternal power of intercession?

One poignant message of Christ’s prayer for you in the garden is this: It is impossible to lose your footing while on your knees. Jesus is our example. His ministry can be described as moving from one house of prayer to the next and in between he worked miracles.

When I started this “work” in progress, I knew I needed to find someone who was passionate about prayer. Cecilia Belvin came to my mind. I asked her to be our Pastor of Prayer. I have watched God use her in an incredible way over the years. She has developed a discreet, confidential, and just plain powerful team of prayer warriors. Prayer covers the church family. Prayer flows freely through the cells. Prayer is the beginning point in launching cells and every endeavor.

Cecilia’s book, In the Name of Jesus, Amen, articulates how to mesh prayer and the cell church. You can obtain a copy of this resource at www.cypresscreekchurch.com or buy it right here on this site as part of a four-book deal.  I would encourage you to do so!

If you want to experience life transformation in Celebration and cells, then begin with prayer and intercession.

Please Comment,

Rob

For the month of March, I’d like to focus on various myths that I’ve seen in the cell movement. Let’s look at the myth of pastoral leadership.

Myth: All a pastor has to do is believe in the cell vision and start the model
Truth: A pastor needs to concentrate to make cell ministry work

I’ve noticed a myth out there that says all a pastor has to do is believe in the cell vision and start it. Some pastors think that since the world’s largest churches are cell churches, all a pastor has to do is believe in the cell vision, pick a great cell church model and PRESTO. Instant cell church.

Yet, the truth is that success in cell church ministry requires concentration. It requires saying NO to the other great programs and competing distractions. I’ve found that some pastors don’t have the ability to concentrate. I suppose they get bored quickly and never give the cell church vision the attention it needs and deseves. Some pastors can talk about how much they LOVE the cell church vision. The problem is that they love everything else as well and quickly get mired down with a loads of competing visions. Making cell church work takes a dogged concentration and willingness to stick with it over the long haul. And this means learning from failures. The pastors that make it are willing to pick themselves off the ground, dust themselves off, and press on until it works. The pastors who fall by the wayside are often those who fail to concentrate. Comments?

Joel