by Mario Vega

On the night of July 3rd one of the buses that was bringing back home several families of our church was dragged by an overflowed river. The tragedy happened a few minutes after 9 pm.

About three hours later I was at the place where the bus had disappeared swallowed by the overflowed river channel. Around 40 buses had taken people to the churches’ celebration service that night. How could we know who were the probable victims riding that bus?

Each of the buses that carry people to the church are hired by sectors of 1 to 5 cells each. The bus of this tragedy had been hired by two sectors headed by a supervisor each. One of the supervisors was inside the bus and the other one was a little further back driving his own car.

Right after the incident the pastor of that area began to make a list of missing persons based on the information that is handled through the cell leaders. At about 2 a.m. there was already a preliminary list of 23 missing people. As the supervisors continued to contact the rest of the leaders the list continued to grow.

When it was nearly dawn the number of missing persons had risen to 31. We had their names and ages. The information was collected through the cell structure.

In the early hours of the next day, the Red Cross contacted me to ask if we had a missing persons list. I handed to them the full list of 31 people with their names and ages. They were surprised by the accuracy of our information and received it with disbelief. Unfortunately, the days that followed only served to confirm that our information was correct. Our 31 brethren died in the tragedy.

If it wasn’t for the cell structure it would had taken a lot of time to identify the victims from among the thousands that went to church that night in the same type of transportation. The closeness and intimacy that small meetings in houses allow is useful even in the middle of a tragedy.
Mario

Translation in Spanish:
Líderes celulares en medio de la tragedia.

La noche del pasado 3 de julio uno de los autobuses que llevaba de regreso a casa a varias familias de nuestra iglesia fue arrastrado por un río desbordado. La tragedia sucedió unos minutos después de las 9 de la noche.

Unas tres horas después me encontraba en el lugar donde el bus había desaparecido tragado por el cauce desbordado del río. Esa noche alrededor de 40 autobuses habían llevado personas a la celebración en la iglesia. ¿Cómo saber quiénes eran las probables víctimas que iban en aquel autobús?

Cada uno de los autobuses que llevan a las personas a la iglesia son contratados por sectores de 1 a 5 células cada uno. El bus de la tragedia había sido contratado por dos sectores a cargo de un supervisor cada uno. Uno de los supervisores se encontraba dentro del transporte y el otro viajaba un poco más atrás en su vehículo particular.

Al darse el incidente el pastor de esa zona comenzó a levantar una lista de los desaparecidos sobre la base de la información que manejan a través de los líderes de células. A eso de las 2 de la madrugada se tenía ya elaborada una lista preliminar de 23 personas desaparecidas. En la medida que los supervisores continuaban contactando a los demás líderes la lista continuaba extendiéndose.

Ya casi amaneciendo el número de personas desaparecidas había subido a 31. Teníamos sus nombres y edades. La información se había recolectado por medio de la estructura de células.

En las primeras horas del nuevo día, la Cruz Roja me contactó para preguntarme si teníamos un listado de desaparecidos. Les entregué el listado completo de 31 personas con sus nombres y edades. Ellos se sorprendieron de la exactitud de nuestra información y la recibieron con incredulidad. Lastimosamente, los días que siguieron solamente sirvieron para confirmar que nuestra información era correcta. Nuestros 31 hermanos fallecieron en la tragedia.

Si no fuese por la estructura celular hubiese tomado mucho tiempo identificar a las víctimas de entre los millares que esa noche fueron a la iglesia en el mismo tipo de transporte. La cercanía e intimidad que permiten las pequeñas reuniones en casas es útil hasta en medio de la tragedia.

Jeff Tunnell here, pinch hitting for Steve Cordle.I just cleaned my glasses! Once again I am surprised by how much accumulation can occur without my really noticing. I just plow ahead thinking I am seeing clearly when all the while my sight is being slightly blurred and clouded, almost imperceptibly.

Then I looked up at the bookshelf above my little desk and looking back at me was a hotel brochure for The Hampton Inn & Suites, Myrtle Beach – Ocean Front, in South Carolina. This is where the “Basic Principles of Cell Ministry” and “A Day with Joel Comiskey and Mario Vega” events will be held in February, 2009. (If you receive this blog to your email inbox without going through the JCG website, please visit the home page for additional information on these events).

Putting these two paragraphs together: As Cell church pastors and leaders we always have much to do that is both daily, and demanding. The dust of life accumulates on our original vision of multiplying leaders and birthing new cells in order to reach our communities for Jesus Christ. Occasionally, we need to “clean the lens of life” and do something to rekindle our passion and vision.

May I suggest you join me in attending one of the events provided by Joel Comiskey Group next February? I am keeping the hotel brochure right where it is, and keeping my glasses clean enough to see it – thereby retaining my focus on the goal of growth, both corporately and personally. Myrtle Beach is a very nice place to be in February!!

by Rob Campbell

www.cypresscreekchurch.com 

Joel’s post yesterday reflected upon recovery cells.  What an awesome mix, eh?  People who desire to be whole and…cell life.  When we participate with the Spirit of God in the context of community hope is instilled into our hearts.

One day Jesus encountered a demoniac.  Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”  He replied, “Legion.”  Who gave him that name?  Certainly, it wasn’t his parents.  It probably was the community folks who lived by the sea.  He resided in a graveyard.  This was a man of great rejection and he was the subject of “lock down” and “throw away the key.”  As time faded, he began to reject himself by mutilating his own body.

Why did Jesus ask him, “What is your name?”  Nobody knows for sure, but let me share one thought.  Wholeness only comes to us when we face our fragmented lives.  Could it be that Jesus wanted the demoniac to say his name as a starting place for his pathway to wholeness and healing?  “I am Legion….[Hundreds and hundreds of evil spirits indwell me]…Yes, this is who I am.”

Notice as well that Jesus did not avoid or ignore him.  He didn’t send one of his disciples to “take care” of Legion.  By asking his name, Jesus is extending himself to Legion.  It is a form of acceptance.  It wasn’t what Legion usually encountered.  He was used to rejection, not acceptance.

Do you see the connection?  Legion’s name clearly identified what he needed from Jesus.  It’s not as cut and dry in this life, is it?  Our name does not generally reveal what we need from Jesus.  Yet, we are fragmented in need of a touch from Jesus.  We all need recovery in the context of community– your cell members.

May your cell have the courage to face our fragmented lives and cooperate with God’s Spirit pursuing a new level of wholeness.

On a related note:  Pastor Bobby Arnold leads Cypress Creek Church’s network of recovery cells.  Check this ministry out at:  www.cypresscreekchurch/wimberley/cr/index.shtml

Comments?

Celyce and I had the privilege of attending Jeff and Peggy Tunnell’s 30th anniversary one week ago. While there, we talked with Mike Erickson, the associate pastor at Big Bear Christian Center. Mike told me what was happening in his network of cell groups, and my heart lept with joy for the many people getting saved and baptized. I asked him to write his testimony down to share with you on this blog. Here goes.

Mike Erickson writes:

April 9th of this year we were having our normal cell in the home of Keith and Patty White. This cell is a recovery cell, a cell in the truest sense yet the attraction is the group of people coming out of drugs and alcohol. This particular night there were seven in the cell and quickly we found out that five of the seven were not saved or didn’t know for sure about their salvation. Keith said, “The next week we are going to show The Passion of the Christ and everyone can get saved.” So the next week we did, with about 8 or 9 in attendance and about four or five were saved in a time of prayer after the movie.

One couple, Harry and Tracy, were saved that night. Harry had written his testimony for my book Recovery Cells: Small Groups for People in Recovery but at the time of the book’s release, Harry had relapsed and moved away from Big Bear. In March of this year, he told Tracy, “I am taking you to Big Bear, we are going to the cell group, find God, get baptized and get married.” They were saved at the viewing of the Passion, and baptized with two others, two weeks later. They entered marriage counseling and were married June 7th. About 75 people from the recovery community were at the wedding. . Harry and Tracy are now growing in Jesus and getting for our Encounter Weekend in August.

The week following the viewing of the Passion, we taught on water baptism and the week after that four were baptized. The excitement of that baptism has resulted in four more baptisms this year, including one scheduled for next week.

The follow-up of these people is so important. Right now we are helping most of them in the training track and have organized an Encounter Weekend in the home of Keith and Patty. The Encounter will be limited to 12 people, designed for an intimate encounter with God. After that the goal is to train some of them to be leaders and multiply new cells before the end of the year.
__

God is on the move!!

Comments?

Joel Comiskey

P.S.: Dr. Mike Erickson can be reached at: pastormikeerickson@hotmail.com

by Mario Vega

On July 3rd a bus that was returning from church with our brethren, after the celebration service, was confronted by the overflow of the Acelhuate River that runs through the entire city of San Salvador. The overflow occurred amid a violent storm.

After 15 minutes caught in a current that grew stronger and stronger, the bus started to be dragged until it was thrown to the ravine of the river where the force of water smashed it into pieces.

31 members of our church were killed in this tragedy. 11 cell leaders were among them, a supervisor and a hostess.

Only three bodies could be rescued on the day after the tragedy. Several days passed before other bodies could be located. Some of them70 kilometers (43.5 miles) away from the place where the bus was onslaught.

I want to thank those who expressed their condolences and solidarity in this blog. As well as those who did so through e-mails.

At the time of writing this note there are still two bodies to be recovered. Your prayers will be very important to find them and to strengthen and console the victims’ families.

Thanks again for your prayers,

Mario

Agradecimientos.

El pasado 3 de julio un bus que regresaba con hermanos de la iglesia, después del culto de celebración, fue embestido por un desborde del río Acelhuate que atraviesa toda la ciudad de San Salvador. El desborde se produjo en medio de una fuerte tormenta.

Después de unos 15 minutos de quedar atrapado en la corriente que crecía más y más, el bus comenzó a ser arrastrado hasta ser arrojado a la hondonada del río donde la fuerza del agua fue estrellándolo hasta hacerlo pedazos.

En la tragedia fallecieron 31 miembros de nuestra iglesia. Entre ellos se encontraban 11 líderes de células, un supervisor y una anfitriona.

Al día siguiente de la tragedia solamente fue posible rescatar tres cuerpos. Pasaron varios días para que pudieran ser localizados otros cuerpos. Algunos de ellos a 70 kilómetros de distancia del lugar en que el bus fue embestido.

Por este medio deseo agradecer a las personas que manifestaron sus condolencias y solidaridad en este blog. De igual manera a aquellos que lo hicieron a través de correos electrónicos.

Al momento de redactar esta nota todavía hace falta localizar y rescatar dos cuerpos más. Sus oraciones serán muy importantes para encontrarlos y para que las familias de las víctimas sean fortalecidas y consoladas.
 

Jeff Tunnell, pinch hitting for Steve Cordle. The recent news from El Salvador, combined with Pastor Mario Vega’s blog last Friday, has challenged my mind – and I am attempting to wrestle those thoughts down into my heart. There is a price for “success” in cell ministry. I know this, but still refuse to get out my spiritual wallet and put my money where my mouth is.

In Joel’s books, Reap the Harvest, (ch 3) and, From 12 to 3, (pgs 32-33), I compiled a list of 21 principles of cell church. I refer to the first one on my list as our primary “price” for success; “Dependence on Jesus Christ through prayer”.

The “successful” cell ministries around the world pay this price FIRST and God answers by granting the souls and growth. Many of us want the growth that speaks of success, but lower the price for winning souls in prayer. We hear of, and may have visited Prayer Mountain in Korea, or seen the people pray at ELIM in El Salvador. I was ministered to personally, by the prayer team at Cypress Creek Church under the leadership of Pastor Rob Campbell. This occurred in the specifically designed, architecturally included, Prayer Room that is the FIRST part of their worship center. You must pass this room to enter their Celebrations. They have thoughtfully decided to pay the price for success in Wimberly, Texas.

Principles are always principles; we cannot reduce or shape them to our liking. We may work WITH them and find exciting ways of APPLYING them, but we must always give them the respect and allegiance deserved. Principles change us, we do not change them! Prayer first, is the first principle and price for success!

What price(s) have you PLANNED to pay for the success you desire in Cell Ministry? Or, what prices are you paying now for the failures you experience in Cell Ministry?

Jeff

by Rob Campbell

www.cypresscreekchurch.com

Thanks Joel for the excellent post yesterday on a very real experience in your cell gathering that led you to write on community.  We extend our prayers to Celyce and your family in the loss of her father.  We are also grateful for his conversion to Christ in his final years.  We commit to pray now and in the days ahead.

Let me share a few thoughts about community.  Indeed, “community” has become a buzz word of late in many churches.  Indeed, some simply talk of community, but never experience the essence of community.  I’ve listened to many pastors elaborate on community, but never taste its joy, intimacy, and transparency.  Others experience community week in and week out to which we give thanks to God. 

Years ago, I ran across this definition of spiritual community.  I wish I could give credit where credit is due, but I do not remember the source of these words.  The author was eloborating on spiritual community in the context of Acts 2:42-47.

He/She writes:  “[Spiritual] Community is revolutionary, designed for any society or age; subjects are loved, nurtured and protected; everyone has distinct gifts, yet differences bring people together; anyone can be included, yet each person is irreplaceable; unconditional love abounds, but also uncompromising accountability; a center of joy, celebration and worship; one big happy family.”

In essence, we need God and each other– don’t we?  Mother Teresa once said, “You can do what I cannot do.  I can do what you cannot do.  Together we can do great things.”

May our desire for such community be more than talk and words on a page.  May it be expressed through our actions.

I trust that Celyce will not soon forget her cell community grieving with her.  Yes, their presence will be cherished in the days ahead. 

Comments?

Sometimes nothing works in my own LIFE group. You know what I’m talking about. The flow isn’t there; I’m out of touch; children act, well, like children. How wonderful when the Holy Spirit shows up and creates a sense of community that transcends human understanding.

We had one of those LIFE group meetings last week. Everyone showed up on time. The ice-breaker opened us up (what do you like best about the summer?) My 13-year old daughter did an awesome job of leading worship on guitar. She even guided us to wait on the Lord between songs. The little kids behaved very well during the ice-breaker and worship. They were a blessing and not a distraction. Or was it my own attitude?

The children then left for their own LIFE group in the adjoining room. We then applied Acts 12 about Peter’s miraculous escape from prison. The questions flowed well between observation and application (download the lesson here). We learned about what happened back in Peter’s day, but we also shared deeply about our own miraculous answers to prayer. My wife, Celyce, shared about the miracle of her dad’s salvation at the age of 80–just six months ago.

We were about to enter the Witness time when Celyce received a phone call from her sister, Belinda. Belinda relayed the news that their dad had died two hours earlier. We gathered around Celyce to pray for her as she wept. We comforted her in a sensitive, Spirit-led way, all the time rejoicing inwardly that Leo is now in heaven and free from pain.

Celyce needed the entire LIFE group community at that moment. The Spirit brought comfort through the members in a deep way. Community through cell ministry is powerful! We experienced Christ’s presence in a special way. 

Do you have a similar story. Please feel free to share it. .

Joel

by Mario Vega

It was quite common listening to shootings in the city during the war. This is why, despite of it we had become accustomed to continue with our meetings. That, precisely, happened the day when the offensive began. Nobody imagined that those shootings would no longer stop.

It was already too late by the time people realized that something out of the ordinary was happening. To go out the street was a lethal risk. No one ventured to such a possibility. So, Christians and invited friends had to stay at the hosts´ houses while the fighting lasted. Soon the power and water service ceased. Large capital areas were left without these services for more than ten days. How could a number of 20 people survive in one house under these conditions? In addition there was no food reserves in those houses.

Several things happened. Essentially the practice of solidarity. The leaders acted as such. They assumed the responsibility of the group not only encouraging them spiritually but taking measures for what it seemed was going to be a long stay. They began to share space, the little water available and food rationing. They sent the children to the interior rooms while covering the doors and windows with the furniture to prevent the entry of any stray bullet.

The situation was extreme but leaders reacted putting into practice the truths about love and service they had been taught. Wasn’t evangelism and care the cells´ purpose? It was time to achieve both tasks. Some leaders had to go out into the middle of the fighting to find food and water and succeeded. After that, people knew that Christianity was more than mere words.

Comments?

Mario

Translation in Spanish:

La solidaridad en marcha.

Escuchar tiroteos en la ciudad durante la guerra era bastante común. Por ello, nos habíamos acostumbrado a continuar con nuestras reuniones a pesar de ello. Eso, justamente, pasó el día cuando la ofensiva comenzó. Nadie se imaginaba que esos tiroteos ya no se detendrían.

Para el momento en que las personas se dieron cuenta que algo fuera de serie estaba sucediendo ya era muy tarde. El salir a la calle era un riesgo letal. Nadie se aventuraba a tal posibilidad. Así, los cristianos y amigos invitados tuvieron que quedarse en casa de los anfitriones mientras duraban los combates. Pronto cesó la energía eléctrica y con ella el servicio de agua. Enormes áreas de la capital se quedaron sin esos servicios por más de diez días. ¿Cómo podían sobrevivir alrededor de 20 personas en una sola casa en esas condiciones? Además en esas casas no había reservas de alimentos.

Sucedieron varias cosas. Pero, esencialmente fue la puesta en práctica de la solidaridad. Los líderes actuaron como tales. Asumieron la responsabilidad del grupo y además de alentarles espiritualmente tomaron medidas para una permanencia que se presentía prolongada. Comenzaron a compartir el espacio, la poca agua disponible y a racionar los alimentos. Enviaron a los niños a las habitaciones interiores mientras cubrían con los muebles las puertas y ventanas previniendo la entrada de alguna bala perdida.

La situación era extrema pero los líderes reaccionaron poniendo en práctica las verdades que les habían sido enseñadas sobre el amor y el servicio. ¿Acaso no era el propósito de las células la evangelización y el cuidado? Era el momento de lograr ambos cometidos. Algunos líderes tuvieron que salir en medio de los combates para encontrar alimentos y agua y lo lograron. Después de ello las personas sabían que el cristianismo era más que simples palabras.

by Steve Cordle

 As Joel said in a post earlier this week, many can criticize, but fewer offer solutions.

I happened upon a blog in which the author (Brian Jones) was asked, if you think small groups are as effecftive as they should be in the U.S., what would you do instead?

His answer was thought-provoking: he said he’d pull together some of the most spiritually responsive people in his church and regualrly take them out with him evangelizing, feeding the poor, as well as spend time praying and doing Bible memorization of lkey passages.

Now, I’m not pushing a Brian’s strategy here; you might define the actions of a disciple differently than he does. I am asking this question: when a cell groups lose energy, numerical growth, and transformational power, could the reason be that there is not enough focus on the actions of disciple making - on teaching people “to obey” (Matt. 28:20)?

Groups don’t make disciples, people do. Specifically, people who are living out discipleship and inviting others to join them. People generally don’t become closer followers of Jesus just by sitting in a living room talking - they need to be in action with others.

Are your group members memorizing and obeying key Bible passages? Are they regularly talking to others about their faith? Have they served the poor this month? [some disciple activities] If so, I suspect you have a growing, life-giving group.