By Rob Campbell
www.cypresscreekchurch.com
Last week on this blog post I asked three questions about the Cell Church of the future. Thanks to all who responded. Please see the questions and a few comments below. Check out two or three of my thoughts at the end of this post.
1. Do you believe teens and people in their twenties embrace the cell church model?
Joel L wrote: I think one of the attractive characteristics of the cell church model is the invitation from the body to get in the game, and as I college cell pastor (and a twenty-something myself), I believe my teens and twenty-somethings desperately want to play ball. So any church model that equips and empowers is attractive to this generation. I believe my generation wants to be in the game, but in some ways they may not want to play in a way that imitates previous generations.
2. How would you see the cell church model changing to attract teens and twenties?
Oona wrote: I don’t see a huge need for change, there will always be a generation difference as to what preferences are; music, styles of preaching, etc. But the beauty of the way cell church is designed is that, it’s so little about that and so much about relational discipleship. A young person might walk out the door of a more program driven church that fails to have the right look or play the right music, but if that same person is ‘captured’ into cell group first I believe it would be a lot harder to push them off. After all even teenagers would agree that their friends are more important to them than their music.
3. Do you believe in two decades or so, the cell church model will be seen as antiquated and/or obsolete? Please explain.
Richard wrote: Not at all, the contrary. I feel it will be the model to imitate.
Now, a few of my thoughts.
Concerning the first question, I have nothing to add to Joel L’s response. I especially like his last sentence which reads, “I believe my generation wants to be in the game, but in some ways they may not want to play in a way that imitates previous generations.†Therefore, as a forty-something pastor, I choose to fan the flame of this younger generation and avoid “my way or the highway†mentality.
Concerning the second and third questions, I have one thought. Empowering teens and the twenty-something crowd to lead as cell champions will be essential and necessary. With that said, I conclude with a question for Senior Pastors and ministry leaders.
Are you empowering, training a person or a team in their teens and twenties to be the current and future voice of the cell church movement?
Comments?
Rob