Month: February 2007

Rob Campbell here.

Elie Wiesel wrote, “God made man because he loves stories.”

It was a hot summer day in Texas and the lawn needed attention.

I started up my Snapper and strapped on my Walkman (the forerunner to the Ipod—I trust you remember those days).  I enjoy outdoor work.  I find it a time when God speaks to me.  Actually, God was speaking to me through Jimmy Seibert of Antioch Church in Waco, Texas.

Jimmy was telling stories of how God was moving through various individuals around the globe.  The stories were moving and I was stoked.  He concluded his talk by saying, “Go get your own STORIES.” 

As you labor day in and day out with leading a cell (or a cell church), are you remembering how powerfully God is moving around the globe?  His-story is spreading throughout the world.

      *Every DAY at least 74,000 more people across the globe come to faith in Christ.

      *3,083 new believers every hour

      *Perhaps 30,000 each day are in China

      *An average of 3,500 new churches are opening every week worldwide.

      *China in 1950: 1 million believers; China Today: 80 million

       *Africa: 20,000 daily added to the Body of Christ.  Africa was 3% Christian in 1900 and is over 50% Christian today.

As one peruses the gospel accounts, you see that Jesus’ life was not an essay. His life’s purpose was not to spearhead a systematic theology that might be passed down through the generations.   The gospels do not record one long sermon in which Jesus pontificates a philosophy of life.  Instead, you discover that Jesus’ life was a story.  His story has transformed billions of lives and remains the most inspiring, penetrating and awe-inspiring story ever heard. 

BLOG ON IN!!  Share a story with this community of how God is working in your midst.  Simply share a few sentences or paragraphs and be used by God to encourage others.

Love to hear from you today,

Rob Campbell

My wife and I ate with a couple last week who had come to our cell four times and seemed to really enjoy it. We were hoping they were excited about our church, so while we were enjoying salad at Olive Garden, I asked them if they felt called to be part of our church. Yet, I also added this phrase, “we only want you here, if God has called you.”

I’ve learned through the school of hard knocks, that not all growth is good growth. Some growth can be downright negative.

I remember one of the early couples at Wellspring who led one of our cell groups. They were friendly, outgoing, and had a wide circle of friends. And they brought lots of peole to church. Yet, they also had a negative side. The husband felt his calling was to be a “board member” (you know the type I’m talking about). And even through I shared the cell vision extensively with him, he never really caught it. He somehow couldn’t see the advantages of cell ministry. The one-hour Sunday morning service was far more appealing to him. Yet, I tried to hold onto this couple for the “growth” of our church. I felt like we needed them to make our church work.

Yet, as I look back, I now realize that THEY WERE STOPPING CHRIST’S WORK IN OUR CHURCH.” They were just not the right fit for our cell church vision.

We put up with them for about 1.5 years, and when they finally did leave, it was a very difficult situation. We lost two cells as a result of their departure. And it all happened one week before Christmas–not a very merry way to celebrate Christ’s birth.

Yet, as I reflect back on this situation, it was the best thing that ever happened to our church. It cleared out the “spirit of control” that hovered over us. We sensed a new life in our midst and CHRIST began to bring new people who were in line with our vision—those who truly embraced our ministry values.

Yes, I want church growth, but I have to be very careful about wanting it too much. God, brings me back to the prayer, “Lord, bring in those who You have called.” Christ is the head of HIS church, and HIS church is a supernatural one. It’s woven together by Christ Himself.

Lord, bring those who You have called.

Have you experienced similar situations? Comments?

Joel

One of the main themes of the blog this week has been the worldwide cell church movement and its incredible ethnic variety.

I was quite surprised on Wednesday night when Timothy Jeng, Thai pastor and leader, walked in my home and said, “I know you, Joel. I was your translator for your cell seminar in Thailand in 2000, and we had dinner together in a fancy hotel. We use your books a lot in Thailand and are part of a growing cell church movement in the country.”

Ugh. . . I politely nodded while furiously trying to think back at where I’d seen his face.

Timothy and his wife, Rex, were in my home to kick off our annual mission conference at Wellspring.  Yet instead of sending missionaries, the Christian and Missionary Alliance decided to send a national leader from Thailand this time. And what a national leader! Timothy speaks six languages, pastors the largest CMA church in the country (360 members and 20 cell groups), and heads up the Thai unity vision to plant a church in every district by 2010.

 Thailand, a graveyard for missions and missionaries for the last 100 years is finally opening up to the gospel. God is using Cell church ministry as one of His key strategies in the country.  

I asked Timothy about the resurgence of the cell movement in Thailand,  and he reflected on the maturing of cell ministry over the years.  The first major impact was the incredible growth of Hope of Bangkok, a pure cell church and the largest church in Thailand with 5000 people attending.  The second impact was from Singapore. Lawrence Khong’s seminars (Faith Community Baptist Church) were helpful, but even more fruitful were the practical seminars and workshops from Trinity Christian Centre, also from Singapore.  Yet, more recently Thai pastors have been networking together under the umbrella of Ben Wong’s Cell Church Mission Network. When I attended the CCMN conference in Indonesia in 2005, the largest delegation was from Thailand (about 75 pastors and leaders), and in 2006 the conference was held in Thailand!

As we gathered that evening to hear Timothy and Rex speak, we heard amazing stories of physical healings and power encounters that are taking place across Thailand. God is moving in Thailand and throughout the world, and we can rejoice in His handiwork.

Feel free to comment.

Joel