Month: April 2008

Greetings from Ponce, Puerto Rico (I’m here with my daughter, Nicole). I’ve been doing a seminar in Ponce (second largest city in Puerto Rico), and the main theme of my seminar has been: how to transition to the cell church strategy! (I’ve appreciated all your comments about transitioning from Mario Vega’s blog). I wasn’t planning on talking about transitioning here in Puerto Rico. Yet, as I started learning about the host church, I realized that the topic of “how to transition” was exactly what the host church needed (and the other pastors present as well).

The host church (a 800 member church called iglesia Cristiana de la familia) had stalled in their transition to become a cell church. Unlike the Elim’s smooth transition, this church started in the cell church vision and then fizzled (they currently have ten cell groups). They started as a G12 church about five years ago. They sent pastors to Bogota and “adopted” the G12 model. Yet, criticism against G12 in Puerto Rico was so strong, they decided to quit midstream. The church had started a bunch of discipleship groups (supposedly G12 groups), but never really transitioned to the cell church vision.

The senior pastor, Angel Martinez, is a man of integrity. I appreciated his honesty in the seminar. He said in his opening remarks, “I need to learn how to do this. I’ve made plenty of mistakes and I, like all of you, am here to learn.” I then reminded everyone that David Cho once said that you have to fail at least three times in the cell church strategy to get it right.

Like many churches trying to copy the G12 vision, this church had started a lot of discipleship groups in the church, but had missed the CELL, the crown jewell of the cell church. I talked to those present about the need for PRE-TRANSITION (instilling values, and the need to win the movers and shakers). I then stressed the importance of the TRANSITION–starting a prototype cell and eventually multiplying that pilot group before making announcements to the rest of the church. Only afterwards, could a church enter the POST-TRANSITION–building the cell church infraestructure. This church had practically started with the POST-TRANSITION phase (developing the coaching structure first).

You’ve all experienced those times when GOD SHOWED UP and moved supernaturally. This was one of those seminars.

Let’s follow the example of Angel Martinez, who was willing to say, “Lord, I need help. Teach me.”
Comments?

 

Joel Comiskey

by Mario Vega

Our experience on the transition from being a traditional church to become a cell church occurred without major problems. In fact, our transition took place very quickly. Some of the factors that influenced the transition to be successful were:

• The Pastor’s involvement. Any initiative, presentation, teaching and leadership training was under the direct responsibility of the Pastor. That filled the church with confidence.
• The fact of knowing that the model is entirely biblical. By showing that small meetings in houses was the custom of the early church, we encouraged the congregation to follow the model.
• A participatory congregation. The members of the church were used to being active in the work of the gospel. Almost all were born again in an atmosphere of work and dedication to the service.
• Cultural conditions. The fervent, communicative and open character of the Latin American. The custom of being hospitable and to open the doors of their house to guests and friends.
• The passion that exists in El Salvador for getting all the people to know the good news of salvation. Being a Christian is not something that is taken for granted. Nobody is recognized as a Christian by the fact of having been born of Christian parents. Always looking for each one to have a personal salvation experience.
• Seeing the results. As we began to work with the first cells the growth in the church came rapidly. That pointed out to the congregation that the model worked, and that it was worth the effort.

Despite of not having at that time the awareness that we were in a transitional stage, the above conditions allowed it to be completed soon and successfully.

Comments?

Mario Vega

Spanish translation:
Iglesia en transición

Nuestra experiencia de transición de ser una iglesia tradicional para convertirnos en una iglesia celular se dio sin mayores problemas. En realidad, nuestra transición se produjo muy rápidamente.
Algunos de los factores que influyeron para que la transición fuera exitosa fueron:
• El involucramiento del Pastor. Toda la iniciativa, la presentación, la enseñanza y la capacitación de lderes estuvo bajo la responsabilidad directa del Pastor. Eso llenó de confianza a la iglesia.
• El hecho de saber que el modelo es completamente bblico. El mostrar que las reuniones pequeñas en casas fue la costumbre de la iglesia primitiva animó a la congregación a seguir el modelo.
• Una congregación participativa. Los miembros de la iglesia estaban acostumbrados a ser activos dentro de la obra del evangelio. Casi todos haban nacido de nuevo en un ambiente de trabajo y dedicación al servicio.
• Condiciones culturales. El carácter ferviente, comunicativo y abierto del latinoamericano. La costumbre de ser hospitalarios y abrir las puertas de casa a invitados y amigos.
• La pasión que existe en El Salvador por dar a conocer las buenas de salvación a otras personas. El ser cristiano es algo que no se da por sentado. Nadie es reconocido como cristiano por el hecho de haber nacido de padres cristianos. Siempre se busca que cada persona tenga una experiencia personal de salvación.
• El ver los resultados. Al comenzar a trabajar con las primeras células el crecimiento en la iglesia se dio rápidamente. Eso hizo ver a la congregación que el modelo funcionaba y que vala la pena el esfuerzo.

A pesar que no tenamos en ese tiempo conciencia que estábamos en una etapa de transición, las condiciones mencionadas permitieron que la misma se completara pronto y con éxito.

 

 

by Steve Cordle

 

Many churches trying to transition to the cell model find it a huge challenge to get most of their people into groups. While some people get involved quickly, it is not uncommon to hit a barrier; no matter how many times you refer to groups in the sermon, or how often people are told of the wonders of group life, it seems like most just don’t respond. Why? How does a church break through this barrier?

There are multiple causes for this “barrier”, but I believe one has to do with the percentage of church life which occurs in the group.

Joel recently blogged about sharing Communion in the cell. This is excellent! James, an Episcopal pastor, commented that when he did this it was a huge step because “since the sacrament is such an important part of Anglican spirituality it meant that the center of the congregation was Sunday morning worship. It also meant that I, as the Pastor, was the central person.” Huge point! If most people see that sacrament as the central part of what the church does, but that does not happen in the cell, how can cells be central? They will always be seen as an optional activity, and there will be little felt need for them on the part of most people.

How much of your church life happens in the cell?

Visiting Xenos Church in Columbus I realized that there was no musical worship at their central weekend gatherings. And if you got married, it was in the group, and likewise baptisms. Most of what people looked for as “church” happened ONLY at the group. Now, by their own admission, Xenos is actually more of a network of house churches than it is a cell church. That influences how much happens in the group.

The point is, the more of your church life you locate in the group, the more central to the church groups become. (And the reverse is true). So what can you move to the group?

Our worship design team is exploring moving our Maundy Thursday (the Thursday before Easter) service to groups and not at the building. It fits the Upper Room experience, and it is just another way of locating more church life in the group.

This is a huge and delicate transition question: What that you are currently doing can you move to the group?

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

Let me present to you a sad reality that may exist in your cell (church).  Your cell may have “been together” and “with each other” for months and not know the life stories of the cell members.

I would encourage you to remedy the situation.  For example, how about once a month a cell member would have the opportunity to share his/her life story in thirty minutes or less during a cell gathering?

A few cells in my church family practice this ….AND they LOVE getting to KNOW their fellow cell members.

Listening to HIS-story through the lives of your cell members will ignite your cell experience.

Larry Crabb wrote, “Throughout Genesis and the Old Testament, man is the mediator.  He is the connection between past and the future.  He remembers the sotries of old, the stories of his fathers and grandfathers.  And he lives to transfer the story of God to the next generation, to his children and grandchildren.”

I challenge you to share your life stories!

by Rob Campbell

www.cypresscreekchurch.com

Comments?

Do you observe the Lord’s Supper in the cell group? What has been your experience?

My own cell meets on Sunday night at 6 p.m., so just a few hours ago we participated in the Lord’s Supper.

I shared from Mark 14 where the scripture Jesus told his disciples to, “Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there” (vv 14,15). In those days, the houses frequently had upper rooms where they would entertain guests and hold family meetings. The kitchen and living quarters were downstairs but the upper room was larger and could hold more people. The early church followed the same pattern by meeting in homes to observe the Lord’s Supper (Acts 2:46).

One of my first questions was, “What was the atmosphere of the first Lord’s supper?” Members shared the anxiety that the disciples must have experienced because of the hostile Jewish atmosphere at the time. We also came to grips with the fact that the disciples didn’t catch the significance of Christ’s body and blood in the supper. They thought the meal was a normal Passover observance. I then asked the following questions:

• Share how Jesus has ministered to you during the Lord’s supper
• What helps you to focus on Jesus during this time?
• According to 1 Corinthians 11:17-33, How should we prepare for the Lord’s supper? Why?
• Take a moment to prepare yourself right now before we participate in the Lord’s Supper.

We passed around the grape juice and the crackers, while meditating on Christ’s broken body and precious blood. Because we were a small group, we felt the liberty to offer praise. We sang Amazing Grace and meditated on what Jesus did on the cross. Christ’s presence ministered to our hearts, and we sensed His healing power.

Many cell churches celebrate the Lord’s supper in the celebration time when all the cells are present. We at Wellspring normally follow that pattern as well. Yet, it’s wonderful to observe the Lord’s Supper in the home group, just like Christ did with His disciples. 

Share your experience (s) of celebrating the Lord’s Supper. Do you like to observe it the cell or celebration? Why or why not?

Joel Comiskey