What I Learned at the House Church Conference
ENGLISH SPEAKING PASTORS DOING HOUSE CHURCH WITH PASTOR CHAI.
Thank you, THC, for allowing me to go to Boston for 5 days to be refreshed, challenged, further equipped in HC-ministry, and to fellowship with other like-minded Pastors doing House Church.
This past April marked 2 years since we began “Family Church”. In those 2 years we’ve been given much in terms of training, testimony, modeling, investing, and a solid foundation of Shepherds dedicated to seeing THC become all she can be.
This past April marked 2 years since we began “Family Church”. In those 2 years we’ve been given much in terms of training, testimony, modeling, investing, and a solid foundation of Shepherds dedicated to seeing THC become all she can be.
THC SHEPHERDS TAKE THEMSELVES TOO SERIOUSLY.
This upcoming Commitment Celebration we are baptizing two more former VIPs for King Jesus and our church continues to become stronger and healthier by the passing month it seems (at least that’s how it seems to me).
It’s interesting because the verse that I received this past New Years was Galatians 6:9 – “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” It seems to me that much of the fruit that we are seeing at THC now is because we’ve had a couple of years of faithful obedience, sacrificial sowing, and remaining committed to core values of Family Church. It’s truly a rewarding season for us. Seeing people take steps towards commitment, serving, and seeing VIPs commit to following Jesus.
It’s interesting because the verse that I received this past New Years was Galatians 6:9 – “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” It seems to me that much of the fruit that we are seeing at THC now is because we’ve had a couple of years of faithful obedience, sacrificial sowing, and remaining committed to core values of Family Church. It’s truly a rewarding season for us. Seeing people take steps towards commitment, serving, and seeing VIPs commit to following Jesus.
And I think that’s what made going to this seminar extra special for me. The first time I went to a HC Seminar, I had no idea what was in store and my understanding of HC was very limited and I was just stressed out as the new Pastor of THC. The second time I went, I was glad to go, but we were in the early stage of implementing House Church. Lots of difficulties with people adjusting to HC. Some asked me for breaks throughout the year, some Shepherds wanted to throw in the towel, some people left our church, some members requested to be moved to another FC for various reasons… yeah it was a stressful time for me.
But this conference, it was different. My heart went already committed since we’ve seen tangible results through our commitment to this. I was able to go with an “expectant” attitude and excitement even.
It still trips me out that a mission’s trip to Kazakhstan led to us learning about this model of church. It trips me out that the name of our church, even before I came, was “The Home Church” and we would end up doing our most critical ministry in homes. It trips me out that when Chris and Adinai left the missions field in Kyrgyzstan and settled at our church that they would leave a church that did HC only to be led to one in the states that does HC. It trips me out that soon after Beautiful Church hired Pastor John Cho as their new Elementary Pastor he said, “Hey, I know a Pastor friend who does House Church” and then he went over to his bookshelf where he had the book and then he connected us to Pastor Paul Lee (who was the contact that brought Pastor Danny to us, by the way). All of these things occurring can’t be coincidental. It truly seems that the Holy Spirit led our church to this model of church and continues to lead us to grow in this model of church. It isn’t easy. But it’s totally worth it! Growth never comes easy!
But this conference, it was different. My heart went already committed since we’ve seen tangible results through our commitment to this. I was able to go with an “expectant” attitude and excitement even.
It still trips me out that a mission’s trip to Kazakhstan led to us learning about this model of church. It trips me out that the name of our church, even before I came, was “The Home Church” and we would end up doing our most critical ministry in homes. It trips me out that when Chris and Adinai left the missions field in Kyrgyzstan and settled at our church that they would leave a church that did HC only to be led to one in the states that does HC. It trips me out that soon after Beautiful Church hired Pastor John Cho as their new Elementary Pastor he said, “Hey, I know a Pastor friend who does House Church” and then he went over to his bookshelf where he had the book and then he connected us to Pastor Paul Lee (who was the contact that brought Pastor Danny to us, by the way). All of these things occurring can’t be coincidental. It truly seems that the Holy Spirit led our church to this model of church and continues to lead us to grow in this model of church. It isn’t easy. But it’s totally worth it! Growth never comes easy!
THESE ARE THE PASTORS FROM KAZAKHSTAN THAT INTRODUCED US TO THE HOUSE CHURCH MODEL. WAS ABLE TO MEET THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME!
So, what are some things that happened that I would like to share with you?
1. In the same conference where Pastor Chai retired, there was 7 of us Pastors who gathered, in unified spirit, to commit to working together to see more English-speaking churches trained in this model, more Pastors learn about this model, and even see how we can work together to provide resources for interested pastors, Shepherds, and church members.
Pastor Chai, the Founder of the House Church model and former Senior Pastor of Seoul Baptist Church, did so much to see this movement take place predominately in Korean churches and then there is the 7 of us who do this in English (the clear minority at the conference) praying and discussing ways we could see this gain traction in the American church. Interesting…
1. In the same conference where Pastor Chai retired, there was 7 of us Pastors who gathered, in unified spirit, to commit to working together to see more English-speaking churches trained in this model, more Pastors learn about this model, and even see how we can work together to provide resources for interested pastors, Shepherds, and church members.
Pastor Chai, the Founder of the House Church model and former Senior Pastor of Seoul Baptist Church, did so much to see this movement take place predominately in Korean churches and then there is the 7 of us who do this in English (the clear minority at the conference) praying and discussing ways we could see this gain traction in the American church. Interesting…
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: SAN JOSE, HOUSTON, ATLANTA, TORONTO, LOS ANGELES, NASHVILLE, AND ATLANTA.
2. “The prideful person doesn’t pray” – Pastor Chai with challenging words of wisdom to a room full of busy-Pastors. I was challenged, in love, to pray a little more as your Pastor. “Prayer is the evidence of faith in God. To not pray is to be trusting in yourself.”
I am sensing that prayer will be a very important theme in some way for us in 2020. This is about the 5th time in the last 3 months that God keeps bringing “prayer” to my heart as an area of specific focus for THC in the future.
3. One day God will use THC to be a “resource church” for other churches. It was interesting because so much of the wisdom I’ve gleaned has been taken from Pastor Eric Shin, Senior Pastor of New Life Fellowship; but as I heard Pastor Chai share session-after-session it became obvious that “PE” was heavily influenced and shaped by the leadership of Pastor Chai. There were several times where I wanted to say, “Hey, Pastor Chai took that from Pastor Eric!”. PE and New Life Fellowship learned so much from Pastor Chai and Seoul Baptist Church.
I am sensing that prayer will be a very important theme in some way for us in 2020. This is about the 5th time in the last 3 months that God keeps bringing “prayer” to my heart as an area of specific focus for THC in the future.
3. One day God will use THC to be a “resource church” for other churches. It was interesting because so much of the wisdom I’ve gleaned has been taken from Pastor Eric Shin, Senior Pastor of New Life Fellowship; but as I heard Pastor Chai share session-after-session it became obvious that “PE” was heavily influenced and shaped by the leadership of Pastor Chai. There were several times where I wanted to say, “Hey, Pastor Chai took that from Pastor Eric!”. PE and New Life Fellowship learned so much from Pastor Chai and Seoul Baptist Church.
So, too, The Home Church has learned so much from PE and NLF and one day we will be used by the Lord to help teach other Pastors, Shepherds, and lay people about a way for them to embrace the spirit of the New Testament Church: reaching the lost and making disciples for King Jesus by training lay people to become the servant-leaders Jesus calls them to.
It was a great conference. And when I saw all these Pastors hugging Pastor Chai as he retired I was reminded of our future… where one day we will stand before King Jesus. Who gave it all for us on the Cross. We will want to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant… now enter into your joy and rest!”
Let’s give all we can for the One who gave us all of Him.
You may not see it now THC, but God is building us to become more mature, stronger, and healthier… I can’t wait to see what we will look like in 1, 5, 10, 20 years. Let’s keep sacrificing with a smile :)
Love,
Your Pastor
It was a great conference. And when I saw all these Pastors hugging Pastor Chai as he retired I was reminded of our future… where one day we will stand before King Jesus. Who gave it all for us on the Cross. We will want to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant… now enter into your joy and rest!”
Let’s give all we can for the One who gave us all of Him.
You may not see it now THC, but God is building us to become more mature, stronger, and healthier… I can’t wait to see what we will look like in 1, 5, 10, 20 years. Let’s keep sacrificing with a smile :)
Love,
Your Pastor
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