LK10 Meetings in Central Texas

I wanted to get the word out to anyone in Central Texas about our upcoming meetings in Killeen. The gathering on Sunday (11/7) is for anyone interested in house church. The meetings on Monday (11/8) and Tuesday (11/9) evenings build on the Sunday gathering and focus on leadership training.

In order to attend and to get information about locations, you will need to call Jim Mellon. (254) 466-1853

John

The Church Comes Home: An Introduction to House Churches

Sunday, November 7^th from 3 – 9 pm

George Barna’s book, Revolution, asserts that there is a major shift underway in the American church landscape. A recent Pew Foundation Report supports this idea with the finding that 7% of American Christians now consider a meeting in their home as their primary expression of church. Across the country, thousands of house churches are appearing. And, some traditional churches are beginning to develop hybrid models that incorporate the key elements of house church life.

Join John White and Hobby Chapin, leaders in the Luke Ten Community, as they explore the Biblical basis for “the church in the home”. Understand the value of “rabbit” churches and “elephant” churches. Learn practical tools that can help any group become “a vibrant family of Jesus”. Imagine what a church planting movement in Central Texas might look like. Interactive and practical.

Sponsored by the Luke Ten Community and the Killeen House Church Network

Training for House Church Leaders and Church Planters.

Two nights. Monday and Tuesday (Nov. 8 and 9) from 6:30 – 9 pm

For anyone who is already leading a house church or feels God may be calling them to do that. Also, for those called to church planting.

Join John White and Hobby Chapin as we examine the strategy for church planting that Jesus taught to his disciples. Key concepts like: praying for and identifying the house of peace, starting CO2s (churches of two), forming meaningful community, learning to hear the Head of the church together, developing regional apostolic teams. Interactive and practical.

This will build on the concepts presented on Sunday. So, people planning on attending Monday and Tuesday evenings should also attend the meeting on Sunday.

Want to know more about LK10? Check out these websites http://lk10.com/ and http://storiesfromtherevolution.blogspot.com/

NBC News Reports on the House Church Movement

More and more the media is catching on to the house church movement. Last night (10/21/10), Brian Williams on NBC's Nightly News reported that, at a time when the Crystal Cathedral in California is filing for bankruptcy, 9% of American Protestants now attend only house church. This is an estimated 6-12 million people. (See the video below.)

Although not reported on the program, this represents growth at an unprecedented rate. Even 10 years ago, house churches were almost unheard of in this country. The percentage of Protestants attending only house church was certainly under 1%.

And, no one (no human, at least) is behind this major shift in the American spiritual landscape. It wasn't launched by Rick Warren or Bill Hybels. It wasn't planned by the Southern Baptists or by Campus Crusade. It is simply a spontaneous move of the Holy Spirit to return the church to the way church was practiced in the New Testament.

The Luke Ten Community exists to join God in what He is doing with house churches. Our mission is to "connect and equip emerging house church leaders". Our vision is to see "a vibrant family of Jesus (house church) on every block of every neighborhood of every city or region." http://lk10.com/

John

The 10:2b Virus (2)

The Luke Ten Community is defined by seven core practices. Anyone who is seeking to live out these practices qualifies to be part of this Community. These practices are spelled out in The LK10 Invitation which you can read here: http://lk10.com/media/lk10_visionpaper_2_0.pdf

Here's Practice #4: Praying Lk 10:2b

In LK. 10:2, Jesus made a startling statement. In front of Him were 84 (12 + 72) church planters (“sent ones”, apostles). That sounds like a lot to us, but His evaluation was that it was only a “few”. Apparently, He saw the need for many more. And, in addition to identifying that need, He gave the solution. He commanded them to engage in the practice of “beseeching the Lord of the Harvest for more workers”. In this context, workers are both people of peace and more church planters.

We engage this practice with our CO2 partner (as well as others) for the region we are called to as close to daily as possible. This relentless widow lady in LK. 18 is our model for this kind of tenacious praying.

Key quote: “The 10:2b Prayer is the leadership solution.” -Kenny Moore

In the video below, Jim Mellon tells of some amazing answers to this prayer. Notice the wide variety of harvest workers that the Lord of the harvest has sent to Jim and Kathy. Notice also how naturally mission flows from this kind of praying.

More from Jim tomorrow.

John

What are you investing in?

Dear LK10 Friends,

(In case you were wondering, this blog is part of the ministry of LK10.)

Most of us have left the traditional church and are no longer investing in church buildings or traditional programs. This should free up significant resources to help those in need both inside and outside of our house churches. I'm hearing lots of good stories where this really is happening.

Another highly valued investment in the New Testament church was that of church planting (see Paul's comments in 1 Cor. 9). Hopefully you have identified proven apostolic church planters in your area to help financially.

It's along this line of church planting that I would like to ask you to consider investing in LK10. Our mission is to connect and equip the growing number of men and women who are planting house churches. Over the last two years we've come through the start-up phase of our ministry on a "shoestring" budget. Our Board of Directors now feels that the Lord is calling us to significantly increase the scope of our work and has asked me to share this with everyone in the LK10 Community.

My request of you is simply that you read our LK10 Donor Report and ask the Lord if this is something He wants you to help with. You can find the Report here under the heading of "Support the work of Luke Ten" :

http://www.lk10resources.com/practice-6.html

If the Lord wants you to help, you have two options. The first is to use the Paypal "Donate" button on this blog. The second option is to send me an email and let me know that you would like the address where you can send a check. Send the email to DenverWH@aol.com

Whether you are directed to contribute or not, I appreciate you taking the time to read our Report.

John

Boss or Father?

Learning to hear God's voice changes everything.

First, and most important, it changes our relationship with God. Here's how John Eldredge says it...

Whatever our situation in life - butcher, baker, candlestick maker - our deepest and most pressing need is to learn to walk with God. To hear his voice. To follow him intimately. It is the most essential turn of events that could every take place in the life of any human being, for it brings us back to the source of life. Everything else we long for can then flow forth from this union. Walking With God, xi.

A second thing that changes is how we approach ministry or mission. As with Jesus, mission flows from listening. See Jn. 5:19.

See the short video below for my interview with my friend, Hugh Brandt, on this subject of learning to hear God's voice.

Share with us your comments on what Hugh has to say.

John