Ky ezege

One morning, as I was going to meet with some guys I had been discipling in the jail, I felt the Lord say it was time to plant a church among them. I had been mentoring a group of thirty or so men in the jail, many of whom I had helped lead to the Lord. We periodically met to discuss the things of God. The idea of them becoming the church in their jail community did not strike me as odd at all. The church that meets in my own home has planted various sister churches in housing units in the local jail, as well as in other improbable places. That morning I talked about Jesus being in us, so that Jesus becomes manifest among us and thus expressed through us. We talked about how this is the foundation for authentic church. We then discussed Ephesians 4 and how each individual has particular gifts that the rest of us need, and how together we are different but integrated parts of the whole Body of Christ. I joked with them that I am the asshole of the Body of Christ, because He often uses me to get the crap out of people’s lives. They laughed but also understood that they too had something unique to offer. Unless we all participate in each other’s lives by ministering to one another - as we share the life of Jesus in us with each other - we have little hope of finding health and wholeness. We also looked at 1 Corinthians 14 and how Paul commanded that when we gather, each one is to have something to contribute rather than always expecting to receive. Thus, authentic church gatherings are active and participatory. The great thing about helping start churches among new believers is that they aren’t saddled with religious “stuff” to unlearn. They get it right away. Toward the end of our time together, I told them it was time to start being the church in their housing unit. I then asked who among them were men of peace and hospitality - the social glue, so to speak, of their housing unit. They quickly identified several men, who seemed embarrassed - which was a good sign, as it meant they had no ego agendas. Then, following Jesus’ instructions in Luke 10, I explained that I was going to bless those men of peace, because Jesus wanted to use their gift of hospitality to pull the whole group together each evening for fellowship. God gives some the special gift of hospitality and peace, and we see in Luke 10 that those attributes are vital for bringing forth disciples in new communities. So, following the example of Luke 10, I asked those men of peace to identify some issue in their lives or circumstances where they needed the Lord’s blessing. When they did, I held hands with them and prayed a blessing over them, asking the Lord to meet those needs. Now here’s the neat part about planting churches, which I have seen time and again. That week, the Lord answered those prayers and blessed those men. In their excitement, they became catalysts for attracting others into fellowship. And from that, a self-reproducing new church emerged. I’m not sure why we make this so complicated. My role is very limited: I go where the Holy Spirit sends me to proclaim Christ and His Kingdom to existing communities that desperately need Him; Among those who repent and surrender to Christ’s rule, I spend time laying a basic New Testament foundation for ongoing discipleship and healthy community; I look for and bless those in that community whom God has pre-positioned as catalysts of peace and hospitality; I gently encourage the emerging believers to come forth in ministry to one another and participate together as the multi-part, multi-gifted, multi-functional Body of Christ; And then I get out of the way so they can learn to function together as the church, one with another, where they live - while continuing as needed to watch over, encourage, and be an ongoing resource for them. Simple church, simply done!