Life on Life
The multiplying cell-church movement in the EFCA
“If you're hospitalized,” the pastor paused and smiled, “don’t call me. Call your cell. They care the best.”
My suspicion was confirmed: This church was different. As a pastor myself, I’d already noted the unusual diversity at this church I was visiting: a rainbow of colors, ages, clothing styles. My wife and I had repeatedly been greeted, but each greeting invariably included the query: “Are you in a cell group? No? Oh, you have to come visit ours! It’s fantastic.” We’d stumbled upon the Oak Harbor, Wash., worship site of Christ the King,* a church of multiplying cell groups. Later that week over tea, I plied the pastor, Jonathan, with questions: “Why are your people so passionate about cells? Do they ever get off track? How do you attract such diversity?”
His reply? “We keep it simple so we can unleash our people to minister through cells. God keeps surprising us as He works through them.
For us at Hilltop Urban Church (in Wichita, Kan.), that Sunday launched a journey toward developing our own multiplying network of cell groups. In our urban poverty culture, our groups feel more like recovery groups, but the principle is the same: empowering “average folks” to grow and serve together in their small groups, groups that become the center of life and ministry. “A church of cells, not a church with cells,” is how Christ the King terms it.
For us, failure to develop leaders among the poor pushed us to search for another way of ministry. Others in the EFCA are discovering the dynamic of cell-centered ministry as well.
For Ves Sheely, superintendent of the EFCA’s New England District, his journey in the same direction started with a dream—of believers growing while dynamically engaged in their community, just as he read in Acts and had experienced in church-planting movements in other countries. In the New England District, 14 existing churches are using community-based cells to decentralize ministry, working to engage their culture outside the walls of their church.
For Bruce Duell, ministry in diverse central Denver meant struggling with how to touch both loft-dwelling urban professionals and the poor, as well as Hispanics, young postmoderns and African Americans—all with one church. Ancient Paths Church Network, launched two years ago, has seen cells (termed “house churches”) multiply to many of those groups.
Though our cells vary widely in style and setting, they have their foundation in common: All are outwardly focused small fellowships that meet in community settings such as homes, restaurants and business parks. Anyone, from the curious to the committed, is welcomed to belong.
From inner-city Wichita to established New England, all of us are finding that people who wouldn’t darken the door of a church are coming to faith in Christ. And it’s happening as they taste and see the love of Christ through the “belongingness” of a cell group.
Most traditional small groups tend to be “learning groups.” The Bible is studied and casual friendships are made, but honest life struggles are not surfaced. In our cells, real life brings real ministry—both to one another and to those still “out there.”
It’s hard to fake it. The personal closeness of such a group—listening as others openly share struggles, and then earnestly praying for one other— either pries open tightly held secrets or prompts a quick exit. Being able to finally be honest before God and each other fuels growth.
Leadership looks different in a cell group too. It tends to be shared among team members. Character is valued more than just knowledge, training or skill. Our leaders must model Christ, healthy relationships, encouragement and concern for those “still out there.”
Apprenticeships develop. Existing leaders take growing group members under their wing and coach them, life on life. Leadership is practiced within their own cell. These apprentices then team together to plant new cells, coached by their leaders.
This web of relationships among leaders has proven to safeguard these multiplying cells from error. Cell leaders remain under the direction of their church’s leaders. Ancient Path’s groups network regularly, with joint gatherings. Hilltop and the New England churches maintain traditional weekly Sunday services. Combined with intentional coaching, mentoring and joint training, all this keeps biblical truth and biblical practice in balance.
At Hilltop, I apprenticed Leo, a recovered addict with more years of street smarts than formal education. He struggles to read. Strong Bible teacher he isn’t, but on his cell leadership team, his compassionate yet in-your-face way is potent. He and his wife, Anna, are now learning to apprentice their own leaders. I coach them.
Before long, they, not me, will send out their apprentices to plant a new cell. Multiplication by and among the poor! Our dream is becoming reality.
Bruce and Ves report the same passion and enthusiasm. We are watching “regular folks” growing, reaching out, leading. Not being limited by lack of funds, buildings, seminary-trained church planters and so on, we’re watching multiplication begin.
Two thousand years ago, small groups of Christ-followers in community, empowered by the Holy Spirit, shared their lives, grew in Christ and eagerly reached out to those they knew who were “still out there.” We’re finding that ancient path surprisingly relevant to our day.
To learn more about how house churches are flourishing in the EFCA, contact the author (dennish@hilltopurban.org).
Dennis Hesselbarth is pastor of Hilltop Urban Church in Wichita, Kan. A closet control freak, he is finding God perfectly capable of protecting and advancing His gospel through the lives of the weak and broken.
* Visit ctkonline.com to learn more about Christ the King and its multiplying cell groups. And check out these other helpful sites: joelcomiskeygroup.com and www.house2house.com. (Dr. Joel Cominskey discovered multiplying cell churches while a C&MA missionary in Ecuador; he now researches, teaches and coaches cell-church movements. House2House advocates autonomous “house churches” rather than a network with accountability and authority.)
