Children's Cells

The greatest pitfall facing the Cell Church movement is our failure to form cells for children between the ages of 5 and 13. Our tendency is to develop home cells for young people and adults, relegating the children during cell meetings to baby sitters or viewing television.

George Barna states: "What you believe at age 13 is pretty much what you’re going to die believing." Research compiled by his Barna Group shows that children between the ages of 5 and 13 have a 32 percent probability of accepting Jesus Christ as their Savior. That likelihood drops to 4 percent for teenagers between the ages of 14 and 18, and ticks back up to 6 percent for adults older than 18.

I am an example. 79 years ago as a five-year old child, I accepted Jesus as my Lord sitting on my father’s lap. It has amazed me to meet Christian workers who think we do not need to focus on harvesting children.

A remnant when a traditional church transitions to a cell church is the retaining of children’s programs (Awana, for example). Programs are organizations, not an organism. An authentic ecclesia replaces programs with body life. It becomes the family of God, cherishing each child as a vital part of the community.

Children who become part of a cell with other children develop a bond that lasts for a lifetime. In our TOUCH FAMILY, formed in 2000, we blended children with parents in our home cells. When we gather for worship, these children treat each other as brothers and sisters. They have had years of sharing, praying, learning about their Bibles together and most of all they only know “church” in its cell/congregation format.

A cell church that does not blend its children into its home groups, ignoring them or causing them to be left out of the adult group, will produce unattached young adults who will not have cell life as a core value.

A memory I cherish from the 1990’s when Lorna Jenkins led our children’s cells attached to Faith Community Baptist Church is a cell group where a man in a wheel chair came for prayer. The adults prayed fervently for him, without any observable healing. The adults drifted into the kitchen for refreshments, leaving the man and an 8 year old girl behind. The child stared at the man and finally said, “Well, why don’t you get up and walk?” The Spirit of God fell on him at that moment and he rose up and walked into the kitchen. Astonished, the adults asked, “What happened?” “It was the little girl! She told me to walk.” When the adults queried the girl, she simply said, “Well, you all prayed for him. So I just told him to walk because he was healed.”

Childlike faith must be stimulated by mingling with all the aunties and uncles that compose a home group. Let’s include them, not isolate them!

THE MOUNTAIN OF MOSES

Greetings!

As we complete the fourth week of this amazing training event, I want to share some thoughts before I get back to the USA. You have no idea what the spiritual level is when you have 10,000 devoted people who are willing to spend an entire month of daily gatherings to focus on the kingdom of God. People came from many nations with the predominance being from the Ukraine. These are all Russian speaking people who have been victimized by communism and even today are considered to be a sect within their societies. One dear Pastor has spent four years in a Muslim prison for preaching the gospel, another elderly man spent 20 years in a Siberian prison camp. 

The issue that makes this community of Christians different is their awareness of the supernatural and that there is a radical difference between churchianity and true, authentic activities directed by the Holy Spirit. Because the history for 1000 years has been rooted in dead Russian orthodoxy smothered by communism, the past generations were worshipers of demonic powers. Witchcraft and curses and belief in horoscopes, etc., with unspeakable immorality and drunkenness are all generational curses. 

Most unique is the way this pastor came into the knowledge of God. After spending much of his teenage years in prison for stealing and selling drugs at the age of 20 he had destroyed his body and doctors sent him home to die. For the first time a Christian intercepted him, gave him the New Testament, and he was introduced to the God he had never known. Without knowing any believers he fasted and prayed and was instantly and miraculously completely healed. From the moment of his conversion he became a healer through a very simple method. In the gatherings, he says we will wait on the Holy Spirit to come and set you free from whatever bondage you have been living with. It is an amazing thing to see 10,000 people who are all in one accord, all having experienced deliverance of one sort or another, silently waiting for the Holy Spirit to fall upon the group. Yesterday afternoon we waited in unity together for an hour and when God began to work there were people healed and set free from demonic control. Only in the Ivory Coast have I seen such demonic manifestations! Those in the Western world have no idea of the way a possessed person is caused to scream when the demonic power fights to remain. I feel so sad that "moderate Christians" in America are limited in their understanding of what supernatural activities are in the heavenlies and the warfare of the battle we wage. Here it is not contrived but very real!

This Godly pastor amazes me. Pastor Vladimir has not built this ministry around himself. He is continually letting others he has mentored pray for the sick, preach, etc. He slips away for 3 days at a time to devote himself to prayer. One of the "experiences" of the Mountain of Moses he teaches is sacrificial giving to the Lord. He taught them to make a sacrificial gift to the Lord without even knowing what it would be used for! He told me privately, "we need to teach sacrificial giving! Not for causes, but unto the Lord." Last year the giving in the special offering was $225,000 and the total sum was sent intact to a church in Siberia, a cell church that was exploding and needed larger facilities. This year, the 10,000 people gave an offering of $325,000. Last night the Leadership Team designated the entire amount to be wire transferred to Yonggi Cho at Church Growth International for him to distribute as he saw fit! I was asked to make the contact since I have known Cho for years. When I contacted them they assumed this was another scam . . .who sends such an amount out of the blue?????

I am now waiting for wire transfer instructions!

I addressed about 2,500 Cell Leaders at 6 pm last night! I am now ready for heaven! What a joy to be with my brothers and sisters who together lead at least a quarter of a million Russians in weekly home groups!

BIBLICAL BASIS FOR LARGER GATHERING

Bill Beckham has described the cell church as a two-winged bird that has a “large wing” and a “small wing.” The two wings are clearly described in one verse, Acts 2:46: (1) they went to the temple to hear the Apostles teach and (2) broke bread in their homes. The two dimensions of a cell church require both teaching and prophesying.

The large wing is for biblical instruction, equipping the believers for the work of their ministry.  The large gathering of believers took place in the Jerusalem temple. In Ephesus, Paul taught large groups in the school of Tyrannus. They also gathered in Corinth on the “first day” (Acts 16:2). In Acts 20:7, believers crowded together in Troas on the first day of the week as Paul taught them into the night.

The small wing is where all prophesy and reveal Christ’s presence and power. (1 Cor. 14:3, 24-25). The primary purpose of the cell meeting is for edification, exhortation and comfort as believers manifest supernatural gifts to build up the body. This produces “Body Life Evangelism” as observing unbelievers fall on their faces, declaring they are witnessing the activity of God within the group.

Thus, there must always be two components in a cell church. The assembled community gathers for biblical guidance and instruction so they will properly function as “one another” priests in the cell. The cell penetrates the people within their oikoses and draws them into the cell meetings to observe Christ’s activity as His gifts are manifested.

Contemporary cell churches must remember that the gathered assembly is for the purpose of equipping believers through biblical teaching. Too often in a consumer-oriented Sunday service the sermon is directed toward making the audience “feel good.” One TV church commercial in Houston promises that those who attend will “get a lift for the rest of the week.” No! The general assembly is for the guidance of the priesthood as they serve for the week.

Also, contemporary cell churches must remember that the basic community gathered in homes is the way the indwelling Christ manifests His presence and power through ALL believers prophesying as the ungifted and unbelievers watch. If this is not taking place the cell is not the authentic body of Christ.

Two wings take care of two separate ministries. In the large wing, believers are equipped and edified from the scriptures. This gathering is for believers, not unbelievers. That is why in Wesley’s cell church the attenders had to obtain a ticket in the class meeting (cell) before they could come to the large service!

In the small wing (cell), purification of the body members takes place as all prophesy and unbelievers observe Christ’s power. Note: unbelievers are not first taken to the large service where teaching takes place.

We seek to evangelize in the wrong place by the wrong method. One experience in a Spirit-filled, Christ-empowered cell as healing and deliverance takes place, is worth fifty trips to a boring large wing church service!

LISTEN TO THIS PODCAST!

My Grandson, Nathan Neighbour, is the seventh generation in the Neighbour family to serve as a pastor. At 30, he is capable of communicating with his generation to make the truth about Christ's Basic Communities fully understood.

He shepherds a community of believers who meet in Pomona, California in the famous FOX theater used by rock concerts. Every Sunday morning he draws young adults from the secular community.

He and his lead team are fully devoted to forming home groups in that area. He was sent on a short mission to Afghanistan some time ago and there met Maria Chauvin. It was love at first sight and soon they will be married.

May I urge you to sign up for his blogcasts? His recent message CHRIST IN YOU is the best presentation I have ever heard in my life. It is anointed!

Visit www.mosaicpomona.org for free access to his messages!

The Bema Judgment

Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you’ll be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You won’t get by with a thing. If your work passes inspection, fine; if it doesn’t, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. But you won’t be torn out; you’ll survive—but just barely.  

                               (1 Cor 3:11-15, The Message)

This passage describes the Bema Judgment of believers. We will all face an evaluation of our work at the end of this life. It will be the Shekinah, the Glory of God, that is the fire that burns away the wood, hay and stubble of our ministries.

Based upon how we built the Kingdom on earth, we will be assigned our servant positions in the future eternal Kingdom (Matthew 25:21, 23).

Another powerful scripture about our being accountable for our ministry is found in Revelation 4:2-5. Here we see 24 elders representing the churches before a throne which is emitting “flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.” This is a throne of judgment of the churches. When the Holy Spirit calls forth body members to form the present body of Christ, the Basic Christian Communities are formed. Their task is to reveal the Presence and Power of the indwelling Christ. Remember: His final mission, to be completed in this age, is to draw all men to receive His Lordship.

If a cell group fails in the mission assigned to it, no matter how many times it meets for fellowship and study, etc., if it does not see unbelievers overwhelmed by Christ revealing His presence and power, if it does not hear them saying with awe, “God is certainly among you,” (1 Corinthians 14:24-25), they are building with “cheap or inferior materials.”

The most sacred body on the earth is Christ’s Basic Body. Their most sacred task is to so function that the energeia, the spiritual gifts, are so manifest that Christ is revealed as the source of their priestly lifestyle.

The first three chapters of Revelation shows Christ in the midst of the churches, evaluating their works. That same Son of God is sizing us up. Right now.

Translated from the Russian web site!

A few months ago God gave Vladimir Munteanu strategy of the church through home groups

March 10 Vladimir Munteanu had service in Dnepropetrovsk Temple of the Holy Spirit. The service started with great praise and worship, the Levites in every song, along with the audience in the unity of the spirit, to give God the glory. 

The Home Church congregation welcomed all the online home groups of the Spiritual Centre "Renaissance" in the 15 countries that joined the service in the Online www.vo.org.ua. 

A few months ago God gave Vladimir Munteanu new strategy for the church through home groups. And in home groups Spiritual Centre "Renaissance" began a new time - a time of growth and manifestation of God's power. Each time on home groups come more and more people, where they get the answers and see the glory of God in his life. 

Just two months ago, the Lord spoke to Pastor Vladimir, opening online home groups around the world. Thanks to the Internet leaders Spiritual Centre "Renaissance" is already spend more than 70 home groups in 15 countries around the world each week, and the number of these groups is growing. Saving people and miracles that occur in these groups, a clear indication of the fact that it is God's revelation will bring forth much fruit. 

Irina, Novorossiysk, Russia: "I'm developing an online home group in the city of Novorossiysk. One day when we all together, watching the live broadcast of the service with Vladimir Munteanu, I was healed. I have long suffered from thyroid and greatly suffered from it. When the prayer was given, I felt the intense heat in the thyroid gland, and then went all the pain and discomfort. The service was more than a month ago, and today I'm perfectly healthy, thank the Great God! Our home team is growing and multiplying. We see unbelievers saved and see how God is like. This week, our home group multiplied. On this Sunday, the pastor preached about the relationship in the family, "the husband and wife were truly happy, they need to be blessed in all areas of family life: spiritual, mental and physical. Spiritual blessing - a spiritual understanding, unity of views and goals. Strong family - two people are connected with each other and with Christ. There's also a blessing of peace, when the husband and wife - friends. They all support each other, they know how to forgive and accept each other for what they are. There is one very important blessing - a blessing in intimate life. The devil has a specific purpose: to go into people's homes and destroy the family, stealing from them a blessing, but we know its intention, can now protect your family, destroy the devil and live happily ever after! " After the sermon the pastor prayed for the destruction of the curse on the family curse divorce, loneliness, recovery of relationships and the blessing of family life. This was a very powerful prayer. everyone present experienced a strong touch of the Holy Spirit, and many people in need of healing and deliverance, have received the miracle of God in the prayer of Pastor Vladimir. And next Sunday, the ministry in Dnepropetrovsk, will have a pastor of the Spiritual Centre "Renaissance" Julia Zakharchenko, and it will be broadcast live on our website vo.org.ua."

THE ONLY WAY TO BECOME HOLY

by David Wilkerson

[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

It is impossible for any of us to achieve holiness in God's sight by our own strength or willpower. We must come to Him saying, "Lord, I have nothing to give You. You have to do it all." 

Yet we remain convinced, "If I could just get victory over this one last, remaining sin, I'd be able to live holy." So we take in hand the sword of willpower, promises, and good intentions and set out to kill the enemy in our hearts. But we can never be holy while standing on the ground of self-righteousness. 

You and I face the same burning bush Moses did. And that bush is a type of God's fiery zeal against all flesh brought into His presence masquerading as holiness. He says to us, "You cannot stand before Me on that kind of fleshly ground. There is only one holy ground and that is faith in My Son and His work on the cross."

This is the only way God ever could have saved and reconciled a whole world. If our works merited our salvation, only a select number would be candidates forsalvation—but I believe Christ died for all.

We can behold the worst thief, rapist, murderer, drug addict or alcoholic—people who have no good works at all—and testify, "By repentance and faith, they can be presented righteous in Christ Jesus."

That is the true, saving power of God. Yet many Christians live as if their works are sufficient. On judgment day, they will stand before God in their flesh, saying, "Look at everything I've done for you, Lord. I've worked to stay clean and holy. I've prophesied, fed the poor, healed the sick, cast out demons. And I've done it all to please You!"

But God will answer, "You did none of those things through the power of My Spirit. You did them all in your own strength. I accept the righteousness of only one Man—My Son. And I do not see My Son in you."

"Of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:30-31).