By Doug Volk
Often in the church world we talk about growth and growing in numbers. The first question posed when networking is, “How many people or families show up?” I have been part of simple/house church for about five years and this question still is asked. I am guilty of asking it myself.
I suggest that the Church is unlike a business that is measured by its ability to continue to chart progress moving up and to the right with some dips. Sometimes I struggle that we can’t achieve exponential growth or even the growth of a few more families. Yet I cannot deny that growth has occurred differently than I have expected.
Christ says the way is narrow and oftentimes he calls the few. This doesn’t mean that we can’t have huge movements or that God doesn’t work in obvious ways. I am confident that God isn’t going to be put into a box or a program.
Right now we are in an uncertain time in our little “church” group. One family is possibly being called to another place of ministry. This is good! Right? God is using them, they have been faithful, and they are trying to walk in what God wants of them. They are at the heart of what we do. They help discussion, they bring valuable content and are true servants. Plus their house is always clean.
The thought of them leaving makes me sad. We love them and are praying God uses them and blesses what they do. They are our Priscilla and Aquilia going to Rome. The group of believers they were a part of must have been sad but also happy to see the growth of the church. I am sure they struggled with making sure it was the right move. We don’t know if this will happen, but we must remain faithful where we are at the moment. We are praying for them that God will speak in their lives and that they will be willing to go where they are sent–no matter how hard it is.
So in this season of uncertainty, what must we do? Does this mean that we should pack up and take the awkward road back to a church building? Has the experiment failed? What happens if things die? Would it be our fault? Could we have done something different? Why couldn’t I have brought more people in?
I have learned over the years that Christ uses hardship and suffering to show us where we stand. It strips us of all our posturing and shows us that we haven’t really come all that far. If it were up to me, I would have hit the easy button and we would have had tons of little house churches in Morehead, maybe so my pride could take some credit in what God was actually doing.
That is why we still need the Gospel. We all need His Grace, Mercy, and Peace. These lessons have taught me to first go where Christ is leading. If he is calling you to Simple Church or a mega church, go! It took my wife and I four years to follow God to Simple Church. Guess what, my faith and walk have been pressed down and our cup is overflowing.
But how do I know where He is leading? “Be still and know that He is God!” Oftentimes God speaks in a whisper. We often get so busy doing things that we forget the plot. Christ came so that we could have life with Him and others called to Him. That is a wonderful gift…It is also a hard gift. The ones we love often move on to where God is calling them, either on this side or the other side of heaven, and that causes a deep sense of loss. It’s ok to grieve this loss. It’s ok to ask Christ, “What are you doing in this?”
I guess what I am trying to say is that our simple church group has been and will be temporary until we are able to get to heaven and have one large Church! I expect our union with God to be much greater than we can expect. I do know until that day comes, I will do my best to follow Christ wherever He leads me. Will you do the same?
You can reach Doug Volk at sijackvolk@gmail. Photo from visitmorhead.com downtown walking trail.
