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Update: Network Gathering Sept 29 / Retreat deadline / more…

Fall Network Gathering   On Sunday, September 29th at 11 AM we will have a fall network gathering for all simple church friends!  Come together for a bring-your-own picnic lunch at Camp Kearney in the back of Jacobson Park in Lexington!  Note that some picnic tables are available.  We do have indoor space if the weather doesn’t cooperate.  Please take this opportunity to bring a frisbee, a football, or anything you and your kids might enjoy doing outside (Bikes? Fishing poles? hammock?). Perhaps this could be a great way to introduce a friend to simple church? We will pull folks… Read More »Update: Network Gathering Sept 29 / Retreat deadline / more…

2024 Simple Church Retreat Oct 19-20

Come to Stanford, Kentucky’s second oldest town this year to connect with and learn alongside simple/house/organic church practitioners from around the region at the 2024 Simple Church Retreat/Conference October 19-20! Since 2012, we have hosted an annual overnight opportunity for Christians asking similar questions to come together for a time of equipping and encouragement—questions like: What is a church really and how simple can it be? What are the challenges we would need to overcome in order to be a part of a simple/house church? Am I even allowed to start a house church and if so how does that… Read More »2024 Simple Church Retreat Oct 19-20

Good Friday Gathering – March 29 6:30PM

Simple Church Alliance Friends… We are hosting a worship gathering on Good Friday, March 29 at 6:30 PM at The Prayer Room on Broadway in Lexington (1218 South Broadway, Lexington, KY)! We’d love to have you join us! We will have coffee and some light refreshments. RSVP’s are appreciated. If you would like to share a song, testimony, or Easter related reading come prepared to do so! Feel free to contact us if you have any questions! See you on March 29th!

More Law Than Love?

Is it possible that I could be unintentionally presenting God more as law than love, and if so, could I be a stumbling block to to others hearing and receiving the Good News?

Am I Willing To Be Misunderstood?

“Am I willing to be misunderstood?” I saw the title of a recent substack article from my friend, singer songwriter, and poet Zach Winters and it mediately cut to my heart. I thought about you here at this site. What a question! I can so easily fail to step out in faith and ever say anything of substance because I am afraid that others will misunderstand me. I want to share things and ask questions here that I haven’t. I have been misunderstood before and it can be debilitating. I’ve attempted to share things on this very site that others… Read More »Am I Willing To Be Misunderstood?

Christmas Network Gathering Dec 17

We will host a network Christmas gathering for all friends of Simple Church Alliance on Sunday, December 17 at 10am.  This will be a potluck meal and time of encouragement and Christmas music.  We hope that this can be a great way for us all to connect over the busy Christmas season.  We do ask that everyone please RSVP and let me know if you would like to bring a side dish or dessert by Sunday Dec. 10.  We will provide meat and beverages.  If you are a part of a simple church community and would like to rsvp for… Read More »Christmas Network Gathering Dec 17

Part 5: Cross Cultural Opportunities

In the last of my five part series, I want to share how my recent trip to visit simple church leaders and house church leaders in Kazakhstan and Italy highlighted the opportunities we have here for cross-cultural relational ministry.   Cross Cultural Partnership for House Churches I previously mentioned the wedding we hosted in Italy.  At this wedding, one Muslim man approached John wondering why they had done this. John explained that they are Christians, that the mother of the bride was a part of their community, and they were trying to help. The inquirer replied that he wanted to meet… Read More »Part 5: Cross Cultural Opportunities

Part 4: Intentional Discipleship

Today is part four of a series on my recent trip to meet Kazakhstani and Italian house and simple church leaders.  In my last post I shared how the trip re-emphasized to me the importance of seeing church primarily as a “way of life.” Today I reflect on how the importance of intentional discipleship as a characteristic of this way of life was highlighted during my travels. Intentional Discipleship I was really encouraged that many people we encountered emphasized discipleship.  Cru and other ministries are making relational investments in many people by focusing on intentional discipleship.  David reminded me and… Read More »Part 4: Intentional Discipleship

Part 3: Church As A Way Of Life

Over the last two posts, I have shared some of my experiences on my recent trip to meet Kazakhstani and Italian house and simple church leaders.  Over the next few posts, I would like to some take-a-ways that I hope will continue to impact my life and those of us here at home. Church As a “Way of Life” On this trip, I was affirmed and encouraged by a key truth that I often repeat: being the Church is a way of life, not a meeting or a service.  In my humble opinion, decentralization will be a common feature of… Read More »Part 3: Church As A Way Of Life

Part 2: Italy

This is part 2 of a multi-part series on my recent trip overseas to visit with ministry leaders and specifically house/simple church leaders in Kazakhstan and Italy.  You can read part 1 about Kazakhstan here.  In he next several days I will be sharing some take-a-ways from this experience.  But for today… Italy I was greeted in Italy by John (Juan Carlos) and Betsy.  I met them through a common friend Ed Magnum during the pandemic.  Over the past several years, we have had many conversations online about simple church and they have been excited to be a part of… Read More »Part 2: Italy