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Encouragements (5.7.15)

Just a few encouragements I want to pass along… –Brice Burton (originally from Somerset and now living Tacoma, Washington) joined our 1st Wednesday of the Month Google Hangout and shared of how he and his wife Becca have been really invested in a pub in their neighborhood. They now have a community of 20 or so “not-yet believers” that they meet with every Monday. They are starting to see many of those folks take interest in their home gathering and Life Transformation Groups. –I am excited for a young family in Elizabethown, Ky that is patiently and faithfully taking steps to see a simple church community birthed.  As we have talked weekly over the past couple of months, it is clear to me that God is starting to do some exciting things in and through… Read More »Encouragements (5.7.15)

The Telephone Game and the Reliability of the Gospels

Are we crazy for believing the stories in the Bible? Are we to be pitied more than all men (as the Bible itself suggests we are if the stories are not true)?  Is it more reasonable to believe that, like in the telephone game, the story we have down on paper is nothing like what really happened in the beginning? In a recent conversation with a friend about the reliability of the Bible, the telephone game argument came up.  I really appreciated the honesty of my friend in sharing his doubts.  The truth is that he simply was articulating a doubt that I think haunts many believers.  In the telephone game a person whispers a message to a friend, it’s passed around the circle, and then the last person at the end shares the message… Read More »The Telephone Game and the Reliability of the Gospels

The Spirit Is Moving! An Update On Our Journey! (Guest Blog)

To our brothers and sisters in Lexington (and wherever else these words might travel!), may our Master Jesus’ grace and peace be yours in ever increasing measure! We have found Him to be so good, providing for us everything we need at just the right time. We hope you will find encouragement in this brief update. As many of you know, we took Gavin’s challenge in early 2014 very seriously, and we prayed for the Lord to show us specific things He wanted us to do in that year for His Kingdom. He answered us very clearly! In response to His clear leading, we engaged with the local churches in our community in an attempt to partner with them in spreading the Kingdom here in Pendleton county, KY. There are 49 churches here that proclaim… Read More »The Spirit Is Moving! An Update On Our Journey! (Guest Blog)

Trying To Figure Out “Church?” Try this…

Neil Cole over at his Coleslaw blog recently wrote a post entitled “Jesus’ View of The Church.”  I thought that Neil had a great idea for anyone or any group trying to figure out what church should look like.  Spoiler Alert… this was the very last part of the post. Here’s a closing suggestion: Take a sheet of paper and draw a line down the middle creating two columns. On the left write: “Who is Jesus?” and write down all the things you know about him (descriptions, names, powers). On the right side write: “Difference this should make in the way we do church.” Write down all the ways we should be different because of who Jesus is. I seriously doubt you can leave church the way it is in light of who Jesus truly… Read More »Trying To Figure Out “Church?” Try this…

House Church Multiplication In Appalachia

I often think about opportunities for simple or house church multiplication in my region.  When I pray, Appalachia frequently comes to mind.  Eastern Kentucky is often characterized by its economic and drug challenges.  However, when I think of of Eastern Kentucky and the Appalachian region, I see opportunity–opportunity for disciples and churches to multiply. A recent article online from the folks at Exponential about Clarence Greenleaf (1915-2004) highlighted the faithfulness he and his church family (Grundy Church) in the region.  While many the churches he helped plant ended up going the way of brick and mortar, he had a passion for church multiplication throughout Appalachia. Grundy Church had many strategies for multiplication. For instance, they sent a bus to one target area to bring in a dozen or more people to their services. That sounds… Read More »House Church Multiplication In Appalachia

NPR All Things Considered: Simple Church

Recently, National Public Radio featured simple/house church ideas.  “All Things Considered” aired House Churches Swap Steeples For Sofas and Say Thay’ve Never Been Closer.  You can listen to the feature and read a related article here.  I am grateful for their coverage and am not surprised that it appeared on the show since more people are moving to simpler forms of church life.  Overall, I thought the story was done well, but like anything squeezed into 3:30, much was left out.  Here are a few thoughts I had after listening to the story: * The reporter states that “everyone just talks about what’s been weighing on them.”  While I’m uncertain if those in the community would describe themselves that way, I encourage people to each bring a message that has been “weighing on them” as… Read More »NPR All Things Considered: Simple Church

Mega Church planting House Churches?

Northland Church in Florida recently caught my attention.  Northland is a mega church seeking to be a “church distributed.”  Their vision for distributing the church, according to their website, is to plant simple churches.  The even have a directly-linked page dedicated to simple church planting that is similar to this site.  Also, you will see a link to a special training site that includes 11 video teachings and notes to help people start simple churches. Here is a video on their churches main website that features the first lesson in their simple church training:   Without question, the Church in America changing as more and more people wrestle with the question, “What is a church?”  What are your thoughts about mega churches planting simple churches?   While larger churches with this mission can sometimes overestimate… Read More »Mega Church planting House Churches?

Simple Church Hangout – March 4

NEXT HANGOUT:  WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4TH, 8PM EST The Simple Church Alliance desires to help people, regardless of location, to start simple church ministries and networks.  In 2015, we want to help those who want to multiply simple churches, but are geographically unable to join us for our monthly Simple Church Experience opportunities here in Central Kentucky.  Beginning February 4th at 8PM, and continuing on the first Wednesday of each month, meet us here to join a special Google hangout where you can meet and be encouraged by others on this journey.  We will post details and links to the hangout here on our website and on our Facebook Page.  If you know you would like to take part, please email us your Google email so that we can make sure you get connected to the… Read More »Simple Church Hangout – March 4

A Letter From Karla and Gavin

Dear Friends and Family, Here we are at the end of one year and the cusp of another. As we reflect on 2014, we are moved to express our gratitude to you. We wake up and get to do what we are doing because of the great love and support we receive from you. We continue to serve with the faithful pioneers of Simple Church Alliance. We have been trusting God together with this endeavor for four years. In 2014, we have enjoyed celebrating marriages including Kye and Kendall’s beautiful ceremony on the Wheeler’s farm and Dirk and Charity Joy’s in historic Lexington. Our friends Lindy, Katherine, and Emmalee were baptized. Leaders from here and across the globe gathered for our third conference at Asbury. Preparations are being made for more babies and more marriages.… Read More »A Letter From Karla and Gavin

“Hangout” Wednesday Night on Google

The purpose of this “hangout” is to share some face-to-face (sort of) time with others involved or interested in simple church but are geographically separated from other like-minded folks.  Participants will be asked to share briefly about your current experience with “simple church” and what next step of faith you sense God is leading you to take in your discipleship/simple church journey.  If you are married, then it would be great to see you and your spouse together in the “hangout!” When: Wednesday December 3rd Time: 8PM Where: https://plus.google.com/events/celtse5kfrch53v1vvuh9f0bcq4 Please let me know if you would like to take part and we will send you instructions on how this will work. You will need a Google email address.  Participation is limited, but I believe you will also be able to watch the hangout live at… Read More »“Hangout” Wednesday Night on Google