Second Mission Journey

In a couple weeks Wendy and I head north and then west, living nomadically again for a season, with a goal of planting and encouraging microchurches wherever God opens a door. It looks like we'll come back the southern route, returning to Sarasota in the fall. Lord willing.

Right now we seem to have open doors in Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Kansas, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. I can't wait to connect again with people in those places. We also plan to spend some time in Pennsylvania and Texas learning more about what other house church networks are doing. And we pray for open doors as we travel between those places.

But the phrase "planting and encouraging microchurches" gives me pause. I said the same thing last year when we set out on our first U.S. mission trip. And what I learned is that the "encouraging" part is easy. At least it's not difficult. It's not impossible. Coming alongside people who are already doing it is wonderful. It's mutually satisfying.

But the "planting" part is hard. I mean, piquing the interest of people who aren't doing it is actually easy. Everyone seems interested in a simpler church model. Finding common ground with people is easy. Having enthusiastic conversations is easy. Even redirecting people's grumblings about bad church experiences is fairly easy. 

But maturing those conversation to where there are people gathered in homes? That's hard. And it causes me to reflect: Why should they? Why do I want them to? Why do I think it's good? Why am I getting ready to do this again?

Barriers to Entry
I got back from my first mission trip seven months ago. And since that time we have been trying to get another church rooted here in Sarasota. So I've been reflecting, and I see two barriers to entry. Two reasons that people who like the idea of house church usually don't do it.

1. They already go to church.
There are people in the faith who think simpler church would be refreshing, but they're already committed to a conventional church, either with responsibilities, or just habit. And the church offers programs they enjoy, or have come to rely on, like a weekly worship concert or hymn-sing, a meaningful and helpful message, and kids church. It's easy to criticize that as "consumeristic," but the things they're consuming aren't bad. It's not a junk food diet, it's just a sedentary lifestyle. A sedentary faith experience.

But many people attend traditional churches for more relational reasons. Their family has been going to this church forever. They know each other's stories and relatives. They share a common history. Church functions for them sort of like the romanticized version of the small town. Where I grew up and now live, I was part of a religious enclave within the city, and it's very nice to still feel like I belong to it. I actually believe this is a good thing.

Then again, others go to newer churches that have an on-fire mission. The church talks about itself as a movement. They have big hairy audacious goals to win the city and all that. They have a pastor who hears directly from God, and has a bold confidence about promising good things for the church, as if it's the kingdom of God itself. Often these kinds of church are a bit of a hype-loop where they hype what's going to happen and then hype what did happen, but still, it's energizing to be part of something bigger than ourselves.

For whatever reason someone is in a conventional church, the reality is that, with finite energy and attention, if they're going to seriously plant a microchurch in their home, they would need to stop "going to church." And that can feel like death.

2. They don't go to church.
There are other people who are in the faith but don't go to church at all. They left church at some point, for some reason, and they've gotten used to it.

Some have started totally neglecting their faith and they realize that their life didn't fall apart because of that. They're at peace. Others are self-directed in their faith. They read their bibles, watch teaching podcasts, and listen to recorded worship music. They're not in any formalized fellowship and they usually like it that way. And they're at peace. 

For these people, the decision to stop doing nothing and start doing something is significant. It's a commitment. It's a death to what has been. The fear of tethering themselves to other people is greater than the fear of finding themselves alone when they need people.

So Why Do It?
I said during the pandemic that God was shaking his church. I pleaded, "After the shaking has stopped, please, let's not just put everything back how we had it!"

Well, it feels like a long time since then. And it seems apparent that a lot of churches just put things back how they had them. But God shook his church. And I believe he is going to shake us again. In fact, I believe he is still shaking us, even if we've grown accustomed to the tremors.

Some of us remember how, when a celebrity pastor got caught having an affair, it absolutely rattled us. It shook us to the core. Now it seems like we hear about something like that every month or so, and we just shake our heads with a bit of disgust and go on about our life as if it's to be expected. We've grown accustomed to the shaking. But remember, it is part of the shaking.

God is showing us the depth of depravity and deception in the church. Like Peter said in 1 Peter 4, "For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household..." And this is always grace.

Like Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3, "No one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. 14If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames." 

God is graciously shaking apart what will not survive his judgment, so that everyone who has built their faith on those things can escape the same judgment.

In Numbers 16, when God judged Korah and his followers by causing the earth to open up and swallow them, Moses first warned everyone: “Move back from the tents of these wicked men! Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away because of all their sins.”

Still, that doesn't mean conventional church is bad, or that house churches are good. It doesn't say anything about how we do church. Or be church. It just says what we're susceptible to. And I would say that, no matter how we meet, we are susceptible to error. But I also believe that, for this time, and in the time to come, the errors we find in large pastor-centric churches are often more egregious. And I believe a network of simpler churches are needed. Because it is the antidote to consumerism church, and empire church, and celebrity pastor worship.

So that's my why. I think people need it. And I think the Church needs it. 

That's Why I Desperately Need Prayer
I alluded above to "open doors." I draw inspiration from Paul's request in Colossians 4. "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."

And I'm encouraged by the relational and nomadic tone that we read 1 Corinthians 16, as it is my heart as well: "After I go through Macedonia, I will come to you—for I will be going through Macedonia. Perhaps I will stay with you for a while, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me." And my hope, especially, is to be able to say that last part: a great door for effective work has opened to me. 

So, thank you for adding us and this request to your regular prayers. God knows how I pray for you often, as well. 

Finally, as we prepare to hit the road June 16, I just want to say thank you to those who help support this work financially. Please know that I pray over each gift with special gratitude for the giver. I'm humbled. God is honored. Yes, Lord.

​Much love to you all.