Networking

One objection to simple church that occasionally surfaces is the loss of ability to accomplish certain tasks because of smallness. I was recently greatly encouraged by observing functional networking in the simple church community. John White sent out a email concerning recent developments in Kenya. We have mutual friends that had traveled to Kenya and helped train indiginous leaders in the simple church concept (Luke 10). Many churches were planted and have continued to stay in contact. Kenyas recent cival wars and violence has produced great distress for the churches there. Johns' letter highlighted some of the realities on the ground and requested that groups ask God about what they should do to help bring relief.

This letter quickly circulated from network to network, house church to house church, leader to leader, and believer to believer. I personally received it several times. This tells me that a communication link exists that is based on relationships (not institutions) that has great potential. It remains to be seen what the result of the Kenya outcry will have within these networks. If no response comes it would indicate to me that we are still trapped in the mindset of our hearing being disconnected from our doing. Still, the consolation remains that Jesus is building His church. The puzzle continues to be put together in ways many of us could not have predicted a few years ago.



Mickey