A REPORT OF SIMPLE-CHURCH MEETINGS IN KENYA

Dear BFK Supporters,

 

I asked Jimmy about the nature of these simple-church meetings  and how they were conducted and this was his reply. I dearly loved reading about this because I believe it is an apt description of something of the genius and vitality of the church we read in the book of Acts. Thank you Jimmy for taking the time to describe this for us and for painting such a vivid picture.  

 

 

 

OUR NETWORK

Just last week, the Holy Spirit helped us to plant the 23^rd simple church fellowship in Mushekwe, next to Kitusuru. The 23 simple churches form a bond that is defined by a network, where we exchange information and resources as the Spirit directs. As a network we believe that thinner groups are more conducive to teaching, discipline, discipleship and fellowship and hence we have formed a network of small independent groups but connected through mutual spiritual support through prayer, vision and values. The fellowships are autonomous; there is no central body ‘manning’ these groups. There is no lording it over and I am not a presiding authority on any group. Neither do I draw salary on any of the fellowships. However we seek to maintain a network for encouragement, edification, testimony and fellowship with each other. We have a reunion that we hold twice every year (this year we seek to make them four), when we come together for testimony and good times with the Lord. A lot of good things happen in our reunions.

 

 

 

FELLOWSHIP TIME

We don’t call them a “church service” but a fellowship. Each fellowship has between 12 and 30 believers. Due to smallness of homes in Kenya, we have rented places for fellowship and we do not insist on meeting on a Sunday morning, but each fellowship meets at least once in a week. When we meet we adhere to 1 Cor14v26. Every believer brings what the Lord has put into their hearts for the edification of the body of Christ. They don’t come to “listen to the word”; they all come to share and fellowship with each other and enjoy the living presence of the Lord Jesus Christ as the centre of focus. In most meetings, nobody is designated to ‘lead’. The Holy Spirit leads in teaching or bearing testimonies. We have the gift of prophesy and speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues. We have prayer for each other and for the sick and the afflicted and those that are not part of the fellowship. Above all, there is worship in songs and prayer, where everybody is involved. These things don’t follow a given order but the prompting of the Holy Spirit. When we fellowship, we don’t look at our watches and we switch off cell phones. We seek to give the Holy Spirit time to do His work with us and in us. When someone has to leave, they do it quietly but this does not happen frequently. When there is need for an organized presentation, a person volunteers to lead or to write down what is being passed. All things are done with sensitivity to the direction of the Holy Spirit.

 

 

THE AFRICAN PROPENSITY

Africans are informal and simple people. They like talking in something like a chain i.e. one person builds upon what another has said and the thread is build like that, without too much variation and unnecessary detail and contours. Even their songs have simple melodies, but with very figurative words. The IC arrangement of protocols and orders has been pretty alien to them. That’s why they easily adopt to the organic worship without much adjustment. In fact you’ll hear this comment from new-comers after fellowship, “This is it! This is it!!” As children, they are taught folk tales by elderly people around a fire in the cool of the evening. Sitting at the feet of a Living God and listening to Him in an organic church setting is nostalgic and wonderful to them.

 

GIVING

We don’t emphasize on giving tithes but giving everything that we have (Acts2v44). We give according to our abilities and we give generously and cheerfully (2Cor9v6-7). Every month we fast for two consecutive meals as we pray for different needs. We give out the money or food that we would have used. These fast offerings are used to feed and meet daily needs of orphans, widows and those that have no means in our midst (Isaiah58v6-9).  

 

COMMUNION This New Testament commandment from the Lord Jesus Christ is taken very seriously in our network.  In agreed upon time of the week, up to six believers meet in homes and partake of the sacrament together.  We take any solid food for the body and any non-alcoholic liquid for the blood. In most circumstances, we have used bread and water.  This forms an important part of bonding in fellowship and getting involved in each other's lives at a more personal level.  We do this from house to house and it has been a magnent that drew more people into fellowships; a sure tool for evangelism and maturity in faith.    We partake of the Lord’s supper often, either in our common rented meeting houses or in homes where just a few gather together (because of limited space) in the agreed upon time in the course of the week. In these photos, one occasion was in the meeting hall on 6th Feb, 2011 and the other one was last Sunday 20th March, 2011 in Sister Mercy’s house. We try to dedicate most if the day to worshipping the Lord, and therefore after meeting together for fellowship, we break into little groups and go separate ways into designated homes in the direction of the Holy Spirit. While there, we can eat or sing or worship or do scripture study. Above all, these are times to really know each other better and develop strong connections. These times have turned out to be a great evangelistic tool, in that those that come and fellowship taste a new thing and eventually stay. During these times, we get to the basics of the cross and the blood and Gethsemane. The Holy Spirit revealed to us that it should not be a routine like in the IC where just Matt 26v26-27 is read in every sacrament service. He taught us that Matt 26v26-27 was the beginning of His passion and it’s good to remind ourselves about what went on after that for us to understand the atonement well. EVANGELISM Once someone is reached and joins a fellowship, activity starts. They are required to participate through active involvement. We do not encourage people’s growth at their own pace, but we encourage them to exercise their faith through active participation, and as they do it, their gifts are revealed and the once dead hearts blossom as roses. Shyness is dealt with as they are allowed to participate. This enhances self esteem and self identity within the body. One tool that has been effective for evangelism is frequent partaking of the Lord’s Supper in homes. We didn’t know this but we have discovered through experience that it has a bonding that no man can fathom. Surely, every commandment from the Lord was meant for our good. It is always profitable to simply obey.   The clergy made church buildings “holy ground” and the only acceptable place worthy for the partaking of the Holy Communion. This is another lie from the pit of hell!