Thailand just had their first ever House Church (slash) Church Planting Movement Conference. It was wonderful to be able to have a part in this conference that, at least for some of the Thai leaders, provided a breath of fresh air and hope for their country.
It is fascinating (and worrisome) to see a country, relatively new to Christianity, that is bogged down with a traditional model of church-life that is neither relevant to their culture nor effectively reaching people for Christ. Out of a nation of 60 million people there are only 300,000 Christians. Yet, to start a new church requires (naturally) a building, sound system, instruments, and a seminary-trained pastor. This concept of church is so well engrained that most Thai leaders were not interested in a conference that presents a different church model.
Nevertheless, over 100 did attend and it was clearly the beginning of doors opening to new paradigms!
Highlights of the conference:
- Dr. Paitoom, head of the evangelical association in Thailand and pastor of a larger traditional church, shared that at 68 years of age he had become quite discouraged by the progress of the Gospel in his country. But now, he has a new vision of what God will be able to do through simple/house churches and believes that he will live to see great changes in his country as a result. He closed the conference with prayer and, though I could not understand the words, his faith and excitement was clearly communicated.
- One young brother, who has been serving as an associate pastor in a church, has already planted a house church and is seeing the potential for this movement. He does, however, face opposition from his senior pastor and will likely have to sever relationships with his supporting church in order to go forward.
Church Planting Movement:
Brad Beaman shared from the research and experiences of the IMB's Church Planting Movement research. David Garrison's book on this subject is an excellent read. They are suggesting a basic paradigm shift for mission that has come out of studying rapid church planting movements in various countries.
The old paradigm for mission:
- Each person share his/her faith-story with others.
- That person then follows up on those who make a decision for Christ.
- That person disciples the new believers and encourages them to share their faith-story with others.
- That person invites the new believers to attend a church in their area.
The new paradigm shift is the same for the first three points:
- Each person share his/her faith-story with others.
- That person does follow up on those who make a decision for Christ.
- That person disciples new believers and encourages them to share their faith-story with others.
But-- now, instead of inviting them to a church... - That person helps the new believers to start a church... teaching them to do the same among their friends: reach, follow-up, disciple, and start churches.
There are rapid church planting movements taking place (i.e. India, Nepal) in which this is exactly what is happening. By the very nature of the process, most of the churches started are simple, participatory, easily-reproducible house churches.
Thailand is at a crossroads that is not unlike much of the western Christian world... I pray that they will be able to break out of the box and give birth to new church expressions that are simple, indiginous, Spirit-directed and that facilitate a movement of Jesus' presence in their nation.
Other highlights from the trip:
- My first elephant ride in a jungle.
- My first ride on a tuk-tuk (a three-wheel taxi type vehicle).
- Learning to get around Bangkok on their SkyTrain (above-ground rapid transit) and by express boat on the canal.
- Getting lost in Chiang Mai.
- Getting "unlost" in Chaing Mai through the graciousness of a local woman who could see the we needed to be taken care of... There are kind people all over this globe!!!
