A Blog for the Church

In the summer of 2004, our church treasurer Bonnie approached me with an idea.

Sweet and supportive, Bonnie suggested that The Well (once First Southern Baptist of North Orange County) buy a house, in which my family and I could live and the church could meet for worship. My wife and I considered the idea, but decided that we may run into a few too many boundary issues.

But Bonnie’s proposal got me thinking.

I got online and decided to Google the words “house” and “church.” My heart started to race as I saw thousands upon thousands of websites and articles listed before me. I dove right in and could not read the blogs or articles fast enough, especially those by house church advocate Wolfgang Simpson.

Immediately, I was obsessed and terrified all at once. I had no idea what this surge of energy and excitement meant, but I continued to seek out more information on what house churches were really all about. I talked with a man named Mike who had already begun a house church. For three hours, he described how his church family would meet in each other’s homes for corporate worship and fellowship—and then go fix the neighbor’s fence together.

I peppered Mike with questions. With every answer and in the days to follow, I became more and more convinced that God was moving behind the scenes. But the thought of bringing this idea before the congregation terrified me to the core.

How could I suggest transplanting the entire congregation from the brick and mortar they knew and loved? But were these walls standing in our way? ? Could the same be true for you?