Serving Simple Churches to Reach the Ends of the Earth
Definition
of Strategic Church Network
Strategic: That
which is necessary to, or important in, the initiation, conduct, or
completion of a strategic plan. It is a quality of great importance
within an integrated whole or to a planned effect.
Church: The
Church is the presence of Jesus among His people called out as a
spiritual family to pursue His mission on this planet.
Network: An
interconnected or interrelated chain, group, or system that is
established for the building of relationships that work toward a common
goal.
Strategic Church Network:
An
interconnected group of individuals and churches who are related
together for the purpose of completing God's plan with strategic
intention by seeing the church rapidly established in where we live, in
our region, and to the ends of the earth. This includes a team of
servant to the body of Christ that will train simple churches in
missions as well go to the ends of the earth.
What We Do
Strategic Church Network will assist house churches do
missions. Our
desire is to help house churches network together to be able to do
missions more effectively and be a tool to help them pool their
resources and efforts in mission. We are a team that will come along
side simple/house churches and networks to advise, train and network.
Our emphasis will be on three fronts based upon our mandate in Acts 1:8:
- Jerusalem = Local area
- Judea & Samaria = Regions near the church, but different cultures.
- The ends of the earth = The areas of the world where the gospel has not yet been preached and the Church is not yet established.
In these areas we will concentrate on those who are unreached,
and the poor such as widows and orphans.
This will be done by:
- Casting vision and mobilizing simple churches.
- Communicating the needs and opportunities that fit the simple churches DNA.
- Providing a network to enable simple churches to fulfill their mandate to make disciples of all nations. This network will function regionally.
- Providing strategic services to simple/house churches that will help them accomplish their mandate to reach the nations.
- Providing a system whereby house churches can financially support their own missionaries and missionary teams as well as strategic projects.
A Brief History: A Hunger and a Challenge
A
number of years ago the Lord began to work in the hearts of five
couples who were serving together to mobilize churches around the world
to reach the unreached. There grew a hunger for the experience of
genuine relationship and presence of Jesus Christ in the meeting of the
local church. This hunger drove them to begin to study how the Lord
wanted to build and gather his church. This has led them into an
adventure that many are calling a revolution. Little did they know that
this hunger would change their lives forever.
Each of these
five couples has a common life experience. Other than their faith in
Christ, they have also been actively involved in cross-cultural
missions. Much of their ministry has been to train the body of Christ
to reach the unreached peoples throughout the world and to equip them
with proven strategies. One of the most effective strategies they have
seen and taught has been the Church Planting Movement.� This
is
defined by David Garrison in his book Church Planting
Movements: How
God is Redeeming a Lost World,� as a rapid
multiplication of
indigenous churches planting churches within a given people group or
population segment.� Having been exposed to this biblical model, and
having taught it overseas, these five couples have concluded that they
must practice what they teach here at home.
A challenge has been set
before this team. If it is biblical, and it works overseas, why can't
it work here in the United States? Out of this challenge and their
hunger for genuine organic Christianity they have launched out doing
simple/house church with fear and trembling knowing that it is the Lord
who builds His Church. The team then spent several months seeking the
Lord, studying other house church models and methods, and simply being
church together. They have now turned their efforts outward
and
desire to see the Lord work in the Hampton Roads area in ways that we
do not
know, and without the schemes of man or organization.
Therefore
we have now embarked on a task to help the house churches in our region
and beyond to set their eyes on the fields that are white unto harvest.
Strategic Church Network has been formed for that purpose. SCN works in close relationship with House2Harvest Network as a resource, and Hampton Roads Simple Church Network and its many simple/house churches.
Let it be understood that we are all learning. This is truly
an experiment in Kingdom life, desiring to serve our King and Honor His
will in all that we do. We pray that our efforts will not only bring
glory to Him, but be intrumental in the expansion of His Kingdom by
making disciples of all nations (ethnic groups).