I was doing some research for a conference message I’m preparing & stumbled across your website. I am so glad I found it! Sounds like you have a lot in common with both me & my husband. I was surprised to learn you’re not too far down the road from us. We’re located in Hot Springs. If you ever get a week-end off, come check out our church: Dayspring. oh, you won’t find us in the yellow pages, we’re sort of underground :-) but people keep coming to Christ, even without the “fringe benefits” of a mega church :-)

My husband has been in ministry for more than 30 years (surrendered to preach when he was 13)and most of that time was a full time pastor. Our views on the church have drastically changed through the years. I read some of what your views on the church from an earlier post, then I came to check out your home page – but you probably know all that!

I look forward to coming back & reading more of what you have to say about blogging. I’m a staff blogger for Revive Our Hearts ministries. You can check out our websites at: reviveourhearts.com & truewoman.com

(If you’re married, have your wife check us out)

Glad I found your site,
keep pointing people to Jesus & keep living for God’s glory!
Numbers 14:21

Any lover of scripture will see that the traditional church today in America has little to no resemblance to the forms and structures present in the New Testament church. That’s no bad or horrible; it’s just unfortunate that traditional church-attenders in the South won’t extend the same grace to other structures and forms.

Elton’s last blog post..Another Hillbilly President

I must say that twice I’ve been asked, “You’re going to Journey? The cult church?” In a joking way… and I actually mentioned this at our last Bible Study session. I think people think this way b/c, in general, there is something different about the people that attend Journey. That’s what finally drew us there after 3 years of refusing to visit because it was just “too different.” Wow, different is what is needed, in my opinion! I’ve had a major soul shake up since that first visit, that is only strengthened by small groups. I really wish more churches operated this way. I agree that with small groups and worshipping in each other’s homes, it’s much more like what would have gone on in biblical times. And I like it!

Mandy’s last blog post..Thank you!

As you probably know, I’ve had a very keen interest in the house church movement, which I’ve come to believe best mirrors what the early church looked like, and also offers the best opportunity for low administrative costs, allowing for more resources to be dedicated to ministry in the community. I’m with you on that whole thing about church starts discouraging bi-vocational models, which is another area (staff salaries) where I believe church resources get pinched pretty badly, leaving few resources for ministry and missions… especially so for a new church plant. I was recently made aware, much to my delight, that we actually have a house church starting up here in Monticello. I hope to be able to check it out at some point as my work schedule allows. I think it’s exciting!

If a high church-per-1,000 figure would keep churches out of the mind-set that they need to build a monstrous physical plant (and incur a monstrous debt to go along with it), I’m all for it.

Interesting that you mentioned the “unintentional” church starts in the rural south… it’s my understanding that both Immanuel Baptist and Serenity Baptist have recently been referred to as “church plants” of Second Baptist and Immanuel Baptist, respectively (anyone who is not aware should realize that both of these churches were the results of church splits). I’d be interested in knowing if there are any figures out there that indicate how many new Christian converts are drawn to such church “plants.”

dean’s last blog post..don?t buck the huck