Simple Church Adopts an Unreached People Group

[This is a great report from Norm who is a part of House2Harvest Network]

The S. people are refugees forced to live in the desert for the last thirty eight years.  In July and August the roads, where they do exist, get hot enough to melt-down the tires on a car!  Water and food is shipped in by the United Nations.  Most of the men go off either to fight to regain their home land or find work in Spain.  There are about ten national believers in Jesus among the more than 167,000 who live in the camps.

In January 2008 I met a businessman who took a bold leap of faith.  He asked me how much it would cost to prepare and send a worker to an unengaged unreached people group who were oral learners.  I quickly responded with a conservative figure of $30,000 a year.  He responded by saying, “I want to cover expenses to send a team for two years.”  This gave us the capital to begin looking for a people and a team to send them to.  The Lord led us to the S. people.

At the end of the Labor Day 2008 House2House congress I ran into a couple who attended a few of the missions tracks.  While we were talking the Lord knit our hearts and I was able to give them some counsel regarding the call they were feeling.  I never mentioned the S. people.  A few months later Wayne* called me back asking that I mentor them because they have had a burden to work among the S. people.  Wow!

Wayne and Elizabeth* are simple church people in Texas and help lead a network of churches.  They are both around thirty years old.  They traveled among the S. people but now wanted to live with them.  In their network was another couple who soon joined them in their vision.  In November Wayne and Tom* traveled to the refugee camps where the S. people live, to begin the process of relocating their young families.

Since then we have had a few singles share the vision with the thought of joining the two couples.  The vision is simple…  teach English (much desired) in the schools already set up…  develop loving relationships as they learn about the people…  craft Bible stories into the local language with the help of a national…  enable the people to tell these stories to one another as is normal in an oral tradition culture…  develop inductive questions for each story which the people would discuss…  form the people into groups to worship the Lord and build each other up in the faith…  PRAY.  We have an expectation that the work the Lord is sending us to do can be completed after two years.

To help this vision we have developed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) which enables us to all be on the same page. (I am a firm believer in putting things in writing).  Mentorship is underway and the team will soon be going through various training, including Elijah Company missions training (www.elijahcompany.org).  We are also helping by drilling wells and constructing an agricultural system which could be used to grow food in the desert.

There are risks involved in everything and there is a risk involved in this also.  But when I take into account that big agencies are seeing returns of 50-60% of the people they send, I am thinking there is something wrong.  On the other hand, there are strengths in the sending of people from an organic relational church.

Firstly, those going have been discipled and know how to disciple in the crucible of close relationships.  They know how to do ‘church’ as in magnifying the Head, the Lord Jesus, in the midst of each other.

Secondly, they know how to enter the homes of simple people who may never have the opportunity to attend seminary or have a church building.  Their clusters will be in huts and tents experiencing the anointing of the Holy Spirit as each member does his work.

Thirdly, the resources that normally go to pay salaries, do programs and maintain buildings will now be directly available to reach the unreached people.

Fourthly, they will not be easily forgotten by their sending fellowship because each will have heard the Holy Spirit speak saying, “set apart for me…  for the work I have.” (Acts 13:1-2).  Ownership of the team by the church will be great because they are close family.

For the S. people the story has just begun!  We expect the team to be in the camps within the year.  I am in the process of selecting twelve more unengaged unreached people groups and securing the resources to send teams to them.

The adoption of the S. people by the simple church network illustrates the possibility of replicating the same with others of the 639 unreached people groups.  The House2Harvest network has resources for training and mentorship in culture, strategy, prayer, personal preparation, business and more.  It is composed of people who have been on the field and are now called by God to be part of the sending process for others.

If you would like to know more about the 639 unreached people groups and how your simple church can be involved in sending or going, contact us at the House2Harvest Network or contact me personally as well as Steve or Don.

For the Lord of the harvest,

Norman J. P.

*Names have been changed for security reasons.

Converging Towards a Tipping Point

There is a convergence happening beyond our imagination. This convergence goes beyond academic or theoretical discussions, but to the point of actually doing the work of the kingdom of God. Those who are part of House2Harvest Network are an interesting group of people. These are folks from from all over the world with various interests and experiences. But one common thread has brought these simple/house church people together, that is taking the gospel to peoples of the world that have never been reached. This is exciting! In the last few weeks we have seen several great discussions started which are still continuing. Now let’s consider what comes next: actually connecting with one another to accomplish missional endeavors.

House2Harvest Network has been online since early November, 2008. We then updated the networking tool of the site to include the “Ning” site in early February, 2009. There are presently 76 members of the network, with about 20 who still have not made the transition from the old networking website system. We can make a tremendous difference towards the fulfillment of Matthew 24:14; to take the gospel of the Kingdom to every people group in the world. There are more than 6,000 of these groups that are still waiting to be reached. The task is not too great, but it will take your partnering and networking with folks on this network and beyond to bring it to pass.

God has brought about the convergence of a family that is simple church, and missions minded to love His creation in areas of the world that still do not know him. This convergence is approaching a tipping point that will cause several of you to establish partnerships with one another so that synergy will arise and the gospel will reach into the most difficult areas of the world. This will be done as you connect with one another to accomplish ministry ventures, businesses for mission, community development and just simple missionary work.

One example of this is aquaponics. Several of us have been researching this tool to see how we can serve the poor, develop business models for those in needy areas, as well as business models in urban areas where we live. What is aquaponics? It is basically the merging of aquaculture and hydroponics. For more information about aquaponics, go to the “Aquaponics Group” on the House2Harvest Networking site. Here you can enter into a discussion on doing aquaponics and partnering together. If you Google aquaponics, you will get all kinds of information.

Imagine several members of the network catching the vision and then partner together to:

• Take it to poor villages around the world.
• Set it up in orphanages for food source and income.
• Bring it to areas where simple church folks can use as a business model for income.

At present, those researching aquaponics are in the “dreaming” stage. They are now ready do secure some funding, get some training, and build some prototypes.

If you have firsthand experience regarding aquaponics, be sure to go to the House2Harvest site and join the Aquaponics group and share your experience with others. Who knows, we may even see house churches from around the world partnering together providing fresh fish and vegetables to their neighbors and those in need.

This is just one example of how this network can converge on a project, a ministry, a task, a strategy to reach the nations. The tipping point is at hand!

Update – Discussions are up and running!

It has been about ten days since we updated the website adding the new social network component. The network seems to be shaping up very well. I appreciate all of you that have joined and taken the initiative to begin networking and dialoging together. There are some great discussions going on – this is great! But it doesn’t stop there.

There are many ways that we can visit and socialize online; with the popularity of Facebook and several great specific sites such as Simplechurch.com, Lk10.com, MissionsPlex, MissionalTribe, Missional Outreach Network, Shapevine where we can spend many hours networking together. But if you are like me – you just don’t have that much time. So what makes House2Harvest Network unique? Why do we need another social network? To be honest, we don’t need another social network. What we do need is a tool or a service for two very specific groups of people that are converging together to accomplish specific things in God’s Kingdom beyond just a social network. That is why we have started House2Harvest Network, and recently added the social networking component. These two groups that House2Harvest serves are:

• Those involved in simple/house churches and networks.
• Those involved or want to be involved to missions.

This will mean that as simple/house church folks begin to venture into missions, they will have some unique opportunities, solutions, problems, ideas, perspectives, discoveries, prayer needs and reports. That is where House2Harvest Network comes in. So keep up the good work! Let’s see what the Lord will do as we continue to network together.

One of the unique qualities of this network is that you can share with the network the many in which we can network or partner together in actual mission – not just theory or talking about it. What are some of those practical areas?

• Inviting those on the network to join together in short-term trips, projects, reaching specific unreached people groups and the list goes on.

• Holding specific trainings centered on missions and cross-cultural ministry and inviting those in the network to participate.
• Announce projects where we can partner together with human and financial resources.

This is an exciting development. As the days go by you will see new groups started around some of these specific practical areas. If you want to start one – by all means start one, that’s what the network is for. While you are at the site, explore the web site side as well as the networking site side to see all the features and articles that are there for your use. Also, be sure to invite your colleagues that have an interest in house/simple church and missions. Spread the word and ask them to come and join.

Web Site Updated with Networking Application

Greetings!

How do you like our new banner? Thanks to Wendy for putting this together for us – it looks MUCH better than my lame attempt!

The network has been growing, and we thank the Lord for that. Unfortunately it became very labor intensive. So to facilitate more activity on the network we have made some changes. We came up with a solution, but it will cause you to have to work a little bit – hope you don’t mind.

We need those who want to be part of the network to join through the new networking application that is now integrated into the web site. So all you need to do is

1. Go to the website at http://www.house2harvest.org/

2. Click on “Enter the Network” tab and follow the instructions, or if you need more information, click on the “Need Help? Start Here” Button.

3. This will take you to a button to join, fill out the Profile Information and that’s it!

4. This should not take you but 5-10 minutes.

If you have any questions or if you see any problems on the site, let me know. I am sure I may have missed some things. I cannot add you, so you need to do this yourself.

Take some time to explore the site and you can see the potential of the new networking application will have on our ability to serve the nations!

Thank you for your patience,

A Three Stranded Cord

Yesterday I met with a few guys that I meet with regularly to stir up vision, maintain some accountability, and simply dream together. When we get together we usually talk about how we can serve our Lord faithfully and help the body of Christ here in our region of Hampton Roads Virginia become focused on the unreached, make disciples and be more missional in house/simple churches. Our conversation yesterday focused on the combination of three major aspects of what the Lord is speaking to his Church around the world.

They are:

• Having a simple, organic church life.
• Focusing on unreached people groups in mission – being pioneers in mission.
• The 24/7 prayer movement – becoming a people of prayer seeing the house churches equipped to become houses of prayer.

What we discovered as we talked about this these three aspects of the revolution within the church is that we need to be sure that we steer away from the institutional traps and hierarchal bondage, hype and turning the work of the Kingdom into a business plan, self-serving ambition and wanting to “plant our flag”. It seems that these three threads of the Lord’s leading could become a “three-stranded cord” that will facilitate the making of disciples as never before. What do you think?

Another observation from yesterday and our regular meeting every week is that we need to meet together with a few good brothers or sisters in Christ and allow the” iron to sharpen iron” in order to keep us in check. It is so easy to fall back into the patterns of the old carnal life as well as the religious life of Christendom. We need each other to be sure our steps are “ordered by the Lord and that he would delight in our ways.”(Psalm 37:23) So, here is another three stranded cord, a “band of brothers” or as Neil Cole calls them “Life Transformation Groups.” The Word says that a three stranded cord is not quickly broken! (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

If you do not have a few fellow servants of the Lord to hang out with and be honest with your struggles and your ambitions, your ability to walk in integrity will be hindered. As the Lord leads you to make disciples of all nations – be sure that you are being discipled as well. You are never so mature that you don’t need someone provoke you to do the will of the Lord.

Loving Muslims – Three Challenging Books to Read

One of the greatest challenges we have as servants to the nations is the ability to serve those who are of the Muslim faith. There are so many differing opinions on what is the right strategy and posture to take when approaching our spiritual cousins. Let me take a few moments to recommend three great books to read that will not only warm your heart towards our Muslim neighbors, but assist you in how to be a friend and servant to them.

• First let me recommend: “The Crescent Through the Eyes of the Cross – Insights from an Arab Christian” by Dr. Nabeel T. Jabbour. This book tells the story of how an Arab Christian learned to be friends and love his Muslim neighbor “Ahmad” as himself. This is not your normal “How to Reach Muslims” book. You will be challenged and sobered as you learn about in the insights that Dr. Jabbour discovered.

• The second book I would recommend is: “Pilgrims of Christ on the Muslim Road – Exploring a New Path Between Two Faiths” by Paul-Gordon Chandler. Chandler writes about the inspirational and challenging life of Mazhar Mallouhi who is a Muslim follower of Jesus. Chandler explores Mallouhi’s journey from Islam to Evangelical Christianity to a Messianic Muslim. The principles and example shared will give great insight.

• The third books I would recommend is: “A Deadly Misunderstanding – A Congressman’s Quest to Bridge the Muslim-Christian Divide” by Mark D. Siljander. Siljander shares his story of seeing Muslims as an enemy to a people who are seeking God and are open to learn from those who are also seeking to know God. His historic encounters with Muslim leaders around the world will encourage and enlighten you so that you can also be a friend of those who are Muslims in your neighborhood. You may find that many of them desire to follow Jesus and learn from Him. I had the opportunity to sit down with a few other friends and discuss his book and simple church several weeks ago. It was an honor to meet him. Be sure to check his website – A Deadly Misunderstanding.

These three books may be quite controversial to some, but I highly recommend them. They have certainly kept me from growing cold and disinterested in loving followers of Islam. In fact, they have helped me to be obedient by “loving my enemies” in a real tangible way as Christ has command us to do.

North East Thailand Sources Needed

Just a quick note to all, if you know of someone who does training and discipleship in organic/simple church in the region of North East Thailand – please respond here.

If you or someone you know is involved in that part of the world and serve in that capacity let us know!

The Small of God by Mark Simpson

Mark Simpson, one of those who have joined the House2Harvest Network recently posted a blog on his site and would like to share it with you. Take a few moments and enjoy Mark’s blog at To the River.

A Shift in Definition of Unreached People Groups?

Do we need a new definition for the people groups that are unreached? Has this term been so misused that it must be redefined? Should the shift in our understanding of church, ecclesiology and mission reflect in this definition, not to mention our actual practice when reaching the unreached?

Here is the classic definition that many as well as I have been using: “An unreached people group is a people group or ethnic group, within which there is no viable indigenous church or churches with sufficient strength, resources, and commitment to sustain and ensure the continuous multiplication of churches.”

Here is my proposed new definition –

“An unreached people group (nation/ethnos) is any people group where there are no followers of Jesus who are making disciples within their own people group.”

I think it is time to change this definition. My reasons for this is that this new definition:

• Kingdom of God Focused. It will deter those who are doing missions in order to promote Christianity or their brand of Christianity rather than relationship and submission to Jesus Christ as king. There are several attempts of large denominational missions organizational to define the unreached as being those who are not aligned with them theologically, organizationally or historically (see the example discussed here – http://www.internetmonk.com/archive/when-the-reached-are-unreached). In reference to my own experience, I was serving with a large church in an Asian nation several years ago which was made up of a major ethnic group within that nation. At the time this ethnic group was listed as unreached by a large missions organization. After corresponding with them, it was concluded that this ethnic group was on the list because there were no churches of their “brand” among them. This was arrogant and sectarian at least. As this error continues, it justifiably brings the unreached people group strategy to question. Possibly an adjustment to the definition of unreached will deter this self-gratifying strategy of building one’s own kingdom within a people group will be exposed and possibly thwarted.
• Acknowledging all followers of Jesus. Many are ignoring the huge numbers of followers of Jesus that have chosen not to align themselves with historic or organized Christianity, evangelicalism or denominational organizations. This definition will include them in the body of Christ, though separate from organized Christendom.
• Focuses on making disciples. This new definition emphasizes the mandate from our Lord to make disciples rather than plant churches. Nowhere in scripture are we commanded to plant churches, but to make disciples. Jesus builds his church – and he can do it without the help of human organizations. Simply, when disciples of Jesus are being made, church happens! The beauty is when it does happen, Jesus is the head, and the community of believers continue on the context of their culture rather than becoming an oddity or foreign.
• A simple, organic definition. This new definition is based upon the organic and simple multiplication of disciples through the means of relationships. This will focus reaching the unreached on knowing Jesus rather than militaristic strategies, marketing schemes, or tactics to convert from one religion to another (rather than relationship with Jesus). There will be little chance of misunderstanding the intention of the gospel messenger that many times sees them as a foreign threat that may bring colonialism, foreign religion, cultural destruction or worse, but plainly introducing the simple gospel of the Kingdom of Christ by lifestyle and dialogue.

After walking through a huge paradigm shift in my own life and way of thinking I have grown more and more uncomfortable with the definition (see above) for the unreached peoples and other similar versions.

Now I am not naive to the point that I think the “big guns” will immediately change their definition of the unreached. This would mean that their strategies will be reexamined, their methodologies will be in question and the “main thing” will be changed from planting churches to making disciples.  But I do hope that as I change my vocabulary to match what I strongly feel the Lord is saying to his people in these times, it will bring greater clarity and mission in my own life.

What do you think?

How Will This Work?

I just got an email from Shawn (take a look at his blog ) and he asked a very important question – so I will put it out for all of you to chime in and see what you all have to say.

His question was:

I am curious as to know how this (House2Harvest Network) could work. Is the intention that through the networking, a house church might find a way to serve a “foreign” group/pastor/church planter/evangelist/house church group to reach people in another country?

If so, would they do that through financial support, prayer support, short term missions, potentially sending long-term missions to start a new house church or house church network?

Would there be any other ways?

So how would you answer Shawn? I am looking forward to hearing some great insights from all of you.

Don