Did you mourn leaving the UPC?

[Aquila]

After leaving the UPCI I began to fellowship house church Christians. Many have been seriously hurt by various institutional churches. I was a little amazed at how many house church Christians had some kind of experience with the UPCI.

I must say... I've grown more since being a part of house church fellowships. I wish the rank of file Apostolic Pentecostals would discover the power in these smaller independent bodies.

In house church we tend to be more intimate. We are encouraged to be "broken". We confess our sins, faults, and imperfections. I've seen men and women confess nearly any kind of sin one can name. I've seen marriages restored after adultry and unmarried couples drawn together and blessed with a deeper and more loving relationship leading to marriage. I've seen the sick seek and receive healing. I've seen lives changed as people realize that they are called to emulate Jesus, not some list of rules or codes of conduct. It's really far more than what I ever thought Christianity was about.

I have to confess. I've gone back and fellowshipped some of my old UPCI friends in the two churches I've attended in the past. It was really a let down. While the services had great music it felt a lot like a show. The preaching was rather dictatorial instead of participative. And after service I've fellowshipped my old friends and the talk normally surrounds various standards like those placed on television, pants, makeup, jewelry, beads, etc. They never talk about the real sin issues that they face. Nor do they talk about emulating Jesus as a standard of life, rather they emphasize their "Apostolic Identity" as the UPCI defines it. I was shocked because it was really dry, dead, and almost depressing. I got the impression that they had no idea with regards to what they were missing and that they thought they have the best thing going. It was really a let down. While I like to visit to talk to old friends... I don't think I could ever return to the UPCI in good conscience. Not unless they became more "real". It seems that all the standards becomes a cloak to hide discussing real sin. It's far easier to discuss what one thinks about wedding bands or pants on women than to get down into the nitty gritty of lust, fornication, adultery, pride, hatred, envy, and a lack of caring for the poor or those in need. Prayers seemed forced and full of vibrato and void of real substance. Theatrical moaning and crying without real tears was a biggie that bothered me. Frankly... it helped me to get beyond any thought of mourning my leaving the UPCI. Visting my friends in the churches I used to attend was an eye opener. I finally got to see what it looks like and feels like to be an outsider or visitor. I'm not surpised at all that so many visit but for one or two services. To see it and experience it again served as a very important part of my healing. When I returned to my house church I truly felt blessed and delivered from the darkness of the UPCI. Now I can truly say... I've found Jesus. And He is truly all I need. Better yet... He's all I want.

[Aquila]

Sometimes you never know what you're missing until you're able to let go of what you have clinged to for so many years.

[Roxanne Murphy]

Originally Posted by Aquila

After leaving the UPCI I began to fellowship house church Christians. Many have been seriously hurt by various institutional churches. I was a little amazed at how many house church Christians had some kind of experience with the UPCI.

I must say... I've grown more since being a part of house church fellowships. I wish the rank of file Apostolic Pentecostals would discover the power in these smaller independent bodies.

In house church we tend to be more intimate. We are encouraged to be "broken". We confess our sins, faults, and imperfections. I've seen men and women confess nearly any kind of sin one can name. I've seen marriages restored after adultry and unmarried couples drawn together and blessed with a deeper and more loving relationship leading to marriage. I've seen the sick seek and receive healing. I've seen lives changed as people realize that they are called to emulate Jesus, not some list of rules or codes of conduct. It's really far more than what I ever thought Christianity was about.

I have to confess. I've gone back and fellowshipped some of my old UPCI friends in the two churches I've attended in the past. It was really a let down. While the services had great music it felt a lot like a show. The preaching was rather dictatorial instead of participative. And after service I've fellowshipped my old friends and the talk normally surrounds various standards like those placed on television, pants, makeup, jewelry, beads, etc. They never talk about the real sin issues that they face. Nor do they talk about emulating Jesus as a standard of life, rather they emphasize their "Apostolic Identity" as the UPCI defines it. I was shocked because it was really dry, dead, and almost depressing. I got the impression that they had no idea with regards to what they were missing and that they thought they have the best thing going. It was really a let down. While I like to visit to talk to old friends... I don't think I could ever return to the UPCI in good conscience. Not unless they became more "real". It seems that all the standards becomes a cloak to hide discussing real sin. It's far easier to discuss what one thinks about wedding bands or pants on women than to get down into the nitty gritty of lust, fornication, adultery, pride, hatred, envy, and a lack of caring for the poor or those in need. Prayers seemed forced and full of vibrato and void of real substance. Theatrical moaning and crying without real tears was a biggie that bothered me. Frankly... it helped me to get beyond any thought of mourning my leaving the UPCI. Visting my friends in the churches I used to attend was an eye opener. I finally got to see what it looks like and feels like to be an outsider or visitor. I'm not surpised at all that so many visit but for one or two services. To see it and experience it again served as a very important part of my healing. When I returned to my house church I truly felt blessed and delivered from the darkness of the UPCI. Now I can truly say... I've found Jesus. And He is truly all I need. Better yet... He's all I want.

Isn't it amazing how powerful transparency is? And how frightening it must be for leaders who desire control and status amongst their peers (fellow licensed ministers).
Since our church left the UPC summer of 2012, our focus has been on house meetings for midweek, and then one church service late Sunday morning. The presence of God is wonderful in the Sunday service as we worship together, but the most powerful testimonies of answered prayer and changed lives have consistently come from our house meetings.
Our family attended a UPC church in a different part of our state during this summer when we went to visit family there. It was sad because there seemed to be an obligation to present part of the service in the very traditional way (singing from the old Sing Unto The Lord hymnals), then do the second half of the service more 'contemporary' with modern worship songs displayed by Songshow. We were for the most part greeted politely, since we were with family AND because we still look 'holiness' when we are dressed for church. But at this visit, we were not asked to sing and/or preach as we have been in the past, and it seemed to me that our presence made the poor home missions pastor a little nervous because we were now from 'the church that left the UPC'.

[Praxeas]

House meetings don't work for everyone. We have a mid week service (Wed) that hardly anyone goes to. Most are at home tired from work. I doubt they'd make it to a house service.

Everything is a niche. Some people love big meetings with lots of people. Some prefer smaller. Some like both.

Sometimes you just can't please everyone.

Personally I consider my Thursday meeting a "home service" except it's not in a home. All of the members are single and don't have a home they can just open up to a crowd for an hour or so.

But we fellowship, pray and study the word.

[Sasha]

The mid week service at my church is said to be more exciting and powerful than the Sunday services. In an area with little population, the mid week service runs over 300 people.

[Charnock]

I know of no UPC churches that have added new people and kept them over the past few years. UPCers move from church to church but there is no real growth.

Mourn?

Bwahahahaha!

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Personally I consider my Thursday meeting a "home service" except it's not in a home. All of the members are single and don't have a home they can just open up to a crowd for an hour or so.

But we fellowship, pray and study the word.

That is a house church! I was part of a bible study group that met every week. We spent time talking about our lives, encouraging each other in the Lord, confessing our faults and praying for each other. I know there wasn't complete transparency but it was close. We studied the Bible and how to be disciples. The course was written by Jeff Garner. It was a bit intense but really good. I learned more about being a Christian in that group of misfits (me included) than I ever did in a large gathering.

[aegsm76]

Originally Posted by Charnock

I know of no UPC churches that have added new people and kept them over the past few years. UPCers move from church to church but there is no real growth.

Mourn?

Bwahahahaha!

Seriously? You don't get out much. New Life in Tampa has tripled in the last 10 years. They ran about 500 when we were there in 2003 and now have close to 1500. Almost all new converts. That is not even counting the church plants they have started in that time, either.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by aegsm76

Seriously? You don't get out much. New Life in Tampa has tripled in the last 10 years. They ran about 500 when we were there in 2003 and now have close to 1500. Almost all new converts. That is not even counting the church plants they have started in that time, either.

He is an example of what I said earlier about it working both ways

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

House meetings don't work for everyone. We have a mid week service (Wed) that hardly anyone goes to. Most are at home tired from work. I doubt they'd make it to a house service.

Everything is a niche. Some people love big meetings with lots of people. Some prefer smaller. Some like both.

Sometimes you just can't please everyone.

Personally I consider my Thursday meeting a "home service" except it's not in a home. All of the members are single and don't have a home they can just open up to a crowd for an hour or so.

But we fellowship, pray and study the word.

Good points.