House Churches

[Aquila]

I had an interesting experience this weekend. We opted out of doing "trick-or-treating" this year. Instead, I took the kids to a "Trunk-or-Treat" at a rather large church right outside Vandalia, Ohio. This church was enormous. My son, Noah (11 years old), really enjoyed himself. But as things were winding down he said, "Dad, what is this place?" Is it a school? I laughed and said, "Noah, it's a church." He said, "No way!" I had to convince him it was a church. I asked him why he was so convinced that it wasn't a church, and he said, "It just feels so big. I could get lost." I explained that there are so many different kinds of churches in the world and that when he grows up he can choose what suits him best. But I began really reflecting on what he said, "It's just feels so big. I could get lost." I remember attending a growing Apostolic church of over 700. I remember what it felt like to attend church and feel "lost" in the crowd. I remember what it was like to suddenly notice that you hadn't seen a family, or two, in a while and when you ask about the you hear how they've not been attending or backslid weeks ago. As I reflected upon this, I found myself being rather thankful for my house church.