Are there any independent house churchers here?

[Rudy]

Not meeting anywhere specifically. I'm not in the best of health to travel. I meet weekly on skype with fellow apostolics for bible study. I've been looking for spirit filled churches. Not interested in the rigid/legalistic approach. I'm on disability and the last church I attended accused me of not helping to pay the electric bill. Actually I was at or slightly ahead of a tithe in my giving. There were people leaving that church for some reason, I guess the pastor panicked.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by randyabrown

I do want to get a building. I looked all summer for a building to rent. I didn't like anything that's currently available and the tent felt right. I'll look again in a few months.

Mind if I ask why you folks have decided to go in that direction? Just wondering is all.

[n david]

We are part of a fellowship which meets in a house. Eventually we will probably move to a building, though I would rather stay in a home.

It's been a huge blessing especially for my wife and I have enjoyed it as well.

It's been a very different experience for me, since I've never been in a house church. On the plus side, I haven't wore a suit since the end of February.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by n david

We are part of a fellowship which meets in a house. Eventually we will probably move to a building, though I would rather stay in a home.

May I ask why y'all would probably eventually move to a building?

The impression I get from most Oneness Pentecostals is that 'house church' is just a temporary stop over until a budget and membership can be obtained to justify a rented place or purchased building.

I do know at least one other Oneness Pentecostal house church that has always met in one another's homes going back to the 50s at least, and they have known many others across the southeastern US who meet similarly (no denomination, no names for individual churches, no hierarchies just elder-led meetings of Jesus name Pentecostals meeting from house to house). They meet house to house because 'well, that's how we've always done it' and they just don't believe in denominational type organizations and ways and means. Pentecostal underground, I guess? lol

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by n david

We are part of a fellowship which meets in a house. Eventually we will probably move to a building, though I would rather stay in a home.

It's been a huge blessing especially for my wife and I have enjoyed it as well.

It's been a very different experience for me, since I've never been in a house church. On the plus side, I haven't wore a suit since the end of February.

lol

I really think 'house church' needs to be more Biblical than it often is. What I mean is, a lot of people 'do house church' because it's either new-fangled, or it avoids certain issues at 'the old place' they went to, or it's more comfy-cozy coffee klatchy. But really, for an individual house church to last, and grow, the assembly needs to be doing house church intentionally. By intentionally I mean the assembly believes THIS is the 'Way' God has ordained for them to meet (regardless of how others meet).

My opinion only, of course.

I'm glad you and your wife are being blessed.

[n david]

Originally Posted by Esaias

May I ask why y'all would probably eventually move to a building?

The impression I get from most Oneness Pentecostals is that 'house church' is just a temporary stop over until a budget and membership can be obtained to justify a rented place or purchased building.

I do know at least one other Oneness Pentecostal house church that has always met in one another's homes going back to the 50s at least, and they have known many others across the southeastern US who meet similarly (no denomination, no names for individual churches, no hierarchies just elder-led meetings of Jesus name Pentecostals meeting from house to house). They meet house to house because 'well, that's how we've always done it' and they just don't believe in denominational type organizations and ways and means. Pentecostal underground, I guess? lol

Your impression is correct. That's what will likely happen where we attend as well.

[n david]

Originally Posted by Esaias

lol

I really think 'house church' needs to be more Biblical than it often is. What I mean is, a lot of people 'do house church' because it's either new-fangled, or it avoids certain issues at 'the old place' they went to, or it's more comfy-cozy coffee klatchy. But really, for an individual house church to last, and grow, the assembly needs to be doing house church intentionally. By intentionally I mean the assembly believes THIS is the 'Way' God has ordained for them to meet (regardless of how others meet).

My opinion only, of course.

I'm glad you and your wife are being blessed.

My wife doesn't want to go back into a church building. Personally, I don't either. I would like to meet in homes and if/when there's growth, just start a new house church.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by n david

My wife doesn't want to go back into a church building. Personally, I don't either. I would like to meet in homes and if/when there's growth, just start a new house church.

Maybe you will be sent forth to do just that?

[randyabrown]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Mind if I ask why you folks have decided to go in that direction? Just wondering is all.

Mostly because I'm not comfortable having house Church in my aunt's home and my home is too small (24x36 double-wide). When my pastor died, his son (along with his wife and two kids) moved in with my aunt. It doesn't feel as free as it was, and there isn't as much room and there are too many distractions. It was never really respected as Church and now that pastor Larry is gone it's even worse. If I had a large enough room in my home I would be fine with that. I'm not against that at all.

We have Church exactly the same way we did before but now we can get loud and not worry about it (we're out in the country) and we have more room to move around during worship. No one walks in front of me as I preach to get their kids breakfast. Also, we've been able to get people to visit that never came before.

It's also easier to get others to participate. We now have room for drums (my son just started playing electric drums) and keyboard (my wife is learning).

We had a Church from AL join us last night. I asked their pastor to preach (his Church is a daughter work of ours, but he has a large building). He brought 7 members with him. We had 16 total. I enjoy having Church in the tent and I hope to keep it going for as long as possible.

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by randyabrown

Mostly because I'm not comfortable having house Church in my aunt's home and my home is too small (24x36 double-wide). When my pastor died, his son (along with his wife and two kids) moved in with my aunt. It doesn't feel as free as it was, and there isn't as much room and there are too many distractions. It was never really respected as Church and now that pastor Larry is gone it's even worse. If I had a large enough room in my home I would be fine with that. I'm not against that at all.

We have Church exactly the same way we did before but now we can get loud and not worry about it (we're out in the country) and we have more room to move around during worship. No one walks in front of me as I preach to get their kids breakfast. Also, we've been able to get people to visit that never came before.

It's also easier to get others to participate. We now have room for drums (my son just started playing electric drums) and keyboard (my wife is learning).

We had a Church from AL join us last night. I asked their pastor to preach (his Church is a daughter work of ours, but he has a large building). He brought 7 members with him. We had 16 total. I enjoy having Church in the tent and I hope to keep it going for as long as possible.

Modern American homes are generally not suited for house church meetings, unlike apostolic era houses, that much is true.

I am thankful the Lord has blessed us. For a long time we were limited to a very small living room. Now, our living room is actually closer to a 1st century 'living room' - it has a large open area and we have plenty of room to worship. This by the way is one thing that bugs me about a lot of house church videos I've seen on the uto0b - their meeting space is crammed with furniture and there is no room to do ANYTHING but sit like sardines in a can. Turns the meeting into a simple glorified bible study.

Of course, I have seen Chinese and other Asian house church meeting videos where the people are packed in like sardines but they get rid of all the furniture and they stand, bow, prostrate, dance whatever anyway.

I think a lot of modern American house church meetings are probably no closer to apostolical house church meetings than a lot of traditional institutional meetings are. Somebody who desires to host the church needs to consider their available architecture, and make necessary changes designed to accomodate a group of people not merely sitting facing each other but standing, kneeling, worshipping, etc.

You mentioned it is easier to invite people and get them to come to a tent meeting than to a private residence. Is your tent on a public roadway where people can see it and might be inclined to stop in? How are you getting the word out about your meetings?