From a Washateria to a New Church?!
Recently I heard a great short story from a “simpler church” planter friend here in Dallas.
Each week he is working with seventeen (!) groups in a variety of locations, and in various stages of development. These meet in places as diverse as mobile homes, apartments, houses, washaterias and even on street corners and empty lots. Some offer evangelistic opportunities primarily. But some are certainly growing “seeds” of churches. And some of these groups are fully-functioning small churches.
The Holy Spirit leads my friend and these groups in some simple and natural ways. He offers this testimony:
I was ministering at a washateria when I met Ms Bertha. She had a little girl who was playing and got a cut on her hand. Ms Bertha was very scared since they could not stop the little girl’s hand from bleeding. I came to her and helped her, got some bandages and prayed for her and the family to be saved. Now she has a Bible study in her house.
Some of my observations:
- The opportunity arose when he was outside the church walls ministering.
- The need God met through him was not immediately a “spiritual” one.
- God had already prepared this woman to be ready to come to faith.
- The next step my friend took was not to bring her into an existing church or group, but to begin a new group around her in her home–where other friends and family are more likely to need to know Jesus.
