The wife’s name was Ethel. She and her husband were once missionaries to Mexico, many years ago. Ethel was one of the few people I’ve ever met who had a genuine prophetic gifting. This means she would often have words of encouragement for people that included details only God would know. One evening, as we were having dinner in her home, Ethel told us why she had invited us over to her house.
“I have a Word for you,” she said.
After dinner she began to tell us about a vision God had shown her several months earlier on a Sunday morning. It happened when we were still on staff at the Vineyard church in Tustin – before we left to start our house church. In fact, at the time of her vision, no one knew were leaving, and no one knew we were thinking of planting a house church where 100% of the offering would go to help the poor in our community.
Ethel started by telling us how her vision began. Wendy and I had come and sat down in front of her and her husband during worship. She told us how, during the worship, she kept seeing a large, three-story house with eleven windows all over it. She kept seeing it in her mind every time she closed her eyes and so she started to pray and ask God what this picture meant. God spoke to her heart and said that it was because Wendy and I were going to be leaving and that we were going to start a house church.
Sitting there at her dinner table, Wendy and I slowly turned to look at each other in amazement. No one was aware that we were leaving to start a house church at this point in time. This was quite an on-target word of encouragement to us.
She wasn’t finished. She said that she then asked God why there were eleven windows on the house. God spoke to her heart again, as we were standing in front of her worshipping, that the eleven windows stood for eleven windows of opportunity that He was about to open up for us in this new ministry.
At the time of this dinner with Ethel, Wendy and I didn’t know where we would end up living. We had just been told by our then-current landlord that we needed to move because they wanted to sell their house. Ethel’s word of encouragement meant a lot to us because it meant that God had confirmed our calling and that He intended to bless us in this new adventure.
Soon enough we moved out of our old house, stored our belongings in a storage unit, and began searching for a new house. In a few weeks we moved into our new house in Orange, a few miles away from our old house. After a few more months we began our first house church meetings and called it “The Mission”.
After being in that new house only a few months, my family and I were leading a “Kids Club” in our home to reach out to the children in our neighborhood. We were having Thursday evening house church meetings with a handful of others and things were going pretty well.
One night, I couldn’t sleep and I got up to pray. It was about three o’clock in the morning. I went into the den where we normally host our house church gatherings and I began to pray about that word He gave us through Ethel months before. I prayed and asked God to show me more about what those “eleven windows of opportunity” really meant.
Suddenly, I realized something amazing. I started to mentally count how many windows there were in this new house we were now living in. I counted eleven windows. I mentally did the count in my head again, adding up the windows in each room one more time to be sure. Again, the number was the same. Eleven windows.
The simplicity of this realization washed over me like a flood of emotion. I sat on my couch, in the dark and began to shake my head in wonder and disbelief. All those months ago, long before anyone knew we were even thinking of starting a house church, long before we ourselves even knew where we’d end up living next, long before we’d ever started to walk out our calling to be missionaries in our city, God had this house in mind. God held this place for us. He intended for us specifically to be in this neighborhood, to minister to these children, to lead the house church in this very place. He even counted the windows and told us about it months in advance so that we’d know we were in the right place at the right time.
As I sit here writing this, in the house with eleven windows, I do not know what God is about to do next. But I do know that God has us in the right place. I do know that God has seen the end from the beginning and I know that He will carry us in His arms, as He always has before.
Just this morning, I got up to pray again. I went into the den and knelt in front of the same sofa to pray. I again remembered the word about the eleven windows. Then I started to count the doors in our house, just out of curiosity.
Can you guess how many doors there are in this house?
Keith Giles
www.KeithGiles.com
Showing posts with label Orange County. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Orange County. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Thursday, May 28, 2009
HOME BIBLE STUDIES ARE ILLEGAL IN SAN DIEGO?
A local pastor and his wife claim a San Diego County official threatened escalating fines if they continued to hold Bible Studies in their home.
FULL VIDEO CLIP VIA ABC NEWS SAN DIEGO HERE
So, what would I do if it suddenly became illegal to continue hosting house church gatherings in my home?
What if it became illegal to continue passing out free groceries to the poor or the homeless?
Would I continue to obey Jesus and risk being arrested, or thrown into prison, or fined thousands of dollars by the county?
Maybe I'll find out sooner rather than later...?
FULL VIDEO CLIP VIA ABC NEWS SAN DIEGO HERE
So, what would I do if it suddenly became illegal to continue hosting house church gatherings in my home?
What if it became illegal to continue passing out free groceries to the poor or the homeless?
Would I continue to obey Jesus and risk being arrested, or thrown into prison, or fined thousands of dollars by the county?
Maybe I'll find out sooner rather than later...?
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
KEN EASTBURN OF THE WELL
Ken Eastburn is the founder of The Well, a network of house churches that began in Southern California, and has spread to Pittsburgh, and most recently in Ghana, Africa.
The story of The Well—now located in Orange County, California—actually began long before I became its pastor. Originally named First Southern Baptist Church of La Habra 1952, the church experienced many ebbs and tides—from congregation size to pastoral leadership—over its first 50 years. By 2003, the 20 or so members who stuck around felt trampled and without answers.
Enter: me, Ken Eastburn. Over a cup of coffee, our denomination’s Missions Director asked whether I would consider stepping into the pastorate at this struggling church. I reluctantly agreed to visit with an “open mind.” But at my first sight of every wooden pew and plastic flower bouquet that adorned the sanctuary platform, I quickly dismissed the pastoral position. However, God still had his foot wedged in the door and six months later, I agreed to meet with the church’s board.
During the interview the five elderly board members’ faces looked war-torn. Seeking some reason why I might join their plight, I asked, “What’s next for this church?” One deep, male voice broke through the silence and with confidence said, “The Holy Spirit is not through with us.” His answer gripped my heart; I believed along with this man that God was still moving in their midst. So, in November 2003, I became their pastor.
But from the first time I stepped behind the large, wooden pulpit, I began to butt heads with some folks in the church body. Every time I tried to make a change—such as moving the “great, white Bible” from the altar, I stepped into sacred territory. Desperate to discover something radical, I even tried out a few funky techniques I had read about. We hosted a coffee-house style evening, complete with dim lighting, candles, and emo-type band. The whole endeavor flopped with a thud, and I was back at square one. So I prayed…and prayed…and prayed. And when I had finished, I prayed some more.
Our sweet and supportive church treasurer, Bonnie, suggested that the church buy a house, in which my family and I could live and the church could worship. Although the idea was fraught with potential problems, her proposal got me thinking. I went online and Googled the words “house” and “church.” A new world exploded in front of me. The more I read and researched about house churches in America, the more convinced I became that God was moving behind the scenes—and I was terrified.
In September 2004, five congregation members agreed to attend a house church conference with me in Denver, CO. After every seminar and assembly, their cry became, “We HAVE to do this!” So without a clear roadblock from the five, I proposed to the board the idea of leaving the building to begin meeting in houses.
Surprisingly, they, too, seemed to like the idea. Our little congregation agreed. Over the next four months, we prayed, fasted, researched, and dreamed together about what a house church model might look like. The congregation members went from “Don’t you dare get rid of the plastic flowers” to “Let’s change it all.”
The congregation radically voted to leave the building and we became The Well, a community of house churches. We adopted our new name immediately—even before we left our building—and began to make preparations to ditch the concrete. Finally, on a Sunday morning in January of 2005, The Well met in its building for the last time. We stepped out over the threshold…and never looked back.
Although bold and terrifying, leaving our building behind began our journey of discovering what the Church is really all about. Along the way, we have learned that everything a “normal” church does—missions, study, growth, evangelism, and so on—we can do together, because a change of venue does not negate the responsibilities and privileges we share with any other church. Daily, God continues to transform us…and He’s not done with us yet.
What about you?
Do you believe the Holy Spirit is still moving in your midst? While God does not lead everyone down the same path, His desire for you to be an active member of His Body remains the same. Could something as simple as a building be standing in the way of your becoming the living, breathing Body of Christ? Is it time for you to strip down to the bare essentials and become the Church all over again?
If so, we invite you to join us on this journey and leave the building.
JOIN US FOR MOMENTUM 2012 ON MARCH 30 & 31. REGISTER TODAY>
The story of The Well—now located in Orange County, California—actually began long before I became its pastor. Originally named First Southern Baptist Church of La Habra 1952, the church experienced many ebbs and tides—from congregation size to pastoral leadership—over its first 50 years. By 2003, the 20 or so members who stuck around felt trampled and without answers.
Enter: me, Ken Eastburn. Over a cup of coffee, our denomination’s Missions Director asked whether I would consider stepping into the pastorate at this struggling church. I reluctantly agreed to visit with an “open mind.” But at my first sight of every wooden pew and plastic flower bouquet that adorned the sanctuary platform, I quickly dismissed the pastoral position. However, God still had his foot wedged in the door and six months later, I agreed to meet with the church’s board.
During the interview the five elderly board members’ faces looked war-torn. Seeking some reason why I might join their plight, I asked, “What’s next for this church?” One deep, male voice broke through the silence and with confidence said, “The Holy Spirit is not through with us.” His answer gripped my heart; I believed along with this man that God was still moving in their midst. So, in November 2003, I became their pastor.
But from the first time I stepped behind the large, wooden pulpit, I began to butt heads with some folks in the church body. Every time I tried to make a change—such as moving the “great, white Bible” from the altar, I stepped into sacred territory. Desperate to discover something radical, I even tried out a few funky techniques I had read about. We hosted a coffee-house style evening, complete with dim lighting, candles, and emo-type band. The whole endeavor flopped with a thud, and I was back at square one. So I prayed…and prayed…and prayed. And when I had finished, I prayed some more.
Our sweet and supportive church treasurer, Bonnie, suggested that the church buy a house, in which my family and I could live and the church could worship. Although the idea was fraught with potential problems, her proposal got me thinking. I went online and Googled the words “house” and “church.” A new world exploded in front of me. The more I read and researched about house churches in America, the more convinced I became that God was moving behind the scenes—and I was terrified.
In September 2004, five congregation members agreed to attend a house church conference with me in Denver, CO. After every seminar and assembly, their cry became, “We HAVE to do this!” So without a clear roadblock from the five, I proposed to the board the idea of leaving the building to begin meeting in houses.
Surprisingly, they, too, seemed to like the idea. Our little congregation agreed. Over the next four months, we prayed, fasted, researched, and dreamed together about what a house church model might look like. The congregation members went from “Don’t you dare get rid of the plastic flowers” to “Let’s change it all.”
The congregation radically voted to leave the building and we became The Well, a community of house churches. We adopted our new name immediately—even before we left our building—and began to make preparations to ditch the concrete. Finally, on a Sunday morning in January of 2005, The Well met in its building for the last time. We stepped out over the threshold…and never looked back.
Although bold and terrifying, leaving our building behind began our journey of discovering what the Church is really all about. Along the way, we have learned that everything a “normal” church does—missions, study, growth, evangelism, and so on—we can do together, because a change of venue does not negate the responsibilities and privileges we share with any other church. Daily, God continues to transform us…and He’s not done with us yet.
What about you?
Do you believe the Holy Spirit is still moving in your midst? While God does not lead everyone down the same path, His desire for you to be an active member of His Body remains the same. Could something as simple as a building be standing in the way of your becoming the living, breathing Body of Christ? Is it time for you to strip down to the bare essentials and become the Church all over again?
If so, we invite you to join us on this journey and leave the building.
JOIN US FOR MOMENTUM 2012 ON MARCH 30 & 31. REGISTER TODAY>
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
NEXT HOUSE CHURCH 101 CLASS - SAT. MAY 2ND
Registration is FREE* (Must RSVP) by email at OCHOUSECHURCH@GMAIL.COM
HOUSE CHURCH 101
Saturday, May 2nd from 10am to 11:30am
In Orange, CA
Learn more about the House Church experience and how you can start your own house church, or join an existing one, here in Orange County, California.
This FREE seminar will explore several aspects of house church including:
*Is House Church Biblical?
*What about the kids?
*Who's in charge? (Leadership in a typical house church)
*What about Spiritual Covering?*Guarding against heretical doctrines and keeping the faith.
*Food, fellowship, family and fun in the house church context.
*God's Amazing DNA For His Church.
TO RSVP FOR THIS SPECIAL SEMINAR PLEASE EMAIL US AT mailto: OCHOUSECHURCH@GMAIL.COM
Let us know how many will be attending and we'll send you a map and more information about the "House Church 101" class.
NOTE: Attendees will also receive a free kit of information including books, messages on CD and more.
HOUSE CHURCH 101
Saturday, May 2nd from 10am to 11:30am
In Orange, CA
Learn more about the House Church experience and how you can start your own house church, or join an existing one, here in Orange County, California.
This FREE seminar will explore several aspects of house church including:
*Is House Church Biblical?
*What about the kids?
*Who's in charge? (Leadership in a typical house church)
*What about Spiritual Covering?*Guarding against heretical doctrines and keeping the faith.
*Food, fellowship, family and fun in the house church context.
*God's Amazing DNA For His Church.
TO RSVP FOR THIS SPECIAL SEMINAR PLEASE EMAIL US AT mailto: OCHOUSECHURCH@GMAIL.COM
Let us know how many will be attending and we'll send you a map and more information about the "House Church 101" class.
NOTE: Attendees will also receive a free kit of information including books, messages on CD and more.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
INTRODUCING THE VCMN HOUSE CHURCH START UP KIT
We are excited to bring you this all-in-one startup kit for those interested in a one-stop resource for starting a house church or other community based ministry.
Included in the kit:
3 Books - "The Church Comes Home" by Robert & Julia Banks, "Missional House Churches" by J.D. Payne and "Starting a House Church" by Kreider & McClung.
4 Teaching Cd's from Bill Faris, Keith Giles and Charity Leslie on how to start, lead and plant a house church.
Find out more and order online
HERE
Included in the kit:
3 Books - "The Church Comes Home" by Robert & Julia Banks, "Missional House Churches" by J.D. Payne and "Starting a House Church" by Kreider & McClung.
4 Teaching Cd's from Bill Faris, Keith Giles and Charity Leslie on how to start, lead and plant a house church.
Find out more and order online
HERE
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Looking To Start or Join a House Church in Orange County?
Looking to Visit or Join?
There are several great house church groups in Orange County you can visit. Start by looking through the links at the left. The Well, Vineyard Community Mission Network, The Mission and Matthew's House (in Oceanside) are all great house church fellowships who would love to welcome you.
Looking to Start a House Church In Orange County?
We also have a wealth of resources available for free here at OCHouseChurch.com. Great articles by practitioners like Frank Viola, Keith Giles, W.C. Ketcherside and others will help you answer practical questions like "What do we do with the children?", "What is House Church?", "Why House Church?", "What about leadership and tithing?" and lots more.
If you need any help answering a question or finding a house church in your area, OR if you know of a house church in Orange County that we should be listing here, please contact us at
OCHOUSECHURCH@GMAIL.COM
Blessings!
There are several great house church groups in Orange County you can visit. Start by looking through the links at the left. The Well, Vineyard Community Mission Network, The Mission and Matthew's House (in Oceanside) are all great house church fellowships who would love to welcome you.
Looking to Start a House Church In Orange County?
We also have a wealth of resources available for free here at OCHouseChurch.com. Great articles by practitioners like Frank Viola, Keith Giles, W.C. Ketcherside and others will help you answer practical questions like "What do we do with the children?", "What is House Church?", "Why House Church?", "What about leadership and tithing?" and lots more.
If you need any help answering a question or finding a house church in your area, OR if you know of a house church in Orange County that we should be listing here, please contact us at
OCHOUSECHURCH@GMAIL.COM
Blessings!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
HOUSE CHURCH 101 - THIS SATURDAY
Registration is FREE* (Must RSVP) by email at OCHOUSECHURCH@GMAIL.COM
HOUSE CHURCH 101
Saturday, Feb. 7th
10am to 11:30am
In Orange, CA
Learn more about the House Church experience and how you can start your own house church, or join an existing one, here in Orange County, California.
This FREE seminar will explore several aspects of house church including:
*Is House Church Biblical?
*What about the kids?
*Who's in charge? (Leadership in a typical house church)
*What about Spiritual Covering?
*Guarding against heretical doctrines and keeping the faith.
*Food, fellowship, family and fun in the house church context.
*God's Amazing DNA For His Church.
TO RSVP FOR THIS SPECIAL SEMINAR PLEASE EMAIL US AT mailto:ATOCHOUSECHURCH@GMAIL.COM
Let us know how many will be attending and we'll send you a map and more information about the "House Church 101" class.
HOUSE CHURCH 101
Saturday, Feb. 7th
10am to 11:30am
In Orange, CA
Learn more about the House Church experience and how you can start your own house church, or join an existing one, here in Orange County, California.
This FREE seminar will explore several aspects of house church including:
*Is House Church Biblical?
*What about the kids?
*Who's in charge? (Leadership in a typical house church)
*What about Spiritual Covering?
*Guarding against heretical doctrines and keeping the faith.
*Food, fellowship, family and fun in the house church context.
*God's Amazing DNA For His Church.
TO RSVP FOR THIS SPECIAL SEMINAR PLEASE EMAIL US AT mailto:ATOCHOUSECHURCH@GMAIL.COM
Let us know how many will be attending and we'll send you a map and more information about the "House Church 101" class.
Monday, November 3, 2008
NEXT HOUSE CHURCH 101 CLASS - FEBRUARY 7TH
Registration is FREE* (Must RSVP)
Learn more about the House Church experience and how you can start your own house church, or join an existing one, here in Orange County, California.
This seminar will explore several aspects of house church including:
*Is House Church Biblical?
*What about the kids?
*Who's in charge? (Leadership in a typical house church)
*What about Spiritual Covering?
*Guarding against heretical doctrines and keeping the faith.
*Food, fellowship, family and fun in the house church context.
*God's Amazing DNA For His Church.
TO RSVP FOR THIS SPECIAL SEMINAR PLEASE EMAIL US AT
mailto:ATOCHOUSECHURCH@GMAIL.COM
Let us know how many will be attending and we'll send you a map and more information about the "House Church 101" class.
Learn more about the House Church experience and how you can start your own house church, or join an existing one, here in Orange County, California.
This seminar will explore several aspects of house church including:
*Is House Church Biblical?
*What about the kids?
*Who's in charge? (Leadership in a typical house church)
*What about Spiritual Covering?
*Guarding against heretical doctrines and keeping the faith.
*Food, fellowship, family and fun in the house church context.
*God's Amazing DNA For His Church.
TO RSVP FOR THIS SPECIAL SEMINAR PLEASE EMAIL US AT
mailto:ATOCHOUSECHURCH@GMAIL.COM
Let us know how many will be attending and we'll send you a map and more information about the "House Church 101" class.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
"House Church 101" - Registration Now Open
"House Church 101"
Saturday, October 4th
10am to 11:30am
at Triangle Square in Costa Mesa, CA
Registration is FREE* (Must RSVP)
Join us at Triangle Square to learn more about the House Church experience and how you can start your own house church, or join an existing one, here in Orange County, California.
This seminar will explore several aspects of house church including:
*Is House Church Biblical?
*What about the kids?
*Who's in charge? (Leadership in a typical house church)
*What about Spiritual Covering?
*Guarding against heretical doctrines and keeping the faith.
*Food, fellowship, family and fun in the house church context.
*God's Amazing DNA For His Church.
TO RSVP FOR THIS SPECIAL SEMINAR PLEASE EMAIL US AT
OCHOUSECHURCH@GMAIL.COM
Let us know how many will be attending and we'll send you a map and more information about the "House Church 101" class.
Our "House Church 101" class will be lead by Pastor Keith Giles, founder of "The Mission" house church in Orange, California and the author of the books, "The Gospel: For Here Or To Go?" and "Nobody Follows Jesus (So Why Should You?)".
Saturday, October 4th
10am to 11:30am
at Triangle Square in Costa Mesa, CA
Registration is FREE* (Must RSVP)
Join us at Triangle Square to learn more about the House Church experience and how you can start your own house church, or join an existing one, here in Orange County, California.
This seminar will explore several aspects of house church including:
*Is House Church Biblical?
*What about the kids?
*Who's in charge? (Leadership in a typical house church)
*What about Spiritual Covering?
*Guarding against heretical doctrines and keeping the faith.
*Food, fellowship, family and fun in the house church context.
*God's Amazing DNA For His Church.
TO RSVP FOR THIS SPECIAL SEMINAR PLEASE EMAIL US AT
OCHOUSECHURCH@GMAIL.COM
Let us know how many will be attending and we'll send you a map and more information about the "House Church 101" class.
Our "House Church 101" class will be lead by Pastor Keith Giles, founder of "The Mission" house church in Orange, California and the author of the books, "The Gospel: For Here Or To Go?" and "Nobody Follows Jesus (So Why Should You?)".
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