Letter to Nickolay # 15
Dear Nicolay,
I was so glad to see you in April. Although it was such a short meeting, I am always delighted to see old friends. You seem to be keeping active serving our Lord. Let me tell you about several of the meetings I had on my travels throughout Ukraine.
In the South of Ukraine, I met another man named Nicolay who came to Christ in 1991. In twenty years, he has had many experiences as teacher, pastor and leader. I was encouraged because Nicolay understands that the churches growth has plateaued resulting in the need for change. He is exploring “Organic Churches” because it has spoken to his heart. We had a great time sharing experiences and hopes for a renewed church.
In Kiev, I met one of my first church planting students. He successfully planted a church in 1993, built a building, and received a theological education. He is now a leader in the Oblast. However, he sadly admitted that his church has plateaued and shows little life. He wondered “where did I go wrong?”
My former student is now forty years old and is concerned about being the most that God wills for the next twenty years. I encouraged him to move toward open participatory meetings as found in I Cor. 14:26 and to re-evaluate how they were making authentic reproducing disciples. I think my words were hard for him to hear.
Nicolay, will my friend see the need for significant change or seek freedom from the hallmarks of Christendom? Will he be able to turn pew sitters/spectators into disciples of Christ? Nicolay, please join in prayer for the church to return to the forgotten ways of the early church!
As you know, I am so encouraged by the drug rehab home ministry – they are producing disciples of Christ who serve Christ – there is something so simple and pure about this gospel work. However, not all people are drug addicts. What does it take to make more disciples of Christ of those who attend our churches? Is spiritual awakening the only answer? Or is there something suffocating about the way we do church? Are we the problem hindering the movement of the Spirit?
Your friend in Christ,
Rich
P.S. I really liked a recent article about how to transform a traditional church to a Simple Organic Church. We now have it on the website. Hopefully, we will see one another this fall.
Rich Correll has been involved in Ukrainian church planting for 18 years. He pioneered church planting and church planting training in cooperation with many Ukrainian churches. He is currently encouraging simple, organic, reproducing churches. Contact him at: richcpti@gmail.com
A DAY OF PRAYER AND PRACTICAL DISCUSSIONS FOCUSED ON CHRIST, CHURCH RENEWAL AND REPRODUCTION AND CHANGE
What: There is a growing recognition by Slavic church and mission leaders that missionary work has plateaued, resulting in a need for both change and renewal. Therefore, we invite you to invest one day with missionary leader, Rich Correll, who has agreed to meet with you personally. Rich Correll has twenty years of training and mentoring experience in Ukrainian church planting.
Who: You and two other leaders from your church or network of churche
Where: Kiev, Ukraine
When: Beginning September 2010
How: email: richcpti@gmail.com to schedule your day
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About the Site
All across the world, people are gathering in small groups to serve and worship God, be family, and encourage and affect each others lives. These gatherings are called by many names including simple church, organic church, and house church. Whatever you call it, the people involved value incarnational ministry to the lost, living radically for Jesus and each other, and are willing to get rid of anything that gets in the way of being fully devoted followers of Christ.
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