Vision: A Flagship Church

Vision:  A Flagship Church  So...how do you feel about church buildings?  Necessary?  Or a distraction from the real work of building the church? If you see them as distraction...you are in line with the ministry philosophy that I, and most of our Covenant missionaries, have had for the last 48+ years!  House churches--the core of the body of Christ--aren't they the key component in rapid church growth all over the world?

Something like this?  One idea from Siem, our denominational chair....

At one point, our Covenant denomination in Thailand counted more than 200 house churches throughout the Isaan region of Thailand.  Today?  We're down to less than 10!  What happened?  Attrition, disappearance, splits...and consumption by other church groups.  These are some of the downsides of house churches. On the other hand, Ruthie and I have witnessed, first-hand, some of the corrosive effects that often accompany building the church by building church-buildings.  Especially if the churches are... Built too soon!...Before there's a strong group of believers. Before the believers themselves see the need, gather funds, and initiate a building program. Have conflicted ownership!... Before there's a sense of shared mission, shared ownership--not where the church land is owned by any one person or family.  Without a clear mission consensus! ... That is, before a consensus and identity develops in a group...and a sense of God's will and blessing rests on the group.

Or like this?--Another vision our Thai team has for the church--able to seat about 100 people, with a good connection to our country surroundings outside the city of Roi Et.

So...why now do we want to build a church building?  In most cases house churches were a good start..and played a critical role.  But, in rural Thailand, homes are small and limit growth.  In this case, we believe the time is right: Of the estimated 1.5 million baht ($30,000) needed, we already have raised about half of that--from our people here in Isaan...and one gift from a church in the U.S.  We have a small chapel deep inside our camp ground; but what we need is a church building which faces out to our Buddhist neighbors--located at the entrance to this facility.   Will you to pray?  Pray that plans and dreams for outreach in this community will be enhanced, at that this new facility will play an important role in seeing them come to reality!