A Decentralized Church of Churches

I thought about a decentralized network church of churches before I resigned as a pastor in 2023. I remember interviewing a worship leader for the church and I told him straight up that we may shift to be a decentralized church of churches. Before I resigned I was wondering if the Lord wanted me to be the guy to bring about this shift in the church context I was in, where we intentionally sold the building, loved the people in the city, and multiplied in homes throughout the community to make disciples who make disciples who gather in other places. In other words: a movement. But I did not have the emotional bandwidth to do that at the time, though some others have done that and/or tried it. Go to https://www.pastortopioneer.com/

In 2023 my wife and I had the opportunity to gather with some believers and elders of 1Body Church in Tampa over a weekend. Learn more at https://www.1body.church/

It was a great experience. They are a church of churches. They are not trying to grow into some big church centralized organization with a building, staff, and budget. But they are a decentralized church network. It started with a few people who gathered together and made disciples. They focused on starting smaller gatherings where believers make disciples and multiply. Now there a many believers who gather in homes etc. throughout the region. Each gathering is an autonomous church but they are collectively one church called 1Body Church. From what I understand, at the time, they had about 4-5 elders who shepherd the church in particular areas. I think each of those elders had a church meet in their home but there were other churches that were hosted and led by other disciples. 1Body also bought an apartment in the hood and has sports ministry and other ministries as well. I think they collectively gather as a church of churches once a month but it is not required. We were able to gather with them at their all church gathering which took place at an elder's house. It had space for hanging out, eating potluck style, worship through song, and teaching by an elder for 15 minutes or so of what the Lord was laying on his heart. 1Body Church is a great example of what this can look like to be faithful and fruitful for Jesus. For their smaller gatherings in homes, they gather in a structure similar to ours (see my last post).

And though we were not able to gather with them in a smaller gathering on Sunday because of sickness, we were able to gather with other believers in South Florida three times in 2023 to experience what a smaller gathering could be first hand while we were pursuing this ourselves in our own home (see my last post). In cities outside our own, this type of gathering, making disciples, multiplication, and decentralized church of churches is taking place in Fort Myers, FL, Birmingham, AL, Holland, MI, etc. There are multiple pastors who have quit being a pastor to pioneer a movement instead of managing an organization and institution. It is quite amazing. Again go to https://www.pastortopioneer.com/

Like you read in my last post, for us, we gather in simple ways and I have seen some multiplication taking place, which is so cool. For example, twice when my family and I couldn't gather due to schedule or sickness, two of our friends went out to gather at a restaurant without us. Love that. Another example was when a friend who gathers with us hung out with her another friend to read the Bible together, not only that she got her a Bible like we did for our friend. These are seeds decentralization or multiplication taking place.

Over time I hope and pray that those who gather with us are equipped and supported to make disciples with others in their circles and to equip others to gather and repeat and repeat and repeat. Over time, elders who are qualified to shepherd the church of churches in our city will emerge. These churches gather wherever (home, building, restaurant, bar, etc.) and whenever. And together and we gather collectively every so often and also love the poor and the city and spread the gospel with time and funds locally and globally. Though I have not seen this come to fruition in my city (it may take a long time, or not in my lifetime), I think it is a great way for me and my family and others to be fruitful and faithful to Jesus.