Neighborhood Life Captured in Art

I want to thank Russell Sullivan for capturing in this mural my hearts desire. It's my desire to bring Christ's Life to our neighborhoods. That is why at Allen we call our cell groups "Neighborhood Life." I am so grateful to be part of a church with a vision for discipleship. I believe the cell church is the best vehicle for life change. I have been walking in this vision since 1995 myself. I had planted a church on the south side of Indianapolis. We grew from my family of 7 to 150 attenders in four years. I had the privilege of leading the majority of those people to Christ.

Even though this was very exciting I was one person and could not disciple all those new believers myself. it was in 1995 that God exposed me to the two-winged church. It was this design that would make it possible for all believers to be rasied up to a lifetime of ministry and discipleship. For those who do not understand that terminology, let me explain. When God designed the church He designed it with two wings. The large wing called Celebration and the small wing called cell. The early church met in the Temple Courts and from house to house. This design represents the very nature of God Himself. He is both transcendent (most high) He is a Great God and also immanent (most nigh) or close and personal God. The Tent of Meeting and Mt Sinai contrast God's transcendent and immanent nature. God designed us His church to experience both these dimensions as well. In a cell church both wings cello and celebration are equal and both are necessary if the church is going to soar to the heights God has called it to.

Through the last 12 years I have been walking in this calling to help people experience the church as God intended. I am called to this cell church vision and thank God for Bill Warren sticking to the vision God gave him 9 years ago. I am grateful that God merged visions and moved Cary and I from Ohio so we could be part of this precious team. I am so excited to see what God does as we obey His clear call to become a cell church. To be a church that not only gathers at one location to worship but scatters into the neighborhoods of the region to impact lives. Thank You God for a Great Adventure!