"Bread and Butter" Cells before Specializing

This week I would like to speak to those who are just starting out with cells or transitioning toward a base of "holistic" cells.

When I first arrived at Allen three years ago, I came into a situation where there were some cells in place. The problem was that these cells were not "holistic" as we have been describing in our blogs this month. There was no leadership training or coaching in place. There was not a common vision or approach toward what happened as these cells gathered.

So the first thing we did was introduce training to help the existing leaders begin to understand cell life and the dimensions that make a cell holistic. A few weeks ago I introduced these dimensions and the questions to ask to determine if your cell is “holistic” in nature.

#1 (Upward) Are the people being directed into the presence of God?
#2 (Inward) Are the people experiencing community and serving one another.
#3 (Outward) Is the cell actively praying for and reaching out to the lost?
#4 (Forward) Are people being discipled and leaders being raised toward the next multiplication?

Next we made sure every cell leader was coached. I believe this is one of the most important aspects of a cell system. Everyone needs to be cared for, especially your cell leaders. Beyond this, one of the best decisions we made during this initial phase was to make our mixed (family) cells to be the "bread and butter" type cells we focused on starting. We didn't want to start specialized cells until we had the basic systems in place. So we said no to many requests about starting specialized cells and directed people to first participate in a mixed cell.

Now with 25 cells we are open to planting specialized cells, like recovery cells, women's cells, college cells, single mom's cells as well as forming networks. We now have a men's network. The key is train your leaders well and build a base of "bread and butter" type cells then God will begin to call different people to plant more specialized cells. But the common denominator is that all these cells are holistic in nature, there is a common training system and coaching structure in place.

This approach was very helpful in our startup phase and the first few years of our transition.

Comments? Questions? What has been your experience as far as types of cells in your system?

Michael

Weekly Threshold Ministry
by Michael Sove








The dictionary gives the following definitions for the word "threshold”:

1. The sill of a doorway
2. The entrance to a house or building
3. Any place or point of entering or beginning

I think the word threshold is a perfect word to describe cell ministry that penetrates the neighborhoods we live in. Wherever we go we carry the life of Christ. What an awesome picture to capture and a worthy vision to chase after. Taking the life of Christ across the thresholds of our homes and inviting others across that same threshold to experience that life! At Allen we call our cells "Neighborhood Life" with that vision in mind.

Since a cell church soars with two wings, celebration and cell, it makes sense to hold cell gatherings on a weekly basis as we do celebration services. Those who come to our weekly celebration services can be immediately be plugged into a cell and there can be continuity between what happens on Sunday and what happens in the cell.

Each month we hold three cell gatherings for edification and one cell gathering for outreach (usually on a weekend where people are more available). For the week following the first Sunday of the month all our cells hold parties and events in our neighborhoods for the purpose of outreach and helping unconnected people from our celebration services get connected. This month I invited my whole townhouse community to what we called "Ice Cream Sunday."

I pray that you and your cell members can catch a "Threshold" vision!

Your comments?

Michael

The Four Dimensions of a Holistic Cell
by Michael Sove

One of my favorite ways to determine wether a cell is holistic or not is to look for the following four dimensions. (upward, inward, outward and forward) The questions I ask are as follows:

#1 (Upward) Are the people being directed into the presence of God?
#2 (Inward) Are the people experiencing community and serving one another.
#3 (Outward) Is the cell actively praying for and reaching out to the lost?
#4 (Forward) Are people being discipled and leaders being raised toward the next multiplication?

As a church we have adopted the following definition for our cells and it has been very helpful. You will see the four dimensions are seen in the definition.

Definition of a Cell Group
A group of 4-15 people who have chosen to live together in biblical community for the purpose of Christ-centered worship, edification, relational evangelism and discipleship with the goal of multiplication.

A Closer Look at Our Definition of a Cell Group

Small Size (4-15 people) Cells should remain small enough so that each person can participate and intimacy in relationships can occur.

Regularity (meet weekly) Cells meeting weekly are the norm to promote continuity from the weekend services and to assure quality control. Guests from the weekend can immediately connect with a group.

Penetration (outside the church building) Cells meet outside the church building to penetrate the world where people live, move and breathe.

Upward (Christ-centered worship) Cells help people experience the presence of God.

Inward (biblical community) Cells provide the optimum environment for meaningful relationships to be developed. People are created for community.

Outward (for the purpose of evangelism) Cells pray for and reach out to those needing Christ. This is the reason for cells and is the priority of the cell as the group reaches out together.

Forward (discipleship and equipping) Cells offer pastoral care and a process for spiritual growth through an equipping track designed to help all toward become Spirit-filled servants of Christ.

Expansion (goal of multiplication) Cells focus on raising new leaders so new groups can be started and more people reached, developed and cared for.

Clarity in definition has helped us remain four dimensional and holistic in nature.

Comments? What definition do you use?

Michael