Taking the Ground
Last night I was speaking with an older brother who came in during the migrations. He explained to me before a church was raised in a given city, Christian groups within that city were visited to see if there's a practical expression of the church. If there wasn't the ground was taken. Has this practice been abandoned?
The more current method of taking the ground appears to be along the lines of 19th century midwest America, where you'd have a race to place a stake in the ground. Taking the ground using this method, one would then say if you want to meet practically as the expression of the church in this city, you have to meet with us. If this is the thought, not one specific ministry must be emphasized but Christ. Anything else is choosing the path of denominations.
Terry
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