Quote:
Originally Posted by alwayscurious
Are there any other alternatives to the LC type of gatherings/essence? I'm basically asking if there's a similar type of meeting style, home meetings, YP meetings, conferences, just without all the "Witness Lee" and "LSM" and all that stuff.......
if there aren't... do any other non-denominational churches come close?
|
Sage advise from others on this thread. I have to remind myself often that Christ himself is my hope, not the church. Nevertheless, I am a member of Christ’s body. Meeting with other members and serving Christ with them are essential.
I often ask the same questions about gathering style. What you may be referring to is what I’ve heard termed “Brethren Style” gatherings, which is where the LC got their gathering style from, I believe. Many home meetings and small gatherings happen in non-denominational churches with a similar style, but I have found few large gatherings (say 80 plus people) that are routinely done that way in California’s Central Valley where I live, rather they rely on pastors leading from the front following a set schedule with not much liberty for spontaneity, which I find frustrating.
The San Francisco Bay area and Sacramento area have some “Ekklesia” gatherings that are “Brethren Style”. The One Body Life ministry puts on conferences that way from time to time. And they meet in connection with other minstries in other places. LC spin-off groups meet without ties to LSM in a few places (Moses Lake, Denver, Ontario, Columbus and other areas of Ohio and the mid-west), as well as Scottsdale) that retain the meeting style. Francis Chan has been promoting house churches in Southern California and the Bay Area, but the videos I’ve seen about it end talking as much about him as Jesus (sound familiar?)
Interestingly enough, Brethren churches in my area don’t meet the old fashioned style for large gatherings, and that may be true elsewhere.
Based on what I’ve read on this site other places in the U.S. and the world including East coast, southeast, China, Germany, and South America have LC spinoffs too, but I couldn’t make a complete list for sure.
One can find good fellowship with solid Holy Spirit filled believers everywhere, and the Lord will lead you to them. As sons of Abraham we are called to walk by faith in this matter too.