Home groups and cell groups

« They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers… And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. » Actes 2:42, 46-47

After Pentecost, which followed Jesus’ resurrection, in Jerusalem, thousands of new converts went to the temple every day, but they also divided themselves into small groups in the houses to live out their faith together. To find themselves thus was not an obligation but a need that the Holy Spirit, who had breathed so powerfully on the day of Pentecost, had aroused in them.

We’ve seen a similar phenomenon during the lockdown in the functioning of the home groups and the cells of Bon Berger (Agape network). Suddenly it was impossible to meet in houses or in church building. Very quickly we became aware that a certain number of Christians lived alone or isolated, and that some were exposed at work to Covid-19.

Thanks to technologies available on the Internet, the Agape network, quickly followed by the whole church, started a chain of fasting and prayer. The list of people potentially affected by Covid-19 was constantly updated and their names were lifted up in intercession before the Throne of God. The monthly meetings of home groups and cells turned into weekly meetings on the net, with telephone contacts during the week. All witnessed a new depth in relationships, great blessings in sharing, and quality times of prayer together…to the point that even after lockdown all asked to continue meeting at this frequency.

So this period which could have been filled with distress was experienced by many as a time of discovering others and of more openness. In such a context God speaks and reveals himself, everyone’s faith grows, Christ is formed in us, and we become disciples able to form other disciples. We are preparing the church for times that will be increasingly turbulent, and preparing the next generation to be benchmarks and witnesses of Christ in an increasingly lost and perverted society. Let us therefore continue to cultivate this personal and collective growth in these safe meeting places that are the home groups and cells.

ACTION POINT: Find out about the network of home groups and cells that exist on our church website or from any of the leaders.

PRAYER TARGET: If you want to experience the richness of fellowship, to be able to receive and give, to strengthen and to be strengthened, to grow with your brothers and sisters, to have Christian friends…ask the Lord if it’s time for you to open your home to welcome a home group and share what God has given you?