Who We Are
MicroChurches
Romans 16:3-5
Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus. In fact, they once risked their lives for me. I am thankful to them, and so are all the Gentile churches. Also give my greetings to the church that meets in their home.
We have a passion for a smaller way of being church.
Small is simple …
By removing complexity, we can focus on priorities.
We believe the church has four crucial priorities based on our four key relationships:
WORSHIP - Our Relationship to Jesus
DISCOVERY - Our Relationship to the Bible
COMMUNITY - Our Relationship to Each Other
MISSION - Our Relationship to the World
Wherever you have these four priorities and relationships, you have a church, regardless of size. That’s because that church 1) seeks Jesus passionately, 2) lives life biblically, 3) loves each other sacrificially and 4) shares the Good News of Jesus boldly.
The advantage of being small, however, is that since the Body is simple it can focus all its energy on these four relationships and priorities.
Small is engaging …
1 Corinthians 14:26
What should you do then, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a song, has a lesson, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all these things be done for the strengthening of the church.
Everyone gets to play in a MicroChurch. You get your need prayed for. You contribute your voice to the Discovery Bible Study. You exercise your gift of encouragement or leadership. Small welcomes involvement.
Small is strategic …
MicroChurches don’t cost a lot of money. They don’t take a lot of resources. They utilize the people, the relationships and the spaces already there. So MicroChurches are accessible, contextual, sustainable, replicable, and therefore, unstoppable.
Matthew 13:33
Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”
Mission
Matthew 4:19
Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me.”
Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Our mission is to join Jesus in making disciples of those around us through a Prayer > Care > Share > Dare lifestyle.
PRAYER — Persistently pray for others to encounter Jesus.
CARE — Compassionately care for others’ needs.
SHARE — Relationally share each others’ stories and Jesus’ Story.
DARE — Personally dare others to be disciples of Jesus.
In other words …
Everyone Discipled / Everyone Discipling
WHO ARE YOUR 3?
Who are you PRAYING for?
Who are you CARING for?
Who are you SHARING the Good News with?
Who are you DARING to be a disciple?
Partners
The Way MicroChurches have partnered with VineyardUSA, a global movement of churches that seek to say yes to the Holy Spirit.
Network Leaders
Karl and Anita House
Karl and Anita grew up in Michigan and met at Calvin College. Anita has a BS and education degree from Calvin and Karl has a Master of Divinity from Calvin Theological Seminary. Karl is ordained in the VineyardUSA. They have been in ministry together since 1987 - 22 years near Toronto and 11 years in Tampa. They’re excited to be back home in Grand Rapids. Their goal is to pour into a new generation of disciples, leaders and MicroChurches. You can reach Karl at (616) 287-3722 or Karl@TheWayMicroChurches.org.
Check out Karl’s book THE PRODIGAL or There And Back Again.
What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful people, who will be able to teach others also.
— From Paul to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2
Network Vision
We envision becoming an ever-growing network of reproducing disciples, leaders, MicroChurches and even new networks so there is an ever-growing witness for Jesus in Grand Rapids and beyond.
(Keep in mind that The Way MicroChurches is a network and not a church. The MicroChurches are the churches. Think of the network as a missionary equipping and sending ministry. We are called to activate ordinary Christians and simple churches to join Jesus in mission to their circles of influence.)
