Planting Churches Among the City's Poor - Volume 2

278 • P LANTING C HURCHES AMONG THE C ITY ’ S P OOR : V OLUME 2

d. John L. Nevius: (the rearticulation of the Melvin Hodges principles of indigenous spirituality and governance)

(1) The selves – must be focused on the indigenous people as a whole, and not be woodenly place on e ach individual congregation . (2) The selves are about c ultural and regional interdependence and support, not on the forced application of strict independence (which leads to isolation, stinginess, and vulnerability).

(3) The selves cannot be interpreted to mean the lack of shared spirituality or governance: Garrison’s own examples reveal a shared structure and mode of operating among many of the house churches (e.g., the “seven member central committee” structure). (4) Any structure, spirituality, or stewardship which enhances the strength and growth of the indigenous church is by definition pro-CPM . C. Tradition described as restoring the New Testament pattern of focusing on church as family meeting house to house in small groups for dynamic multiplication, Kreider, pp. 39-80

1. The Chinese and the Baptists lead the way.

a. Church as a base for both effective discipleship as well as for the further planting of churches, p. 41

b. Principles of building people, not constructing buildings

c. Itinerant preaching (no pastors to stay in a place for a long time–creates dependency), p. 41

d. Modeling teamwork, p. 41

e. Building a “tabernacle” not a “temple” mentality: moving, dynamic, changing, responsive, p. 41

2. Tradition of mission not of worship : adapts Garrison’s definition of CPM with a focus on house church networks, pp. 42-43