Where do you get your teaching?
We do not have a teaching that we all subscribe to. But rather a revelation that comes out of our pursuit of our Lord. The Lord reveals himself to us as individuals and as we share that revelation in a meeting it somehow grows bigger and brighter than what it was at the beginning because other saints add so much more than one could get on there own.
While it is true that we have a visit from a christian worker it is not a teaching that they bring. But rather it is his life in a new and fuller way. - M
Aren't you worried about drifting into heresy?
Personally I believe that much of organised religion IS heresy, in the sense that it is nothing like what was intended when the letters were written to churches and people started gathering for the first time. - J
How do you organise yourselves without a leader or pastor?
We decide amongst ourselves, sometimes with a planning meeting or when someone e comes up with a good idea that we support. - S
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How often do you meet?
Generally once a week all the church meets for a corporate meeting during the weekend, but we also have brothers and sisters meetings during the week. At times as we feel the need we may have another short meeting (15-20mins) to meet with the Lord. - S
What do you do with the kids when you meet?
We've done different things over the years depending upon how many kids we have. At the moment, if there's just a few, they watch a DVD in another room. In the past we've organised babysitters. Occasionally we have a meeting that is a potluck and involves the children, or we go to the beach or park. - J
Is there a tithe of any sort paid?
We don’t have a pastor or any paid “clergy” but from time to time the Church has expenses and we see those needs met. - S
Why do you need a worker to come and visit now and then?
Because no matter how great it is to uncover and discover the Lord together we don’t know everything. The Worker helps to point us in the right direction, shows us new ways of discovering the Lord and most of all encourages us in the Lord. - S
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What happens when someone behaves badly or disrupts things with arguments?
This will happen when you consider our human nature and the close proximity in which we live. Part of the reason for a worker to come and visit is to be an 'outsider' who can settle differences because he comes and goes again. It works. For the most part, we live and meet harmoniously, and learn that losing is an important part of getting to know the Lord. - J
Are you originally from the same church or area?
A few of us knew each other before and had already left 'organised' church some years ago. The others came since then from other parts of the country, and mostly because they had read or heard something the Gene Edwards had written. Personally, reading 'How to Meet' was as impactful upon me as my conversion. - J
Do you believe in spiritual gifts, speaking in tongues, the five-fold ministries?
Gifts are for the edification and building up of the church, so if they function in these areas then, yes. - S
When I was in a Pentecostal church, these outward showings of my 'inward' journey were often preached and talked about. Now I am greatly relieved to find that there is enough in just focussing on my Lord so that I can cease to be concerned with any personal gifts and abilities. We will never run out of the discoveries we are making about Him. Really! - J
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