This study starts with the question what is the missionary church which can continually reproduce disciples of Christ. The missionary church has a new missional strategy that transforms traditional structure into meta church structure. The strategy is...
This study starts with the question what is the missionary church which can continually reproduce disciples of Christ. The missionary church has a new missional strategy that transforms traditional structure into meta church structure. The strategy is necessary because it is impossible to complete the Great Commission of Jesus Christ by using traditional structure of church. Therefore, if there is a church system which is able to encourage members to be continually disciples of Christ, we have to find it.
Generally, a traditional church is trapped into its own system. The church is not active to reflect on the various needs of church members. Consequently, members in the church are likely to be passive. However, I strongly believe that churches need to make lay(wo)men broaden their horizons. It means that lay(wo)men are not just bystanders but creative workers to build up the body of Christ. By overcoming the false attitude of mind and maximizing their potential ability, the lay(wo)men as disciples can be the light and salt in the world.
In this study, I suggest an methodological alternative to change the obstinate culture of traditional churches. It is a paradigm shift from traditional organization to cell group church. This theory is based on the possibility of lay(wo)men as co-workers. I have confidence that professional ministers have to share their ministries with the laity to be a active holy community. Sharing works can help church members to live for nothing but the glory of God.
From my experience, this project starts with making a mission statement. The statement has several stages. The stages are as follows: leading twelve people into the community(win stage), helping new members to root in the Cross(consolidate stage), being new disciples of Christ(disciple stage), and then sending them as new workers(send stage). By fulfilling this mission statement with lay(wo)men, a traditional organization can be changed newly. This is extremely demanding for the laity, but everyone who participates in this plan is a person worthy of praise from God.
Korean churches have its own unique organization, called "goo-yeok", that is effective for ministers to educate and control lay(wo)men. However, this traditional goo-yeok organization mainly focuses on management. Consequently, the laity cannot easily afford to work with its talents.
This study suggests that passing the limit of "goo-yeok" is possible by organizing church members into cell groups. A cell group, as a small church in a big church, can continuously stimulate the laity, proclaim the gospel, train members, and reproduce another cell group.
I give an case study from Hansomang Presbyterian Church to illustrate this point. Hansomang Church has been changed successfully from traditional church to cell group church. As far as I can remember, the church surprisingly has five lay leaders who have been managing more than 90 cell groups. Hansomang Church's vision statement says that everyone can be a leader and make 12 small groups representing Jesus' twelve disciples. This vision is beyond the limitations of the laity such as its age, knowledge, and economic ability. The possibility of cell groups has been proven to be effective by Hansomang Church. This new strategy is obviously an alternative to overcome traditional church organization and shows the restoration of apostolic church in the heart of Jesus Christ.
This thesis explains all the materials of Hansomang Church to introduce its transitional course from traditional system to cell group one. It is often said that cell church also has many problems. In the last chapter, I add how we deal with the drawbacks of cell church organization. In conclusion, although some people argue that cell group church has many disadvantages, I firmly believe that the benefits of cell church are more valuable.