What are the essential ministries of a micro church? Is it worship, either in-person, or via a ZOOM meeting or other online venue? Is it a missional presence in the community or an informal meeting once a week for prayer and fellowship? Or is it two or three ministries that can be done in a micro church better than a larger congregation can pull off, especially with facilities and resources? At this point in the early development of MCMs, it's very hard to say or predict. I can predict with some certainty that the hallmark ministries of the micro church will be tailored to small group (5-17 people) or middle size group (18-74 people) dynamics. I also predict that micro churches may have a relatively short lifespan (1-10 years) in the North American context unless they are indeed a work from God.
Can a traditional church successfully birth an MCM that multiplies micro churches that last through the 3rd and 4th generations? This is being done in a few larger churches in North America at the present time, but the challenge of church multiplication is ever-present. What is working seems to be when a church with a dynamic lead pastor who founded the church has a vision for multiplying small churches that will become a network of micro churches. This sometimes happens when house churches multiply rapidly and then some morph into micro churches that also multiply using bi-vocational or co-vocational pastors and leaders. A big key is a vision from God to multiply disciples and disciple-making micro churches. Look to DOVE International led by Larry and Lavonne Kreider, founding pastor of DOVE Christian Fellowship in Lancaster, PA, and the KC Underground network of micro churches. The Timothy Initiative (TTI) has begun to emerge as a catalyst for micro church movements in North America and Around the world.
Can a house church successfully transition into an MCM? There may be some house churches today that simulate life in a micro church, but that's not the question. Maybe a better question is, can a house church morph into a micro church? If this is to happen, a house church must have the vision to become a micro church. That includes the core values of multiplication and leadership development. It also needs to become an intentional part of a movement of micro churches (MCM) that are networked together to expand the Kingdom of God. Each group has to develop and passionately own the DNA of a church including the mission, core values, and vision of a church. It will take some genetic re-engineering and the work of the Holy Spirit. Is this possible? Yes, for with the Lord of the Harvest, all things are possible. But again, it will probably take the driving vision and giftedness of a dynamic leader who can spawn a growing network of micro churches.
What dangers of micro churches are to be avoided? Micro churches should avoid all the dangers of traditional churches. These include not being devoted to what the early church was devoted to in Acts 2:42-47, an overdependence on clergy, putting emphasis on programming and available resources, recruiting people for work out of their areas of ministry passion and giftedness, emphasizing numbers over people, trying to get people to come to you rather than going to them, and other characteristics to avoid. Like traditional churches, micro churches need to regularly evaluate how they are doing including the what, when, where, how, who, and why of ministry.
Is the MCM a fad that will not last? The Merriam-Webster on-line dictionary defines a fad as "a practice or interest followed for a time with exaggerated zeal." Time and experience will tell if the MCM becomes only an interest followed for a time with exaggerated zeal. Maybe, micro churches are a work of the Holy Spirit in these last days that will structure the Kingdom of God for a world-wide revival and the winning of countless people. That would be awesome. Maybe the MCM is a way to reset the course of the church and move it away from the dominant consumerism of North America and a come to us approach of ministry. Or maybe the MCM will be a way that the Lord pours His Spirit into "new wineskins" that will produce more and better disciples of Jesus. Maybe, just maybe, the MCM will last and grow, fulfilling His purpose, until Jesus comes again for His church.
What do you think?
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