Indigenous Species ...

Indigenous Species

Why we do what we do ...

Just admit it, you've probably wondered
why The Gathering is building a network of 'home churches'. Is it just to be different or novel or hip?

Think of it this way: suppose I took an oak tree seedling from the Midwest and planted it here in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona. Now what do you suppose would happen to the oak seedling?

Well, first, we Tucsonans would call it like it is, an 'invasive species'. In other words, it is not indigenous or naturally occurring in these parts; therefore, it would likely not thrive and probably not even survive. And the same thing would happen if you planted a Saguaro cactus in your midwest backyard. 

So, think of home churches as an indigenous spiritual species occurring naturally in Tucson, Arizona and the surrounding Sonoran Desert.

We believe home churches are a natural way to express our faith in Jesus; they are highly relational, intentionally simple, dramatically transformative and naturally occurring expressions of Jesus' body.

Expressing our faith in community as home churches enables us to focus on worshipping God in simple, authentic ways, connect with each other deeply, and engage people close at hand with God's grace.

This appproach is marvelously effective at achieving these benefits, but it is also a slow-moving process; Why? Because intention relationship building takes time; it can be neither forced nor hurried. Trust, intimacy, and committment in relationships take time to grow.
The process bears no little similarity to a Suguaro seedling taking root and growing. In the wild, they take 60 years to grow their first arm! Point is, home churches grow surely but slowly.
All that said, we are super-duper excited about this wild vision God has given The Gathering! We ask you to remember us and when you do, to pray that God would fulfill His purpose through us.