“Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become ‘unity’ conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship. Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier. The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life.” –A.W.Tozer
My husband and I have been involved in many different facets of church life and ministry for many years. After all this, we still had a hunger to truly learn what it means to BE the church. So nearly five years ago, a group of us set out on a journey to truly know and understand each other and allow ourselves to be fully known. We’re committed to walk with people who are different from us and learn to be one. We’re committed to learn to love each other as we walk out our understanding of community. We’re committed to learn what it means to carry the life of Jesus Christ to a hurting and dying world
We have no church name, because we don’t want to make a separate identity for ourselves. We want to be a part of THE church, and discover what it means to be unified.
Our vision is to see gatherings planted throughout the city of Tulsa. As of right now, we’ve gone from one gathering to three. This year we hope to plant at least one or two more. We see this as one, organic group of believers meeting in three homes. When we can, we all gather together for a wonderful night of worship, Word, Holy Spirit ministry, prayer and good old fashion family fun.
It’s been a very stretching and remarkable voyage. On this page, I hope to write more about the things we’ve discovered along the way. But for right now, let me answer the first questions that usually arise when I talk about my church life.
Yes, we’re a part of the house church revolution that’s taking place around the globe. But I’ll be honest with you… we haven’t been impressed with the people on either “side” of the fence that point the finger in the other direction declaring that one has it right and another has it wrong. We are living “church” this way, because the Lord has asked us to walk this road and learn from Him.
Along the way we’ve made some great friends, both in house churches, and in what would be called traditional-setting churches. Basically – we love them all. All flavors of Christianity are beautiful, when you see Christ in them. Whether it be Catholic, Pentecostal, Baptist, Charismatic, Methodist, house-church folk, rich or poor, high church or low church or no church at all… let’s discover Jesus together.
We’re often asked about our submission to authority .
We are steadfast in living our lives fully submitted. It just may look a little different than you’d expect. In fact, we’re more submitted now than ever before. We’re submitted to the families we’re walking with – because they know us fully. They know our strengths and our weaknesses, and they speak into our lives freely. It’s truly like a large family, where everyone knows your stuff. They’re no longer impressed by spiritual gifts in us, and they’re not tempted to lift anyone up above another.
We’re also submitted to some friends of ours who are pastors of larger congregations that meet in buildings on Sunday mornings. We enjoy attending their services and being a part of their congregations. They support us in the different ventures we go on, they pray for us, teach us, and laugh with us. Our “backing” is the church, in all forms. Our “Head” is the Lord Jesus Christ. Our “covering” is our husbands. The people who “have our back” are many. Thank God.
House Church Info
There are two different gatherings at this time.
Friday evenings: Scott and Laurie Smith host a gathering
(swsmith74@cox.net )
Saturday evenings: our home (Craig and I) is the gathering place
(akouo@mac.com)
