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Reaching Germanic Peoples of South Brazil

  Celebration Services

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     When we begin working in a home to plant a house church, we often work with one family and try to reach their sphere of influence (family, friends, and colleagues). As the Lord blesses and the house church grows, we will be working in more than one home. With growth, everyone cannot come to the same house, and possibly not on the same evening. In order to provide or maintain relationships with other believers in the house churches, we plan a Celebration Service and invite all the house church members in a city or region. The celebration service is essentially a meeting of the church in the city or the church in the region, depending on the number of believers who make up the house churches in the city or region.  

     We currently have house churches in several cities in the region. It is possible for them to get discouraged when they face ridicule or persecution. Sometimes they feel like they are on a deserted island, all alone in the middle of nowhere. The celebration service allows them to come together with other like-minded believers. They enjoy the fellowship of kindred hearts and are edified and encouraged to continue on in their community striving to lead others to walk in the way of Jesus Christ. 

     When the number of believers is small, the Celebration Service may be held in a larger home of one of the believers. When the number of believers is too large to fit in a home, we look for a park with a small pavilion. We long for the day that we are renting out the local soccer stadium to accommodate the hundreds and thousands of people who make up the city and regional church. 

     When we meet together for a Celebration Service, the format is not carved in stone. Generally speaking, we have a time of mingling and talking, a time of testimony for a few to share what God is doing in their lives, a time of singing praises to God, a time of teaching or exhortation from God’s Word, and some type of fellowship meal. The “order of service” varies as we prefer to be a little spontaneous, allowing for the Holy Spirit to guide us and at the same time not being so unorganized that “the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing.” 

     Our goal is to glorify God and encourage the saints as we celebrate His goodness and kindness to us as we make disciples in the authority of Jesus Christ.

Last Updated on 07/09/2007

Copyright 2007 German Team
Brazil, IMB, SBC