The institutional church and the Kingdom of God

People are leaving institutional churches at record setting rates.
These searching souls are looking for reality and relevance.

I was raised in a typical American church.  Later, (now many years ago) God touched me in a profound way while sitting in a (different) church building.

In both instances, I was clearly shown gaping holes in institutional churches:  Holes that even the most committed (as I was) can easily fall through (which I did).  You will be able to read about that and much more, here as time goes on.

Later I became a Pastor.  For several years I thought that if I could practice a modified version of what God had shown me the church should be that I could help people see the simplicity and value of being a part of it.  As a “Pastor” I tried to keep the “church” experience familiar enough that it wouldn’t seem foreign to the American culture yet authentic enough to be of value.

However, no matter how I tried, By compromising I was unable to convey the Biblical model of “church” while remaining connected to that framework.

It’s so very important to remember that the “church”  is people.  It’s not a meeting, building, or a corporation.

There is nothing wrong with meeting in a large building, when the need arises, but God has a whole new wineskin waiting for His people coming to us right from the book of Acts.  It includes far more than just taking a large church meeting and figuring out how to downsize it into a small group or home.

So today I minister in healing, counseling, and revival while facilitating and promoting Fellowship Groups.  I also consult for others who are interested in living out a Biblical lifestyle in this way.

You might also find our articles about Fellowship Groups helpful.

May God richly bless you in your journey.
Feel free to contact me if I can be of service.
Dr. Rayphe