In Western society it’s difficult to do life together, but it does happen, it can be sustained and it can be life-changing. I pray these stories encourage you to keep meeting, keep searching and start gathering. This story is told by Tim Germain
My life growing up had very little Christian influence. A family down the street were the Moris’s. Through this family, I learned that Jesus loved little children and that He loved me. I received my first Bible from them and read the book that had my name in it – Timothy. For some reason, I memorized the 23rd Psalm: “The Lord is my shepherd.” It had a lasting effect upon me.
I would get up on Sunday to go to those children’s classes and always prayed before my meals and at bedtime. My father said I was always different. My sister commented that they thought I would be a minister when I grew up.
By the time I was seventeen, following a breakup with my girlfriend, life took on an emptiness that I didn’t understand. Life seemed more like a bad movie, and I was the main star. Outwardly, you couldn’t tell, but inside I was crying – crying for something I didn’t yet understand. I was empty, and life didn’t seem to hold many answers.
The Jesus Movement was in full swing in 1973. I was drawn to it without understanding why. Circumstances required me to return and complete another year of high school at Wentworth Secondary School in Niagara Falls, just so I could enter university and begin a career as a teacher.
I met another girl at that time who told me that the answers to the questions I had were found in Christ. I began to read the Bible again, remembering the 23rd Psalm. One day, I simply cried out to God, “If You are real, please forgive me and make me what You want me to be.”
Immediately, I came into a bright room where a man stood in a cloud. His voice said, “Tim, the reason you are so unhappy is because of your sin, but I still love you and died for you.”
Immediately, I was back on the floor. The next thing I felt was a love that filled every core of my being. Every nook and cranny, every part of my being, was filled with a love that overwhelmed me. I found myself weeping uncontrollably and rolling on the floor.
I experienced such a wonder of the fullness of God. He was what I needed. He was the answer for my soul. He was the reason for my being and for living! That day was a wonderful day filled with glory and wonder.
I had to tell everyone – my family and my friends. “Jesus is real! He appeared to me!”
My dad got angry. “Don’t tell me about Jesus.”
My friends just laughed.
Twenty-one years lost in the religious matrix – and, like the movie, I didn’t even know it.
My transition from institutionalism started with an invitation to a home for fellowship. From that small beginning, my family left the Sunday ritual and found Christ in a wonderful and living way.
We formed friendships among children and adults. We discovered liberty in sharing, teaching, and singing without any program. The learning curve started to increase, and deconstruction was in full swing.
For at least two years, we went through the maze of Christianity—the control of programs, the restrictions of its leaders, and the practices of those who follow the traditions of men that nullify the Word of God.
We discovered our royal priesthood and the responsibility to come prepared, not expecting someone else to carry us. We learned to wait on God as we met and sang out our hearts’ longings. We learned to love one another.
Away with the special buildings. Away with Old Testament order. Away with carnal, worldly practices. Away with titles, tithing, temples, and watching the time clock. Away with preaching and tokens at Christ’s table.
We had a full meal. Giving was from giver to receiver; there was no treasury.
The Bible became a living oracle of God’s revelation, unfolding its deep spiritual meaning hidden within the text. We began to see clearly as we had never seen before. Christ was being discovered in the text, and our union with Him was the Rosetta Stone that made it all come together.
This lasted from 1996 to 2005. I left because of a transfer with my company. There, I put together a DVD to bridge the gap in the conversation about what the apostles gave us and how Christ is building His Ekklesia.
We also had the opportunity to discover our calling, whatever it was.
Our challenges were twofold: doctrine and personalities.
New people were not used to open meetings and were often disruptive because of personality clashes. Looking back, we handled it with everyone present, but it would have been better if we had met with them beforehand and discussed the what and why of biblical assemblies.
In other words, an elder or mature brother could go over the foundation of open gatherings.
The doctrinal issues are many as well. Again, we all jumped in together whenever someone was saying something that did not line up with Scripture. To be led by the Spirit is learned in an environment where others recognize it as well – not just in the speaking. Everything is to be judged by Scripture.
Our children have all grown up in this family environment. Some have remained in the faith that their family taught them, while some have not. Each person is responsible for his or her own choices upon entering adulthood.
Let’s face it: nothing is always without challenges. But through prayer and grace, we attempt to lead our children by our example and endeavor to keep the unity of the faith in the bond of peace.
Continue to pray for your prodigals, that they may come to their senses and return to the Father’s house. Encourage your family, as they are the ones carrying His testimony.
Those who are gifted and want to serve will find it challenging but rewarding. Remember what Paul said to the elders of Ephesus: “Feed the flock, taking heed to yourselves,” which the Holy Spirit has made them overseers to feed the flock of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
Pray for discernment about how to lead and be an example to the flock. Keep yourselves in the love of God.
Let the Bible be the book to read, and resist the temptation to rely too heavily on commentaries, but always have good tools for study. I personally have used Vine’s New Testament Words, Thayer’s Lexicon, Strong’s Concordance, the Interlinear Hebrew and Greek, and Sword, which is also a good study tool.
Since my wife passed, I have not gathered with others on a continual basis.
Let the journey begin, and let Christ be preeminent in everything.
My website is here, there are a variety of ministry topics.
Brother Tim Germain editor@ekklesiajourney.com/
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