It’s so great to meet wonderful people from around the world. Scott and Marla Schiele have been ministering together for more than 36 years. Without social media, we would never have had the opportunity to hear their stories. I pray these testimonies encourage you to keep meeting, keep searching, and start gathering. It’s difficult to do life together, but it is worth the effort.
We are Scott and Marla Schiele, and for the past 36 years, we have had the privilege of walking through life and ministry hand in hand. Scott was raised in Columbia Falls, Montana, and Marla in Caldwell, Idaho.
Our journey has taken us around the world, providing opportunities to pastor wonderful church communities – both traditional congregations and organic house churches – direct a year-round camp and conference center, and organize large-scale ministry events. Throughout these experiences, our passion has remained constant: equipping leaders, making devoted disciples, and teaching a Christ-centered approach to leadership across many nations.
When not traveling and ministering, Scott works as a skilled craftsman and builder. For more than three decades, he has specialized in constructing and remodeling commercial spaces, private residences, and custom homes. His hands-on experience has given him a deep understanding of every stage of the building process.
Marla comes from a rich heritage of faith, with five generations of believers preceding her. Through genealogical research, she has also traced her family lineage back to Roland Taylor, one of the martyrs mentioned in Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. Scott’s faith journey took a different path. Although he grew up attending a Lutheran church with his family, it was in his early twenties that he experienced a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ. The love of God and the transforming work of the Holy Spirit have profoundly shaped his life and ministry.
Whether we are traveling internationally to train pastors and leaders or gathering with our local house church each week, our mission remains the same: to see lives transformed by the power and love of Jesus Christ.
Family is one of our greatest joys. We are blessed with four incredible adult children and their spouses, all of whom love Jesus deeply and serve faithfully as leaders within their church communities.
Marla was raised in a rich spiritual heritage. Her grandparents pastored churches and Bible schools, imparting to her a legacy of ministry and a passion for investing in the lives of others. From an early age, she carried a desire to contribute meaningfully to the body of Christ and to help others grow in their relationship with the Lord.
Although she was raised within the traditional Pentecostal church, Marla eventually sensed the Lord leading her beyond familiar structures and into a more relational, organic expression of Christian fellowship. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, she experienced freedom from many of the traditions and religious patterns that had shaped her understanding of church life. This journey was gradual and continues today, as she regularly seeks the Father’s wisdom to discern whether her perspectives and practices are rooted in tradition or in the fresh leading of the Spirit.
After they were married, Scott and Marla became deeply involved in the Word of Faith movement, which strengthened their love for Scripture and expanded their understanding of faith and God’s promises. Throughout their spiritual development, however, both sensed a consistent call from the Holy Spirit to influence, encourage, and disciple others.
From the earliest days of their marriage, they opened their home to host gatherings and house churches, a practice they have continued for decades. During an extended season of prayer, Scott became increasingly aware of God’s call upon his life to serve in church leadership. Over time, he also discovered a prophetic gifting yet found few spiritual fathers available to provide guidance and mentorship in that calling.
The lack of recognition for spiritual gifts and callings within many church settings, coupled with the absence of spiritual fathers intentionally raising and mentoring spiritual sons and daughters, became a significant burden on their hearts. These realities ultimately led Scott and Marla to reevaluate traditional models of church and pursue what they believe to be a more authentic expression of New Testament Christianity – one centered on discipleship, spiritual family, shared ministry, and the restoration of the original patterns of the early church.
Over the past 35 years of leading and participating in house churches, our understanding and practice of fellowship have continually evolved. In the early years, many of our gatherings functioned under the oversight of traditional brick-and-mortar churches. Some were structured according to the cell church model, which often felt like a scaled-down version of conventional church services. While these meetings provided meaningful fellowship, they could also become frustrating because leaders and ministers were expected to follow predetermined outlines rather than respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
One of the ongoing challenges we have encountered is ministering to those who have experienced church hurt. Many become what we affectionately call “Christian tourists” – moving from fellowship to fellowship in search of the spiritual encouragement that comes through corporate worship yet never remaining in one place long enough to develop deep relationships or be discipled. Others, after experiencing the freedom and presence of God in a home fellowship setting, mistakenly assume that proximity to God’s presence automatically qualifies them for leadership. Rather than embracing the process of preparation, character development, and spiritual maturity, they often desire immediate affirmation for launching their own gatherings. When we encourage them to wait for the Lord’s timing and further development, some choose to leave rather than submit to the process.
At the root of many of these challenges is the reality that people often bring with them distorted expectations of what healthy Christian community and servant leadership should look like. Many have been shaped by church cultures that differ significantly from the relational, Kingdom-centered fellowship we seek to cultivate.
In response, we have become increasingly intentional about teaching and modeling the love of Jesus and the values of His Kingdom. We place a high priority on the presence of God, making it the central focus of every gathering. We carefully guard the atmosphere of the meeting, seeking to remain sensitive to the Holy Spirit and gently redirecting the group whenever necessary to align with what He is doing in the moment.
Another challenge involves individuals who unintentionally dominate discussions through lengthy testimonies or extended personal stories that draw attention more to themselves than to the goodness and faithfulness of God. In these situations, we have learned to graciously redirect the conversation by celebrating God’s work in their lives and then inviting others to contribute. Over time, this creates a healthier culture of participation and mutual edification. Those who embrace the culture grow, while those unwilling to do so often choose to move on.
We are intentional about ensuring that every person has an opportunity to contribute during our gatherings. Whether through a testimony, prayer request, question, teaching, encouragement, or insight, everyone is valued and given space to participate. We have found that this approach fosters genuine community, promotes spiritual growth, and encourages every believer to discover and develop their unique place within the Body of Christ.
Authentic relationships have provided others with a unique opportunity to see the bigger picture of Christ’s salvation and the unwavering faithfulness of God. In the context of genuine fellowship, it becomes possible to live transparently and openly, allowing others a glimpse into how both hardships and victories play a vital role in developing a steadfast, unshakable faith.
As we reflect on God’s goodness and give thanks for His faithfulness, we are continually transformed ourselves. Looking back, we can clearly see His hand at work in every season and every circumstance of our lives.
All four of our children were raised in ministry alongside us, traveling to the nations and sharing the Gospel from an early age. Today, each of them remains actively involved in ministry. They lead their own home fellowships, serve in worship leadership, and continue to carry the Good News to the nations. Seeing the next generation embrace the call of God on their lives has been one of our greatest joys and blessings.
Leading a house church is both a privilege and a challenge. It requires leaders to embrace the heart of a servant and genuinely place the needs of others before their own. If we measure our effectiveness by a single meeting or a particular outcome, we are likely to become discouraged. Ministry is a lifelong journey, and lasting fruit often develops over time. In God’s wisdom, some of that fruit may remain hidden from us for a season, protecting us from immaturity and pride while deepening our dependence on Him.
Therefore, be confident in the gifts and calling God has entrusted to you, and minister with generosity and grace. Remain faithful to the specific role God has given you; you are not called to meet every need or carry every responsibility. Learn to delegate whenever possible, empowering others to grow and serve alongside you.
From the very beginning, clearly communicate the purpose of the gathering: to glorify God, to see people restored and healed in spirit, soul, and body, and to raise up, train, and equip disciples who will, in turn, glorify God and make disciples themselves.
House churches that endure are led by men and women who choose to love people first, seek the Lord daily, and prioritize His Kingdom above all else. When Christ remains at the center and love guides every decision, healthy and lasting spiritual communities can flourish.
Longevity in ministry is a choice. Make a lifelong commitment to becoming more like Jesus and to never giving up, regardless of the challenges you face. Embrace the way of the cross, recognizing that every trial, disappointment, and setback serves as fuel in the refining process God uses to prepare and mature us for His purposes.
Hold firmly to the conviction that God can work all things together for our good. Remain teachable, willing to release inaccurate or incomplete teachings from the past and stay enrolled in the school of the Holy Spirit. Allow Him to continually shape your understanding and lead you into greater truth.
As leaders, our motivations must remain pure, and our desire to obey God must always outweigh any fear of man. Ministry was never intended to be a solitary journey. Seek out like-minded leaders who share a common vision and heart for the Kingdom. Together, build as a spiritual family, encouraging one another and advancing God’s purposes in unity rather than isolation.
Scott & Marla can be reached at 918-938-3021 or outpouringintl@gmail.com. Check out their website at www.outpouringintl.com.
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