In America, many people go to church. For most of us this means driving to a church building on Sunday, but in Australia, most people don’t go to church, not even if they believe in Jesus. For most Australians the idea of going to church is associated with being part of an irrelevant institution that is out of touch with real life. And for many others, church is associated with a corrupt institution that is just trying to get money or power. This attitude results in a population of people that is de-churched, un-churched, and anti-church. Because of this, many believers are disconnected from any kind of faith community, resulting in spiritual isolation, and many more that have no faith at all, resulting in cynicism and despair. We believe that, in spite of the darkness, God is at work calling his people to get involved in the lives of the people of Australia – calling on them to join in the adventure of becoming who they were created to be.

Our mission is to bring the gospel to Australia in a way that breaks down the wall that has been erected between the Church and the people of Australia. This means that instead of expecting people to go to church, we must pursue ways to bring the Church to them. One medium that we will use is a network of informal, home-based groups throughout the community. These groups will allow people from the community to form relationships with Christians in a non-threatening atmosphere where people don’t feel they have to be perfect to belong. These groups will be a place where people can share their lives with others, where they can pray, laugh, learn, be loved and most importantly, encounter the character of God. These groups will, in effect, be the front door to the Church, where the people of Australia meet the people of God.

We believe that through the encounters that people have in the home groups many will want to join with us in the mission of God. Those that make this decision will be able to meet together weekly with other Christians in slightly larger discipleship groups. A discipleship group will be a community of Christians that meets together for communion, edification, accountability, and discipleship in the way of Christ. It is in the discipleship groups that the future leaders of the Church in Australia will grow and mature. The ultimate goal for the discipleship group is to become a sending group, a mature body of believers that is ready to send out committed teams of disciples to plant new churches in new places for new people.

We, too, need to be sent, and with God’s help, we believe this vision can become a reality. Please consider how we might be partners together in this endeavor.