A Fellowship of Fellowships.
“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!”
– Psalm 133:1
What is Kindred Community?
Kindred Community is a non-profit established to network existing home fellowships and to assist in forming new ones.
Similar to how a home-schooling co-op serves home-schooling families, it is the desire of Kindred Community to assist in the development of new home fellowships and build a network among these various groups for support and sharing resources.
Kindred Community has grown out of a home fellowship in Franklin, TN that Gerrit and Himmie Gustafson have led for the last several years. To their delight, they have discovered other similar fellowships with a desire to network together.
So think of Kindred Community as a fellowship of fellowships.
What’s Behind
Kindred Community?
For quite some time, larger churches in America have emphasized the importance of small groups. But generally these smaller units of fellowship were seen as ancillary to other more important activities. The larger congregation has been primary; the small groups, secondary, and in many cases, very secondary!
In contrast, in other nations, house churches have played a much more fundamental role, especially in persecuted settings. The fastest growing churches in the world have generally employed the small group model where believers belong to family-like spiritual households.
Since the ’80’s, Gerrit Gustafson has followed these developments with great interest. He came to Christ and was discipled through relationship-rich small groups. Later he was involved in planting and pastoring home fellowships. He developed worship resources for small groups, and regularly wrote for Cell Church Magazine. His book, Koinonia Ethos, reflects a defense of and a strategy for implementing home fellowships.
For the last 25 years, there has been a development in America which some call The Great De-churching in which an estimated 40 million have left the church. Researchers call this “the largest and fastest transformation of religion in American history.” According to authors Jim Davis and Michael Graham there are more who have left the church in the last 25 years than the combined total of all who came into the church during the 1st and 2nd Great Awakenings plus all who came to Christ in Billy Graham crusades!
Today, much of the church's ministry is happening outside the established church, in innovative ministries - ministries like discipleship, spiritual formation, benevolence, coaching, and evangelism. An example closely associated with Kindred Community is Ken Leggett’s Free Range Pastor outreach. His fitting phrase is “Outside the Church for the sake of the Church.”
Gerrit readily admits that he has missed God's timing on many things. But, even so, he wonders if this might be the time when the American church discovers the simplicity of the Biblical pattern of networks of spiritual households. (See Preparing for the Church’s Future.)
Maybe soon, we’ll begin to speak again, as Paul did, of “the church in Bill and Mary’s house.”
"The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 16:19)
And that’s what’s behind Kindred Community - a fellowship of fellowships!
Community Friends
This fellowship network includes those who advise us. Meet Ken, David and Robert.
Ken Leggett leads an innovative ministry called Free Range Pastor. He has a special love and understanding for the de-churched and un-churched - those who haven’t found a home in “normal” churches. If you’re in the Middle Tennessee area, consider participating with WILCO AM, or WILCO PM. (Details at Free Range Pastor website.)
David Cassidy, the senior pastor of Spanish River Church in Boca Raton, FL. David is a special friend to our ministry constantly encouraging us and invigorating our theological and missions perspectives. (He’s also a great chef!)
Robert Grant, Anglican priest at The Abbey in Pawley’s Island, SC and long-time friend and advisor to Gerrit, brings an appreciation of things Anglican to our understanding of church life. Always looking for what God’s up to, Robert will regularly ask you, “What’s next?"
We don’t suggest that Ken, David, and Robert are all busy doing exactly what we are doing. They’re not. In God’s kingdom, "there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” (1 Cor. 12.6). But together, these three have the combined effect of inspiring us and keeping us from becoming doctrinaire about our methodologies - God’s kingdom is certainly bigger than our particular assignment.
The List
This fellowship network includes those who walk along side us. Here’s the beginning list of other home fellowships both in the Middle Tennessee area and beyond. If your group is not on this list, let’s talk.
Praise on the Porch - Franklin, TN
Local Church - Franklin, TN
Johnny Booty Ministries - Shreveport, LA
Won’t You Join Us?
If you’re interested but not sure where you'd fit…or if you’d like help starting a home fellowship… or if your group needs to become part of something bigger… Let’s talk.
Giving.
Our approach to giving is to encourage all participants to give wisely and generously directly to the needs that the Lord brings before them. The Good Samaritan, for instance, didn’t run his offering through an organization. He invested directly in the need at hand.
But sometimes there are benevolent needs that are beyond individual resources. That’s where community jumps in.
The Kindred Community Fund is for that kind of special benevolent need or outreach opportunity.
You can make a contribution online or by mailing a check. To give online, use the form nearby. On the form, you have the option to add an amount for transaction costs. You can also choose a particular need from the drop-down box under Additional Information.
Or, you can give by check. Make checks payable to Kindred Community, specify the need you are giving to in the check memo, and mail to:
Kindred Community, PO Box 680364, Franklin, TN 37068
We are so grateful for your generosity!
Thank you for partnering with us to make a meaningful difference!
Kindred Community, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit corporation. All gifts are tax-deductible. End-of-year giving statements will be sent out in January following the year of your gifts.