Starting a home church begins the same way anywhere in the world. The exceptionally fruitful leaders in Africa that we work with often remind us of the significance of praying for and obediently seeking out the person of peace. The person of peace (Luke 10, Matthew 10) is one who opens the door of the Gospel to others. This person may be a believer or non-believer, but his/her response to the transformation from Christ causes them to influence many others.
These Africans often word it this way: “God prepares persons of peace. You don’t! You must pray and ask God to lead you to these people. When God leads you to a person of peace that He has prepared, then movements happen! If you are not finding those whom God has prepared, there will be no movement.”
Their point is that we are entering into a supernatural arrangement with God when we pray for persons of peace and look for them in our goings and comings. When God connects us with such a person, our influence is magnified through them because they are receptive to the things of God.
How To Start a Home Church: Pray for a Person of Peace
Now, granted this looks very different in different contexts. No question! At the same time, there is a principle here that is timeless: pray for and seek out the persons of peace God has prepared. This will open doors for our influence to extend beyond the groups or gatherings that we have become comfortable with. This will challenge us, at times, to go beyond our normal circle of relationships to seek out where God may be working. And, this will give us the opportunity to see God work rather than try to carry the work on our own shoulders.
(As a side note, your prayers are much appreciated as we are currently asking God for several new apostolic persons of peace who are ready to move in new areas of Africa with the capacity for regional or national movements.)