House2House News Letter

House2House Newsletter

E-newsletter for October 31st 2007

The first “cold” weather of the year has just hit us here in Texas (down into the 30’s at night, which for TX is pretty cold), and it is a stark reminder that this year is rapidly slipping away from us all. Since I was also at my company’s annual review day yesterday, I had another reminder of both the year past and the year to come. This reminds me of a short poem, though I am not clear who wrote it that says, “Only one life, will soon be past! Only what’s done for Christ will last.” So that is my question to all of us as we see November looming in from of us. What are we doing that has the ability to out live us?

For Felicity and I, probably the greatest blessing this year has been watching the amazing impact of training people in simple church planting as a mechanism for following up large numbers of people coming to the Lord through major crusades. Many of you will have known about and prayed for our work with Hamilton Filmalter, a wonderful, South African evangelist. It is the powerful multiplication of those house church movements that has brought this approach to the follow up of crusades to others, such as Gail Graves, that I described in a recent e-letter. Gail would now like all of you to know that he is actively soliciting teams to come from house churches all over the country to the major crusade that is planned for this coming January in Caracas. Would your house church consider sending a group to Venezuela for a week to ten days or more to help establish house churches among the new converts from the crusade? If this sounds at all like something the Lord may be prompting you to do, please click on this link to learn more.

We have been working hard on the technology for getting the newsletter out to everyone who appreciates hearing from us, and not sending it to those who really do not want it! With the new software that we are now using, it should be much easier to both join the newsletter, and to jump off the bandwagon at any time that you decide that the newsletter is not a help to you. We are trying to do the same with the resources that are available through the house2house website. We are now able to offer an increasing number of the DVDs that we have produced to you for free use on the web. Our goal in doing this is to help spread the message of what is happening in and through simple/organic forms as church as widely as possible. Can you help us by passing on this email to anyone that you think may be interested to get onto the newsletter subscription (CLICK THIS LINK TO SUBSCRIBE) or who may want to be aware of the new resources available on line?

So what difference do resources make? I don’t think that I can put it any clearer than Michael Tummillo has put this in one of his recent emails. “At the 2007 National Conference in Dallas , Labor Day, 07, I bought the “Tidal Wave” DVD. It knocked my socks off! All I can say is GET IT! As a Workplace Chaplain, I’ve been scheduling viewings of this DVD with groups of coworkers at the facilities, making them aware that, no matter where we go, WE ARE THE CHURCH. The DVD has generated many questions and many thanks. That’s all I do. I’m of the mind that, if God has anointed a thing, we could read a soup can label and ministry would happen. These resources are invaluable!”

John White puts his own gracious spin on this in a recent “coaching” email:

House2House Ministries <http://www.house2house.com/ > has done us a great service by releasing the excellent video “When You Come Together”. In the past, this resource has been available for $12.95 but they have now made it available on the web for free. You are free to use it and pass it on to others. QuickTime or Flash

Here are my thoughts about the video and how it might be used. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

 

1. It articulates many of the values that we think are important. House church is not just a meeting but a spiritual family. When the group does come together, it is not to implement a program but to listen to Jesus. Etc. You may find it helpful for existing groups to clarify and deepen values.

 

2. In some ways it is better than a book because people can actually see what the gathering looks like. I can’t tell you how many times people have asked me what you do when you do church this way.

 

3. It’s also better than a book because a group of people can watch it together and then talk about it.

 

4. It’s a great starting point for a “person of peace” who is being drawn in this direction. “Watch this (alone or with some friends) and then let’s talk about it.” Who do you know who needs to see this?

 

So, take a look at the video. Listen to the Lord about how to use it. And, let the rest of us know what happens. (If it turns out that this is a helpful resource, ask your house church or network to consider making a donation to House2house so that future resources can be funded. <http://www.house2house.net/donation.html> )

We will soon add the “Tidal Wave” DVD to the list of resources available free on the web. Can you help us by letting everyone that you want to see one of these DVDs know that they can see if with no cost on the web. Then, if you find the resources useful, you help us by buying the high quality DVD version from the house2house site so that you can use that for home or office viewing with groups who will benefit from it.

The article that I am going to point any interested readers to this week is more like a thesis than just an article. The author, Bradley Cooper, makes a fascinating case for the fact that the dwindling impact of church on society and the lessening role of traditional church structures in the lives of many Christians may actually be the harbinger of God’s plan for revival. If you have a couple of hours to spare, this is a very worthwhile and intellectually and spiritually challenging read. Follow this link for this article on “The Coming Revival In The Desert.” If you are looking for a good article that won’t take an evening, but just a few moments to read, try “Preaching and the House Church Movement” by Sara Horn. You will find it at preaching.com . It is wonderful to see quality writing in well received journals actively exploring the role of house churches.

We have long maintained that every powerful move of God is preceded by a prayer movement. And, church history shows that a movement is only sustained as long as it is prayed for! With the various house church movements reaching some sort of critical mass here in North America, it makes me ask if we are seeing the prayer movements to sustain the house church movements. Whatever huge numbers Barna reports as moving into simple/organic structures, it is not likely to be a true foretaste of revival/reformation unless we all choose to pray. This may be the time to encourage each other to get back out those old books by such saints as Ole Hallesby and E. M Bounds on prayer. Read them, and then live them.

I think that the 60 seconds that I aim for in reading these e-letters is up. I’ll add some more thoughts in a week or two.

Tony and Felicity on behalf of the H2H team.

Only one life

Two little lines I heard one day,Traveling along life’s busy way;

Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;

Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgement seat;

Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice

Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God’s holy will to cleave;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;

Each with its clays I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;

When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;

Faithful and true what e’er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;

Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;

Only one life, “twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;

And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;

Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Author Unknown

Email to a friend


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California Fire!

Whether you believe in the prophetic word or not, you are

sure to find the following sound bite just a little bit “coincidental.”

Starts slow but hang in there!

The terrible 2007 wildfires of Southern California began burning

on October 20th. This prophetic word was given on September 8th!

The Spirit has revealed this: 

“As it is in the spiritual, so it is in the natural.”

Let us think it not strange for God has always dealt with mankind in this way.

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Are you missing The Revival?

To “revive” something means to make it alive again. It infers that a thing has
previously been “vived,” if there were such a word.

Many are saying that the American Workplace is experiencing a revival as we speak.
Has there been a revival in the workplaces of America ever before?

In the 1850’s, America was prosperous and feeling little need for God. The embers
of previous Great Awakenings were starting to fade. We were no longer calling upon
God. We were too busy. Too affluent. Thousands of Americans were disillusioned with
Christianity. William Miller, a New England farmer, had captured nationwide
attention with his prediction that Christ would return on October 22nd, 1844. When
nothing happened, many abandoned their faith.

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Is there a DOCTRINE in the house?!!

One of my favorite things about Organic Church groups is the diversity

of the attendees within each group. Though I’m certain there are exceptions, 

we’d have to look long and hard to find a Methodist House Church or a

group that consists exclusively of Episcopalians, for example. Our own

Texas group has included Baptists, Catholics, Lutherans and Pentecostals,

former as well as active members. 

Sadly, I HAVE heard of groups that began bickering about this or that and

wound up splitting, weakening, or closing down their group. Of course,

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Let’s look at the Fear Factor…

In case you’ve been living in a cave the past week, you might appreciate
knowing that nearly a MILLION people have been evacuated from
their homes in California. In addition, there’s a drought in the
Southeastern United States as all those hurricanes that were predicted
for this year failed to deposit the usual, much-needed water. The Dow

is down today as a result of the housing market dropping another 8%. 

High gas prices, Iran’s nukes, the war on terrorism, global warming,

on-line child predators… the talking heads of the news networks are

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Feel free to write me!

I am blessed and amazed that this online ministry BLOG is receiving

“hits’ from so many different nations including Israel, South Africa,

New Zealand, Russia, Canada, Norway, Argentina, Netherlands,

Great Britain, Italy and others.

If you are reading this from any nation OTHER than the USA, I’d love to

hear from you! Please write me at team1min@our-town.com and let me

know what God is doing there or how this ministry can serve you best.

I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

Every blessing,

Michael Tummillo

A servant of God

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About those Love Offerings…

I am amazed whenever individuals find this online ministry worthy of

their hard-earned money. God bless you for that! Not only are people

sending Love Offerings directed to support the many ministers that I am

mentoring throughout the nations, but others have seen fit to simply sow

their seed in the direction of this ministry so that I can focus my attention

on writing…and writing…and writing. Fact is, people from all across the

Earth are hitting my website, BLOG and other web pages by the thousands

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Being Church

The following article blessed me as I read it. I hope it blesses you, too. It’s by Molong Nucua who is planting Simple Churches in the Philippines amidst 1.6 million below poverty and something called dengue fever which is affecting the children. They need mosquito netting and medicine. Can you help? Write him at: molong.nacua@gmail.com

Molong Nacua

 

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New eBook Coming Soon!

Dancing in the Flames: The Lost Art of Suffering

TESTIMONIAL: “I have just finished reading “Dancing in the Flames.”

I was very impressed. I thought it was a masterful treatment of a difficult

but necessary theme. I love the passion and personal touches, but it

is also extremely clear and lucid. And concise. A lot of Christian

books seem far too long…it’s as if the author had enough of an

idea for a valid booklet, but felt constrained to expand the material

into a book. You didn’t. Good discipline.

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Tummillo receives “Expert Author” status

Michael Tummillo, a nondenominational Workplace Chaplain from Stephenville, Texas, has earned “Expert Author” status with a popular website called “EzineArticles.com.” He received “Platinum Author” status on August 04, 2005. Since his first submission was accepted by the site on May 26, 2006, Tummillo has published 172 articles to the site resulting in nearly 70,000 views.

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To my TEXAS friends…


A friend recently asked if I had any information written down that he

could pass along to friends in business that could benefit from having

a Workplace Chaplain.

Yes! I have information explaining to interested parties the current

Faith @ Work Movement among American Business and Industry

as well as specifics about myself. It can be found on a page off my website:

http://www.yourtown4jesus.org/page/page/4650645.htm

Thanks for passing this along to your Christian friends and business associates!

If anybody’s looking for a Guest Speaker on this workplace issue for their

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“Worship with us…our band is AWESOME!”

If I’ve heard this kind of thing once, I’ve heard it a thousand times. The
talented musicians are often the main draw for many church attendees.

I once heard a man who taught music at a Christian college speaking on
what he called a “counterfeit anointing.” He explained that the loud
decibel levels used by many churches during worship is enough to raise
goose bumps and cause many to “feel” differently. What’s referred to,

he explained, as “the anointing” is merely physiological changes occurring

within the body when exposed to really loud music. If you’ve ever sat

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Will you help me to help THEM?

 

This is a VERY humbling thing to do but I am not asking for myself. I

can imagine how Paul felt asking for help when famine was devastating

the saints in Jerusalem.

As you may know, I am in constant communication with ministers all

over the planet. Currently, there are 10 ministers who have recently

made a desperate plea for financial assistance. I have come to know

these men. Robert Fitts and other friends were the first to introduce

us via email. We have swapped photos of crusades and families,

orphanages and testimonies. After several pleas for financial

assistance, I have encouraged them all to contact Franklin Graham’s

Samaritan’s Purse ministry and I’m proof-reading the proposals of

several of these men right now in an effort to assist them. Hopefully,

they’ll eventually qualify for aid.

Eventually.

Unfortunately, with limited access to computers and lacking confidence

in their English-speaking skills, and with so many in need of their help,

I’m sure these men find it difficult to rationalize taking the time for

beaurocracy when so many need their assistance all around them. I

can imagine priorities shifting quickly when surrounded by devastation.

People are dying. Fever, snake and insect bites, hunger, cold…in Kenya,

floods have caused mud huts to collapse, killing entire families. In the

Philippines, it’s malaria. Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda…they each have their

own unique problems. The main problem? The wealthier members of

Body of Christ across the planet have been given so many reasons

NOT to help that we’ve forgotten why we SHOULD.

Previous pleas for financial aid have yielded a mere $700 ($500 from

one man). I have received messages justifying things like cynicism,

skepticism, the importance of good stewardship with God’s money,

the need to care for those locally before we assist any others, etc. A

few have asked to have their names taken off my eMail list.

All this while our brothers and sisters are dying and struggling.

Civil war, tribal disputes, well-financed Muslims competing with them

for converts…these people are trying to spread the Gospel and share

Christ in the worst of circumstances.

Pray about this if you haven’t already. Do WE want THEIR efforts

credited to our heavenly account? By all means, obey the Holy Spirit.

But if you’re GOING to help..and EVERY little bit HELPS…please

do so via PayPal.com by the end of the day Monday the 21st so I

can go to Western Union and send money.

In fact, do it NOW…PayPal.com

Join Barbara and me in sending aid and encouragement to these godly,

wonderful people on Monday. Thank you so very much! If you prefer

to send funds directly, just ask. If you prefer to give to Samaritan’s Purse

so you can write-off your gift, click here: www.samaritanspurse.org .

Every blessing,

Michael Tummillo

A servant of God

www.YourTown4Jesus.com

PayPal.com


 
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What’s going on in Stephenville, Texas?

A man is diagnosed with an incurable, hereditary spinal disease at age 28. He’s
told that he would be an invalid by age 50. In pain, walking with a cane, trying to
sleep in a sitting positions, he moves to Stephenville in 2001 to get closer to his
children so they can assist him. Today, at age 47, he’s remodeling homes and
living an active life.

What happened?

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Simple Church Men’s Retreat

 

Oct. 26-28 at Mooney Farm in West Tennessee

 

GUEST SPEAKER

John White (DAWN Ministries)

 

COST: Just $10 (to help offset food costs - all meals provided).

 

Come with your story of what God is doing / saying.

Make connections & build relationships with others on a similar journey.

 

For more info eMail Mickey: mmooneys@bellsouth.net.

 

 

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The woes of Twenty-something Christianity


The devil has set his sites on another group of American Christians:

the Twenty-somethings.
In 2004, I had the distinct privilege of spending one-on-one and small-group

time alone with some kids from the local university of 8,000 students. We did

this in Sunday evenings at six o’clock. On several occasions, we virtually

spotlighted particular individuals as the Lord allowed, not only me, but all of

us, to minister in different ways to that night’s “favored” student. There were

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Hey, Church…let’s go to The World Café!

Have you read or heard of a book entitled “The World Café: Shaping
Our Futures Through Conversations That Matter”?
From their
website, I found this synopsis: “Authors Juanita Brown and David Isaacs
introduce readers to this simple yet powerful conversational process for
thinking together, evoking collective intelligence, and creating actionable
results. World Café principles and processes have been used
successfully over the past decade with organizations and communities
on six continents.”

Many others had their own glowing praise reports on the book. Peter Block,

author of Stewardship and The Answer to How Is Yes, said, “This book is

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Make plans NOW!

Here are some of the latest eMail replies that have been received regarding

the upcoming “His Church @ Work”kick-off gathering, noon, Oct 15th in

Dublin, Texas. I’ve had several others tell me they were coming by phone

and in person. Add to that the Procrastinators, the Wait ‘n Seers and the

Walk-In’s.

Read these and consider how many OTHERS are awaiting an opportunity like

this where YOU live? What are you waiting for?

My husband & I are planning on attending, we are considering starting a

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Marriage, marriage, on the rocks…

A few days ago, I received a message from a woman who wrote requesting prayer.

She said that her husband said he didn’t love her any more and that he wanted a

divorce.

Sunday morning, as I was leaving the local radio station, I saw a friend in the

parking lot. He’s a local minister and he had just finished broadcasting his program.

He told me about a couple we both know that has been separated. Apparently, she

has decided that she doesn’t love him any more.

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In regard to “God delivers in Kenya…by eMail!”

Following is the response from the Kenyan minister (named Sabila) who

testified of God delivering many from the bonds of immorality by way of

a prayer I had emailed him which he had the people recite at a conference.

A subsequent prayer from that church’s pastor revealed his surprise that

so many - even in leadership - were in need of deliverance in this area.

Sabila writes:

Yes,God did. Any material that has come into contact with the anointed

carries with it the Anointing. I have received several phone calls from

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