Where your society opposes Jesus' followers
Stay in your culture. Wear your society's normal attire, keep your own names, eat only what your society approves as food, use your society's greetings, and respect your society's feasts, fasts and holidays.
Worship in an inoffensive way. Employ as many of your society's religious forms as you can with a clear conscience. Avoid most foreign forms of worship. Jesus accepts most kinds of worship that honor him.
In new little churches, limit your main worship activities to those taught in the New Testament. These include learning Jesus' teachings, praying in his name, "breaking bread" and sharing one with another. See Acts 2:42
Search the New Testament for answers to your society's questions and needs, and affirm any of your culture's values that Jesus would approve.
Keep praying that 1000s and millions in your society will become followers of Jesus, even if many of these stay in their parents' religion for a time.
Avoid having many foreigners attend your worship events. Normally, outsiders should not teach in your new church. If some foreigners mentor you and other leaders, then have them do so privately.
Refuse financial aid. Some rich believers and some foreigners may want to supply you with money and material aid. If you can support yourselves, then decline their help.
Appoint only respected local leaders. Avoid all foreigners and outsiders leading new little churches. Some outsiders are good mentors and teachers, but they would pose a danger by leading churches.
Seek an active, profound spirituality. Above all else, become known for your power through prayer, for your honest, moral behavior, and for your ability to honor God in your daily conversation.
Empower local believers who have good character and are willing to start new little churches. Coach them, trusting the Holy Spirit to gift them and to guide them.
Keep your churches secret as long as you can. Let Jesus alone choose when he wants any of you to be arrested or to suffer for him.
Keep starting new little churches and move their meeting place as often as needed. When hostile authorities suppress some little churches, the others can keep on worshipping.

Return