Is it possible that God is bringing together the worshipping community and the healing community in a fresh and ancient way to re-imagine His Church? It seems to me that the New Testament says as much about intimacy, brotherhood, and the responsibility of caring as it does about singing, preaching, praying. (see Ephesians 4:32, Galatians 6:1, Colossians 3:12-17) The word is koininia and it has become nearly impossible in the preaching-centered, spectator-focused, mega-church.

Jesus said to Peter, “You are the rock and on this rock I will build my Church.” There is and always has been only one church. Can it be that the plethora of recovery movements and healing communities springing up in our world today are really only expressions of the Holy Spirit trying to redefine the Church? When I sit beside my brother in a Christ-centered AA meeting am I not as much a part of the church as when I sing in the choir at First Church? (Maybe more.)

Branches is a possible vision of that kind of anointed synergy; healing and worship, confession and celebration, come together. It may be a new face of the original healing church.

The Gathering is a monthly worship and work centered fellowship of the house branches, support groups, and recovery groups. The gathering is characterized by high-energy worship, relevant teaching, and a call to serve. It offers, by virtue of community, what the smaller house branches cannot; specific ministry, mission opportunities, and presence. It must carefully remember its role as a gathering of the church, not the church itself.

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn.” --Isaiah 61:1-3