Churches come in all sizes and shapes. Back in 1996, I journeyed among mega cell churches. I had the privilege of researching the largest cell churches in the world. At that time, I planted a church in Ecuador that grew to 1200 people and 279 cell groups (the original church planting team consisted of two missionary couples and one national pastor). Studying cell church growth around the world and living in the electrifying atmosphere of Latin America was thrilling. I coached pastors how to transition to the cell church strategy because that's what I knew best.

In 2001 we moved back to the U.S. I noticed far more resistance to Christian living and discipleship. Unlike the revival atmosphere of Latin America, I discovered that church growth in the west is far slower. In September 2003, my wife and I started a church in our living room. Growth didn't happen overnight. God taught me to remain faithful through the pain and hardships. We now have 10 cells and 100 people. At this stage of my journey I can relate much better to what church planters experience. Most of the pastors I'm coaching, in fact, are church planters.

God has put together a team at JCG that can relate to churches at different stages in the journey.

Jeff Tunnell is the newest board/team member at JCG. Jeff relates well to those pastoring a mid-size church. He's the senior pastor of Big Bear Christian Center, a church of 200 worshippers and 28 cell groups (Big Bear, CA). Jeff knows first-hand the difficulties and the victories of transitioning a church to the cell-driven strategy.   We're excited to have him on the team.

Steve Cordle, on the other hand, connects to those transitioning larger churches to the cell strategy. Steve started Crossroads Church in Pittsburgh, PA in 1991,  and it has now grown to 70 cells, 1200 in worship in three campuses. In his book, The Church in Many Houses, Steve talks about key principles that helped his church make the transition. Steve has been on the JCG team since 2003.  

Rob Campbell founded Cypress Creek Church in 1993 and watched CCC grow to 104 cell groups , 1100 in worship, and  73 church plants around the world (Wimberley, Texas).  The first pastor that Rob hired was a prayer pastor, Cecilia Belvin.  He relates many of the CCC experiences in his book  Dance with Me Daddy.  Rob coaches pastors on how to take their church to the next step in the cell church journey, as well as how to start a church planting movement. Rob has been on the JCG team since 2003. 

Mario Vega pastors the second largest church in the world (Elim). The mother church in San Salvador, El Salvador has 11,000 cell groups with approximately 120,000 people in those groups (although recently Elim no longer counts groups that don't have an official leader).  Elim has planted over 100 churches around the world.  Mario Vega is also part of the JCG board/team.

Where are you on the journey? Are you planting a church? Transitioning to the cell church strategy?

We at JCG offer coaching, online resources, books, and a variety of seminars to resource you and your church. All of the team members blog at www.joelcomiskeygroup.com/blog. Check it out. 

The team members at JCG know what it's like to serve in the trenches. We try to find out what really works in the battle-rather than what people should be doing. 

Whatever stage of the journey you're on, we at JCG want to help you take the next step.

 

Joel Comiskey