With the worship center so crowded, the traditional “altar call” would be impossible. At the proper time in worship, persons wishing to receive Christ as Savior and Lord stand where they are and participate in a prayer of salvation, surrounded by the cell group members with whom they attend worship.[1] Attending worship with the cell as a group ameliorates the seemingly negative conditions of the overcrowded sanctuary and chapels.[2] The relationships of the cell surround the convert throughout all the stages of grace in the largest church in the world.
QUOTE [1]
NOTE
DISCERNMENT QUESTIONS
RESOURCES
[1] The quote is a selection from David O. Kueker’s Fuller Seminary Doctor of Ministry project submitted in September, 2007, entitled Diagnosis, Dialogue, and Decision: A Threefold Process of Revitalization For the Illinois Great Rivers Conference.
It is shared here in recognition of its 12th Anniversary along with comments to update and provide perspective on the material. The original project was a Training Manual/Study Guide of three Seminars supported by three chapters of research and an Introduction. The material is available for download at www.disciplewalk.com/Resources.html. In 2009 it was provided for purchase as a softcover book entitled Designing Discipleship Systems: Christian Disciple Making For Any Size Church, Any Theology through CreateSpace.com.
[2][3] [4][5] [6][7] [8]
All Scripture quotations are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Please review the page How and Why We Use Quotes.
[1]Hurston, Growing the World’s Largest Church, 105, 106. Converts attend a six-week School of Conversion, then are returned to the cell system. Staff, “Breakfast With David Yonggi Cho.”
[2]In 2001 Cho spoke of Internet broadcasting to Rick Warren: “Korea is very small – not like in America with a lot of space, so we can’t enlarge our church buildings. Besides, every year we have 20,000 new converts in our churches, and we can’t put them all in our church building or even our branch churches. So now we have an Internet church and many of the young generation participate in the services at home . . . I say to the young people – don’t come to church – just stay home and get your teaching through the Internet.”Cho indicates that most of the cells are attending worship via internet broadcasting. Staff, “Breakfast With David Yonggi Cho And Rick Warren,” Rick Warren’s Ministry Toolbox, Issue #17, 7/25/2001, http://www.pastors.com/RWMT/?ID=17&artid=578&expand=1 (accessed June 13, 2007).