UPDATE ON THE KENYA HOUSE CHURCH MOVEMENT

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I received the following report from the leader of the Kenya House Church Movement, Charles Otieno Owino (otienochris@yahoo.com).

I am 90 next year and have been diagnosed with leukaemia, my white blood cell count is low and not improving so I am keen to hand over the support and promotion of this ministry to a group who understands the importance of the Home church movement particularly for the church in poor regional areas such as the one Charles is operating in.

This picture was taken in 2018 when I visited the KHC group for a three day training session in Migori, Kenya. Charles holds church in the tin shed where we held our meeting. Each of the attendees received a copy of my book Living Eternal Now – Ready for Jesus Return. Charles is the big man on the far left of the picture.

KHC Movement Report, July 2025.

We are doing well. Praise the Lord! God is doing some amazing things with the KHC movement We are currently ministering in the three Muslim regions/ towns within the republic of Tanzania.
And a fourth to start on the first week of August.
This has all been at the request of the city leaders in those areas!!! Hundred have committed their lives to Jesus and been baptised! God is definitely working in Kenya and also in several places in East Africa .
Many Home Fellowship meetings are meeting twice each week and 73 house churches have been started!
We have not been able to gather enough money to make the trip to Uganda but God opened a great door in Mwanza, in the area of Mabatini.
I thought this could be the right time for me to ask to receive even some small funding to help me and the KHC movement move forward.- But God knows the needs in place, He is our provider!

We have you all in our thoughts and prayers.

EKKLESIA IS THE WORD FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST

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The word “church” became a catch-all term to describe the Body of Christ, obscuring the true meaning of Ekklesia. Did you know that there are multiple Greek roots describing it? Listen to this quote from the 1915 Gospel Advocate: The word “Church” is really not a translation of any word that was used by either Christ or His Apostles, but is the Anglican form of a different word which Roman Catholicism substituted in place of the word used by Christ and His Apostles… It is in our English scriptures by order of King James, who instructed his translators to use the word church for the word “Ecclesia” instead of their choice of either “Congregation” or “Assembly”. According to this article, King James covered the true meaning of Ekklesia with a benign word to mislead Believers. The Greek word Ekklesia is correctly defined as the called-out (ones), meaning a civil body of elected people. The Oxford Universal English Dictionary defines Ekklesia as a regularly convoked assembly. YHWY intended for us as the Ekklesia to function as called out decision makers, guided by the Holy Spirit. Decision makers define culture—a role the deceived Church relegated to godless bureaucrats long ago.

Recall the days within the early Church in the book of Acts, when the disciples and other Believers established their own form of government within the Roman Empire: A deep sense of holy awe swept over everyone, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. All the believers were in fellowship as one body, and they shared with one another whatever they had. Out of generosity, they even sold their assets to distribute the proceeds to those who were in need among them… They were continually filled with praises to God, enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord kept adding to their number daily those who were coming to life (Acts 2:43, 47 TPT). Notice that Believers started taking care of the poor without looking for the help of the government. People received healing without doctors. They operated in a powerful anointing with miracles and daily communion and began to win the hearts and minds of the people and grow in numbers daily. The Ekklesia’s generosity, miracles and anointing began to threaten the Roman establishment. This explains why Rome scattered the Ekklesia. Yeshua expects us to involve ourselves with leading, making decisions and influencing culture, just as the early Ekklesia did in the book of Acts.

Extracts from the book Glory of Eden by Benjamin Thomas

CHURCH IN THE END TIMES

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The following article is taken from http://www.housechurches.net and is largely by Jim McCotter. Did you know the largest and fastest-growing Christian movement in the United States today is the house church movement? More than one U.S. survey revealed that approximately 20,000,000 people meet in some form of a house church in the United States.

Jim McCotter has some excellent resources available on http://www.jimsbookstore.com.

All apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors (shepherds), and teachers were first Elders (Titus 1:5) and also referred to as Overseers or Bishops (1 Tim. 3:1).

  • “Pastor” and “Shepherd” are the same words in Greek and refer to the same person – a spiritual leader caring for God’s flock of Believers.
  • “Bishop” and “Overseer” are the same words in Greek and refer to the same person.
  • “Elder” and “Bishop/Overseer” refer to the same person (Titus 1:5 & 7; 1 Tim. 3:1-2), but do have different meanings: “Elder” relates to their spiritual maturity and qualifications. “Bishop/Overseer” relates to their authority and responsibility.

Three Categories of Churches

There are three categories of churches in the NT:

  1. Universal Church – Jesus said, “I will build My church” (Mat. 16:18). The universal church is made up of all Jesus’s true Believers in the world.
  2. City Church – The city church was made up of all Jesus’s Believers in a city. No place in the NT does it use the plural word “churches” in any city. There was only one church per city. Thus the city church. There was “the church in Jerusalem… the church in Ephesus… the church in Philippi” etc. The word “church” (singular) was used 169 times in the NT and never plural “churches” in a city. A plurality of Elders were appointed to work together to oversee all the Believers in “the church”, therefore, all the Believers in the city – thus the city church. The only time the plural word “churches” was ever used in the NT was when it referred to a region with many towns, such as the “churches in Galatia… the churches in the province of Asia” etc.
  3. House Church – In each city Christians would regularly meet in homes. For example, in the “church in Jerusalem”, many thousands were saved and all the Believers met in homes – functioning as house churches. In Jerusalem there would have been hundreds of house churches. The Believers gathered for church in homes – sharing together the “Word, fellowship, breaking bread and prayer… and eating their meals together in gladness” (Acts 2:42, 46; 5:42; 8:3; 12:12; 20:7-8). Paul and his fellow apostles spent over three years in the city of Ephesus, and it was one of their greatest works. Historians said there may have been over 1,000 house churches in Ephesus. There were many house churches in Rome, Priscilla and Aquila’s being one (Rom. 16:3-5). In Colossi, some Christians meet in Nympha’s home (Col. 4:15). Paul writes to Philemon and greets the church that met in his home (Phil. 1:1-2). There are a total 22 places mentioned in the NT where just Believers got together and they were only house churches. Apostles spoke daily in public places, such as the 12 apostles speaking daily in Solomon’s court and the Apostle Paul reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus and in the marketplaces. But none of these places were considered as church gatherings. They were evangelizing and teaching to reach out to new people in the cities. But when they met with just Believers, in what we call church, they only met in homes – sharing the Word, having fellowship, breaking bread, and praying together (Acts 2:41-46; 20:7-11).

It was not until the 4th century that Christians stopped having church in homes. Constantine the Great had Christians start meeting in the large buildings previously designed for pagan worship. Then Constantine and his mother Helena started constructing more of the same.

This was NOT Christ and the Apostles NT church plan, design, or model. It was the pagan building model and their worship format. A big stage up front where only the pagan high priest would stand and speak. Big buildings with this model and format were what the Roman Emperor and his mother fostered in all Christians at that time.

And sadly, most spiritual leaders have continued to follow this same unbiblical model and format ever since. It would not be so bad if it was only considered an extracurricular Christian activity today. But the problem is –spiritual leaders today have substituted this pagan model for Christ’s NT church. Sad to say, man’s proud tradition has been to the great detriment of world Christendom.

Church buildings were not the New Testament way or example. That was only the Old Testament model having a large temple building. After church buildings came into effect, the church functions out of necessity became a spectator event instead of a participator event, as was the New Testament house church model, seen in many verses, such as – “When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation…” (1 Cor. 14:26). Participators grow strong. Spectators grow fat.

New Testament Christians were told “not to forsake our assembling together… to encourage one another” (Heb. 10:25) — “teaching and admonishing one another” (Col. 3:16) — “I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another” (Rom. 15:14). Rabbis had a saying, “He who teaches learns twice.”

With the New Testament house church model, spiritual leaders multiply, and then house churches multiply. Small house churches are like small rabbits that multiply 100 times faster than any big elephant church.

As persecution of Christians escalates in the last seven years before Jesus returns, the church will be forced back to the house church model as in the Book of Acts, just as it was in China under Mao and in Muslim countries now.

LAST DAYS CHURCHES LIKE THE EARLY CHURCHES DESCIBED IN THE BOOK OF ACTS

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After spending over a year in jail in America on trumped-up charges, Torben Sondergaard is now transforming churches in Mexico. God used the time Torben spent in jail to transform him and to birth his book: 412 Days: Persecuted for Christ. It’s coming are you ready? Torben also transformed the lives of many prisoners.

From the depths of a small cell in B6N, Torben Sondergaard takes us on a riveting journey through his unimaginable challenges. As events unfold, he reveals the circumstances that led him to this small cell and the intense experiences that followed.

It is a unique book, penned with a security pen on paper within the walls of a small cell in a Florida prison. Accusations of weapons smuggling and human trafficking were thrown around, yet no formal charges were made. In these pages, Torben shares his real-life experiences as they occurred-from moments of deep despair to unexpected joy, recognizing God’s hand even in his darkest hour. From the cry of “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” to the revival that transformed the entire pod where he was incarcerated, Torben reveals the divine revelations that sustained him and the truths God imparted to him, to prepare us all for what lies ahead.

This book is not just an extraordinary story; it is a prophetic message for all of us. It warns us of the Biblical prophesied end-times persecution to come. It speaks of God’s kingdom and provides the strength to stand firm when the storms hit.

As you embark on this journey, you will be drawn back to the raw and authentic Christianity of the early apostles, who, like Torben, wrote from jail to encourage the faithful to keep running the race, no matter the cost.

A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW IS CRITICAL

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A biblical worldview is critical because that’s what enables you to become a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Romans 12 talks to us about, ‘you have to have your mind renewed’, you must be ‘transformed’ by that ‘renewing of your mind’ with God’s principles at the core of all of your thoughts so that you can in fact live like Christ.”

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

Moreover, this is impossible unless we have been born again with the Holy Spirit now indwelling our spirit. Proverbs tells us that the spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord and of course a lamp needs oil to function which is, of course, the Holy Spirit. To function as God intended we have always needed the Holy Spirit to be our counsellor, our comforter, and our teacher.

“The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.” Proverbs 20:27

 Also, according to Barna, the only way to achieve cultural transformation is if people choose to “believe God’s truths,” which in turn will allow them to “act upon those truths based upon those things that you believe.”

“We are here to be salt and light. That’s what transformation is: changing the world around us forever based on God’s truths. But in order to do that, we need a healthy church. We need believers who get it, believers who are willing to put their lives on the line. Today’s traditional church and leadership model has veered far from Christ’s New Testament model of disciples making disciples typically in house churches.

In fact, a study released earlier this year by the Cultural Research Centre of 1,000 pastors found that only 37% of Christian pastors in the United States have a biblical worldview. The majority possess the hybrid syncretism worldview.

“As you read the Scriptures, you find that biblically, it is the role of the community of faith, i.e., our churches, to be supporting families and particularly parents in that process, equipping them for raising up their children to be dynamic followers of Jesus Christ,” Barna advised. Only the church model Jesus established, as described in the Book of Acts, will achieve that goal. I a convinced that the House church model is Jesus model and the institutional church will not survive the prophesied “end times” tribulation.

WHAT NEXT FOR AFGHANISTAN?

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Let me make a few observations: In the Book of Acts the Gospel bearers face death threats, persecution, imprisonment, internal conflict, theological controversy, litigation, storms and shipwreck, but none of these impede the Gospel’s progress. If the title of the book of Acts were to be changed, I would suggest, ’The Unstoppable Gospel’. What a refreshing encouragement to read this Holy Spirit-inspired book and be reminded that God’s purpose prevails.

The Gospel is the powerful instrument the Holy Spirit uses to produce believers – in Jerusalem, Samaria, Cyprus, Lystra, Derbe (city of Galatia) and throughout Europe. In rural areas (Acts 14) and philosophical centres (Acts17), the Gospel is equally at home, with the Holy Spirit revealing the truth of the Gospel.

Scripture alone makes it clear that what is happening in Afghanistan will not impede the progress of the Gospel. Look what happened to the church in China when all the missionaries were either killed or ejected under the rule of Mao.

Persecution threatened to wipe out Iran’s tiny church. Instead, the Iranian church has become the fastest growing in the world, and it is influencing the region for Christ.

How did this happen? Mark Howard serves as the Director of Development for Elam Ministries where he oversees the ministry’s efforts to share globally the story of the church in the Persian-speaking world. He suggests two factors have contributed to this openness. First, violence in the name of Islam has caused widespread disillusionment with the regime and led many Iranians to question their beliefs. Second, many Iranian Christians have continued to boldly and faithfully tell others about Christ, in the face of persecution.

As a result, more Iranians have become Christians in the last 20 years than in the previous 13 centuries put together since Islam came to Iran. In 1979, there were an estimated 500 Christians from a Muslim background in Iran. Today, there are hundreds of thousands—some say more than 1 million. Whatever the exact number, many Iranians are turning to Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

God is raising up amazing ministries that are already aware of what God is doing in the Muslim countries of the middle east. Global Catalytic Ministries is one of them. I have followed and know the leadership. Check out what they are doing:

Since 2011, GCM has served in two of the most dangerous countries in the world for Christians. Additionally, these countries have the fastest growing movement of Christianity in the world, as featured in the documentary films Sheep Among Wolves I & II.

“We are doing whatever it takes, and continue to be obedient to the Lord as He calls. If you are feeling led to give, pray, or desire more information, visit our newly updated website at catalyticministries.com.”

Due to their extensive network and years of investing into Afghanistan, they have trusted leaders and multiple options to deliver needed goods and operations in and out of the country. In just three days, GCM has raised over $429.000 from more than 1500 people! This is what they had to say: “We are so grateful for all who have stepped up to help. Thank you! We had a goal of raising $500K by September 11, but it looks like we can up that goal to $1 million. Rest assured that our commitment is for 100% of these donations to go directly to the basic needs of our people in Afghanistan; food, water, medicine, shelter.” Go to the website given above to make your donation.

MAKING DISCIPLES FOR CHRIST

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The Bible defines in the book of Acts, what the Christian life should be as a disciple of Jesus Christ — healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, raising the dead, casting out demons, and making disciples of all nations, baptising them to Jesus Christ, and teaching them to observe all things that Jesus commanded.

Sadly, this does not describe the Christian life for most of us in the West. The church needs to come back to the beginnings of the church that we read about in the Book of Acts. We have to return to God’s intention and see how the Holy Spirit moves as we step out in faith to share the Gospel and grow His Kingdom.

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Torben Sondergaad of the Last reformation explains what he believes has occurred with the church in the West and what needs to happen now.

“It was never God’s intention for these revealed truths to result in independent church denominations that, after a while, quench the fire of revival. God did not intend to create separate churches and denominations with their own disconnected ‘little’ truths, while ignoring the other parts and, thus, hindering their members from gaining the whole truth. We believe that it is a reformation that will restore the Church back to what we read in Acts: a simple disciple-life led by the Holy Spirit, where the kingdom of God comes near in homes, on the streets, in shops — yes, all places where people are,” says Torben.

“He says the Church is not the building; the Church is you and me. “God does not live in a temple built of stone. He lives in us — Christians, His disciples. Jesus wants to be part of our everyday life in a practical, direct relationship with Him, without intermediaries.

“I have so many testimonies of people who have been sitting in a Church for 20 or 40 years and have never led anybody to Christ, never cast out demons, healed the sick or experienced the supernatural life, and don’t have testimonies like we read about in the book of Acts.

“The book of Acts should be the normal Christian life — being led by the Holy Spirit and used by God to build His Church, whereas most Christian churchgoers do not lead a life as described in the book of Acts,” says Torben.”

He contends that although Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever, we should ask ourselves if the Holy Spirit is living through us in the same way He lived through the followers of Christ in the book of Acts.

THE UNSTOPPABLE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

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In the Book of Acts the Gospel bearers face threats, persecution, imprisonment, internal conflict, theological controversy, litigation, storms and shipwreck, but none of these impede the Gospel’s progress. The Gospel is the powerful instrument the Holy Spirit uses to produce believers – in Jerusalem, Samaria, Cyprus, Lystra, Derbe (city of Galatia) and throughout Europe. In rural areas (Acts 14) and philosophical centres (Acts17), the Gospel is equally at home, with the Holy Spirit revealing the truth of the Gospel.

All three persons of God are involved in redeeming mankind: God the Father, Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit

Luke gives us statistical summaries to show the growth of the church (Acts 2:41; 4:4) and comments throughout on the health of the Word. In Chapter 6, when dissension breaks out in the church, Luke tells us ‘the word of God continued to increase and spread’ (v.7). In Chapter 12 when Herod has James killed, the word’s health is contrasted with Herod’s wormy death (v.24). In Chapter 19 when people burnt their magic scrolls to ash, the Word, he says, ‘continued to increase and prevail mightily’ (v.20).

If the title of the book of Acts were to be changed, I would suggest a title which included ’the unstop-ability of God’s Gospel’. What a refreshing encouragement to read this Holy Spirit-inspired book and be reminded that God’s purpose prevails.

“The purpose of God is to glorify himself by saving a people of his own, through hearing and believing the Gospel of his Son, as it is carried to the world by his Holy Spirit-empowered people”.

This abbreviated and slightly modified inspiring article by David Cook is from AP – Reformed Thought for Christian Living

BACK TO CHURCH AS IN THE BOOK OF ACTS

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“Apathy has killed us,” said Pierre Bynum, a chaplain at the Family Research Council, who was among speakers at the Washington Prayer March. “We’ve watched as prayer has been taken out of our schools. We’ve watched as Bible reading has been taken out of our schools. Where were we? What were we doing? What were we thinking?

“They took the Ten Commandments off the walls. They legalized abortion, they legalized same-sex marriage, defying the living God. … God has called us to be anything but apathetic,” he stressed.

Our country is imploding upon us and it’s all because of us. If the church had done its job all these years, if we had spoken out about the issues that we should have spoken out on and stood for them and stood in the public square, we could have kept this thing from happening.”

“But now we’re in deep trouble and only God can save us at this point in time. Even our repentance is inadequate if it’s just human repentance. We’ve got to have God intervene and deal with us,” he declared.

Jesus told us that in the last days before His return there would be a great falling away in the church and that lawlessness will abound just as in the days of Noah when God judged the earth. The only survivors, eight people and the animals that God brought to the Ark.

God will pour out His wrath upon this earth with the prophesied trumpet and bowl judgements but born again believers will not experience God’s wrath having been taken out (Rapture)

“Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” Revelation 6:16

This Scripture is at the end of the sixth seal and it is at the trumpet blast when the seventh seal is opened, the Rapture occurs, simultaneously the wrath of God is poured out with the Trumpet and Bowl judgements.

Rapture of the Saints – dead in Christ first and then those that are alive on earth

GOD IS FORCING CHURCH TO CHANGE

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How many Christians believe God is bringing this pestilence for His purposes much as He brought the ten plagues on Egypt to force Pharaohs hand?

God, being the sovereign judge over the nations, is the theme throughout the Bible. Christians should have no doubt God is working out His plans and purposes in His world. Much of the Bible is prophecy, almost two thirds fulfilled prophecy so we know that the rest of the prophecies, much about the “end times” before Jesus returns to rule and reign with a rod of iron, will come to pass.

In a short period, God has shut down the activity and economy of the developed nations of the world! Sadly, the world so deceived by an evolutionary world view no longer believes God exists let alone controls all events in the Cosmos. A recent Barna survey revealed most Christians now don’t hold a Biblical world view. They need to be reminded afresh that Yahweh alone is the true sovereign Lord. Let me remind you of what the Bible says is coming.

“For the day of the Lord of hosts shall come upon everything proud and lofty, upon everything lifted up — and it shall be brought low — They shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, from the terror of the Lord and the glory of His majesty, when He arises to shake the earth mightily.” Isaiah 2:12, 19

The arrogance of humankind, seduced by its self-focused affluence, makes this generational visitation a necessity.

Due to the massive proliferation of this virulent outbreak God has hopefully caused every person to consider their fragility and mortality.

“Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:11

With schools cancelled and parents working from home, God has forced families to spend time together. Hopefully, mothers, fathers, siblings and spouses are connecting in a meaningful manner.

Now, more than ever, church will have to go to another level in faith and dependence upon God for their sustenance. Those who lack experiential faith and intimacy with God during these days will either pursue an encounter with the living God or experience deep despair and failure.

With less emphasis on the large crowd, many church initiatives have collapsed down to personal touch rather than programmatic persuasion. For too long, the term “church” was equated to what took place within the four walls of a building on Sunday mornings. The success of a congregation was primarily gauged by how many people were present for service. We even call the facilities that are being used for service, “church.” The coronavirus pandemic has proven that the church can no longer be defined by a single Sunday morning service. My prayer is; it will get back to holding a Biblical worldview knowing the Bible provides the only true history of God’s world. It tells us the end of the story. What we can expect to unfold in the years ahead before Jesus return. Watch this space and together we will see world events unfold exactly as prophesied.