news article
COVID-19 inspires Broad Street UMC to start house churches
August 5, 2020 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Rev. Rachel Barnhart’s church, Broad Street UMC, didn’t have the capacity to livestream so she began meeting with members of her congregation on Zoom. As the group began to grow, Rev. Barnhart felt inspired to apply what they had learned about meeting on Zoom to a house church model.
Rev. Barnhart said, “The house church model is one which has been used throughout the world during times when meeting in small groups in people’s homes has been safer than meeting in a large group in a sanctuary. We find ourselves in such a time.”
Rev Barnhart added, “A house church is a worshipping unit of 6-12 people who meet regularly. Especially in the context of COVID, the house church should stay with the same group of people for the time being. Traditionally, house churches can agree to invite new people, expand, or split into multiple groups as it grows. The house church in the United Methodist Church usually part of a larger body or congregation. In this case, our house churches are connected to Broad Street United Methodist Church.”
Today’s technology allows house churches to be even safer. Using Zoom as a platform, Rev. Barnhart can meet with groups of 12 people every week.
If people are unfamiliar with Zoom, Rev. Barnhart conducts mini trainings with people; she does Zoom trials and one-on-one troubleshooting. She said, “Also, people who were having trouble learning Zoom in April are now so comfortable with it that they are teaching others how to use it.”
Like small groups, house churches create a lot of engagement. Rachel said, “I really like this model. Livestreaming is good for introducing people to a church, but house churches really build a community. We get to talk together about our spiritual lives. It’s intentional discipleship. It’s a way to deepen faith.”
Rev. Barnhart recognizes that growing house churches is a process, a lot like church-planting. She said, “Because we are being intentional about this, it is growing slowly. Twelve people may not seem like a large number, but these are 12 people willing to step out of their comfort zones and who will invite new people into their house churches.”
Rev. Barnhart said, “Some house churches may choose to meet via Zoom, rather than in person, for the time being. Many will choose to meet in person in a home or outdoors.”
Broad Street UMC had about 110 people worshipping in the sanctuary before the COVID-19 pandemic. With the state of NY allowing her church to have its members come back at 50 percent capacity, most of her members are not comfortable worshipping in the sanctuary.
Rev. Barnhart said, “Just because we’re allowed to worship in our sanctuary doesn’t mean its’s the safest thing to do.”
Broad Street will begin offering livestreamed services while it continues house churches.
Enthusiastically, Rev. Barnhart said, “One of the hardest things about this pandemic is that we have to limit our social interaction dramatically. Worshipping in a house church is one of the best things we can do for our spiritual and emotional wellbeing”.
Rev. Barnhart has created a comprehensive handbook about house churches on Broad Street UMC’s website, including an introductory video and several helpful documents. Click here to take a look. Rev. Barnhart was also featured on a church-planting podcast called Field Preachers—click here to listen.
Worshipping and praying together through house churches is a great example of keeping connected. Keep up with the UNY Conference communication platforms for more stories like this that will be featured in our Summer issue of the Advocate, releasing next week.