MINISTRY

The first type of gathering that we see in the New Testament (and the most commonly occurring) is the Koinonia. The meaning of this gathering is simple; close, fellowship! At Mesa, we believe, that even more than attending a weekly service, believers should be living in close fellowship with each other, and not as an optional extracurricular activity, but as a standard aspect of every day life. We accomplish this through a thing called "CIRCLES." Circles are not an optional thing to get to when you have time. Circles are the starting line of the faith community.

The second gathering that we see is what we are most familiar with in the Western church. After the Apostle Paul would go into a city and establish a fellowship of believers (koinonia or "first gathering"), he would establish the ecclesia, or, the ASSEMBLY! This gathering, was not simply all of the individuals who believed in Christ gathering together, it was where the circles of fellowship across the city gathered and assembled. The assembly establishes unity through the contribution of the saints, and training/equipping the circles, deploying them to carry out the work of The Kingdom.

The third gathering is about turning outwardly. When we get caught hiding faith behind the walls of our church buildings or homes, we are engaging in the senseless act found in Matthew 5:15, hiding a lamp under bushel. Why even light a lamp if it is to be hidden? Shouldn't that flame bring light to dark places, and warmth to the coldest heart? We think so! And it isn't just for us to share the goodness of Jesus solo, as individuals, but together! In Luke, Jesus sent them out 2x2. After his ascension the apostles continued this. If we are going to reach people, let's do it together in the FIELD, and make church public.