A global status report on house churches 2021
By Wolfgang Simson, author of “The House Church Book” – www.refornation.eu Based on biblical, archaeological and historical evidence, house churches – and flat‐structured regional networks of house churches ‐ have been the primal, original expression of the ekklesia that Jesus Christ promised to built in the New Testament. During the emergence of sanctuary‐based, hierarchical and denominational church systems from AD 100‐400, house churches have often become sidelined, suppressed and even persecuted by what called itself the mainline church (see the history chapter in: The House Church Book). House churches have, in various forms and under various labels like pietistic groups, cells or base communities, always existed under the radar of both secular and religious observers. A major and historic comeback of house churches has happened in China – curiously after the expulsion of Western missionaries and their religious influence after Mao Zedong in the early 20th century. Some researc