A house church meeting in Gilbert, AZ recently received a violation notice after a code compliance officer noticed nearby signs advertising the church group's Sunday service. Building codes in the city prohibit religious gatherings of any size, including Bible-studies, to meet in private residential homes. House church leader Ken Eastburn commented on the irony of the matter, "The city actually helped the house church accomplish their goal. The community now knows they exist!"
Consisting of just seven adult members and their children, Oasis House Church members rotate between homes on a weekly basis and is led by three graduates from Bob Jones University, two of whom are brothers. They began meeting at Pastor Joe Sutherland's house in November of 2009 and upon receiving the violation notice the next month, moved their meetings to a local school. The church is being represented by Alliance Defense Fund attorneys who filed an appeal on Wednesday, March 10th citing other gatherings like cub scouts or business meetings that are not subject to the same violations is a clear case of discrimination.
"I have no doubt in my mind that the church will come out of this process victorious," says Eastburn, "There is even a possibility that this unfortunate incident will serve as a catalyst for many more Christians in Gilbert, AZ and the surrounding areas to get in on what God is doing through the house church movement."
Eastburn is a leader with The Well, formerly a traditional Southern Baptist church that transitioned in 2005 to a network of home-based churches in California that has since expanded by adding locations in Colorado and Pennsylvania.
He continues, "You cannot stop the Church by persecuting it. In fact, persecuting it seems to give it even more strength. It is part of how, in all things, God works for the good of those who love him."
The Well hosts 5-15 members at each of its seven locations on a weekly basis. Eastburn and other members post their experiences on a blog maintained by the church, www.leavethebuildingblog.com, with the purpose of interacting with individuals from traditional and house church backgrounds.
Consisting of just seven adult members and their children, Oasis House Church members rotate between homes on a weekly basis and is led by three graduates from Bob Jones University, two of whom are brothers. They began meeting at Pastor Joe Sutherland's house in November of 2009 and upon receiving the violation notice the next month, moved their meetings to a local school. The church is being represented by Alliance Defense Fund attorneys who filed an appeal on Wednesday, March 10th citing other gatherings like cub scouts or business meetings that are not subject to the same violations is a clear case of discrimination.
"I have no doubt in my mind that the church will come out of this process victorious," says Eastburn, "There is even a possibility that this unfortunate incident will serve as a catalyst for many more Christians in Gilbert, AZ and the surrounding areas to get in on what God is doing through the house church movement."
Eastburn is a leader with The Well, formerly a traditional Southern Baptist church that transitioned in 2005 to a network of home-based churches in California that has since expanded by adding locations in Colorado and Pennsylvania.
He continues, "You cannot stop the Church by persecuting it. In fact, persecuting it seems to give it even more strength. It is part of how, in all things, God works for the good of those who love him."
The Well hosts 5-15 members at each of its seven locations on a weekly basis. Eastburn and other members post their experiences on a blog maintained by the church, www.leavethebuildingblog.com, with the purpose of interacting with individuals from traditional and house church backgrounds.
