New Life Church
Guide to Reassembly
As we come out of social distancing restriction, we remain focused on empowering you to be the church wherever you are, turning coffee tables into altars and gathering around dining room tables instead of stages.
So many prophetic words leading into this season have been “the next true revival will be in homes and families, not stadiums and churches.”
That is what we are witnessing and trying to fan into flames, this will continue to be our focus.
The “Guide to Reassembly” is designed to bring us back into full gatherings as quickly and safely as possible while honoring everyone’s individual choice and pace.
To do this we must:
1. Look to build relational connections right now by joining
Community groups in the homes of NLC friends & families
AND/OR...
2. Continually move toward full gatherings together soon.
We all want things to go back to “normal” as soon as possible, but it isn’t going to happen in one massive lifting of restrictions. There will be phases laid out. We will move ahead proactively into each of these phases and thrive in whatever context we find ourselves in.
There may be other local churches in our region who choose to handle this process differently than we do. First, let us say that we will not disparage or dishonor their choice. Secondly, if you desire to attend another church in larger, unrestricted gatherings during this time, we fully respect and honor you in doing so. In fact, we would encourage you, as with any decision, to seek the Lord and walk in obedience to what He says. If you do so, we (Scott and Mary) personally assure you that your voice and place within NLC will not be diminished in the least.
As your lead pastors, we will endeavor to lead with humility as the Holy Spirit directs, faithful to our understanding of scripture. To everyone - those who disagree, those who agree and everyone in-between, please do everything you can with your words and actions to build bridges between local churches. It doesn’t need to be, “their way” against “our way”
“In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty and in all things charity.”
May 24th - June 7th
We encourage you to visit the connect page on our website and join a community group (either online or in home). Our Community Groups will be led by trusted leaders within NLC at a variety of times. Our desire is that you choose one based on time, group demographic and area.
**For those joining an in-home group, you will need to call the phone number provided to sign up due to each home’s space and availability.
The more we are connected to one another in Christ-centered ways, the more needs are met, unexpected friendships are formed and lives are enriched by the rhythms of following Jesus together with a smaller group of people.
June - August
As the shutdown limits are lifted in the summer, there will be opportunity for meeting in groups. When that takes place, we will look for creative ways to connect during the week. These will not be designed to replace the Community groups but rather to supplement and support them.
September (no restriction on gathering size)
We cannot wait to be able to gather again fully! Our dream is to have our sanctuary available for one big party when that happens!
Our encouragement to you will be to maintain the smaller community groups you have joined around your life even as we come back together every Sunday. Some of you may find the smaller Community/Home Church type gathering fits you better than a Sunday model and that’s okay.
We are using this time to create a pathway for both models to exist and support one another. We will continue to be a church that gathers, teaching the Word, worshipping together and witnessing the work of the Holy Spirit in making disciples - both in our building on Sunday as well as homes throughout the week. Both pathways will be of equal importance and support moving forward.
We will wrap this up with where we started two months ago. Hopefully you have been encouraged, uplifted and sometimes entertained during our Walker Home livestream church. You may have received a phone call or more to be checked in on, to be encouraged and connected with as well as to be prayed for. We know this season has been an opportunity for us to live outside the walls of our regular rhythms and building, embracing simplicity on a new level. Some of us have started new, authentic relationships via phone conversations which otherwise would not have happened. We have encountered His presence as we have been forced to slow down and press in, in new ways.
While weekly corporate gatherings are a joy, a place for God to show up strong in our midst, a place to bring unity - they aren’t an idol. Our church will be just as strong, if not stronger, on the other side when we come back together to gather because we’ll discover that we were never actually apart. What unifies us? It’s not the room we’re in but how we make room for Him in all of our lives!
Jesus IS leading us during this time and we are excited to see what He creates from this opportunity. His presence isn’t restricted to a day, a time, or a location and New Life Church isn’t defined by a gathering nor diminished without one because New Life Church is YOU! You are Presence-carrying, community-changing, life, hope, and peace giving Sons and Daughters - fully alive in Jesus who carry His inheritance!
All of heaven is behind you!
(now that’s a declaration to hold on to)
Living within the grace of one day,
Scott & Mary Walker
Lead Pastors