7 Traits / Characteristics of the Church

4We share the belief that these scriptures (among many others) are important guides for believers’ daily lives
 4See 1 Peter 2:21-25 and Acts 2:37-47 and 1 Corinthians 14:26 and John 21

4 We encourage families to gather as a family on a regular basis
 4 The family can enjoy the 4 practices of Acts together at a family meal
 4 These family gatherings should be led by spiritually able parents, so.....
 4 Practical training is provided for parents that helps them understand how to
       organize these family gatherings, teach Bible stories, etc.

4 We Consider Prayer and Personal Bible Study to Be Important
 4 We teach and then encourage believers to pray and study the Bible as an effective part of their daily lives.

4 We Believe Every Believer Brings Something Important From God To Gatherings
 4 We encourage believers to learn from God and then bring something that they‘ve learned to each gathering. 
        See 1 Corinthians 14:26 *

4 We Believe in the Fruits & Manifestations of the Holy Spirit Being Revealed Together
 4 We teach believers about the fruits of God’s Holy Spirit and the manifestations of God’s Holy Spirit,
        and then encourage believers to allow God to manifest both in their daily lives.  See Galatians 5:22-23
        (see original Greek meanings) and 1 Corinthians 12:7-11

4 How Our Gatherings Are Scheduled In North America
 4 Every month, there is a joint gathering of house churches in a regional area.  These are larger
        gatherings but still are founded upon the four daily practices of the Church found in Acts 2 and upon 1
        Corinthians 14:26. 
 4 Other gatherings throughout a month / week are scheduled by any and all believers themselves.  
        When a believer feels inspired to host a gathering at their home, they make it known so that the
        gathering can be placed on the “Gather-Ring." The Gather-Ring is a dedicated telephone number
        from that regional area that has a regularly updated message with the next gathering’s location and
        time in that regional area. Believers call this number regularly to find out where and when the next
        gathering will be held.  
 4 Every believer is encouraged to bring something Spirit-birthed to each gathering *
 4 Elders also travel house to house to share with people that have gathered in a home
 4 Much time is spent by believers “out of church” serving Christ and the least of His brethren in various ways

4 Some other spiritual principles that are important to us
 4 Believers can move through life together, like a school of fish or flock of birds, if
       they are all being led by God’s Holy Spirit (see John 3:8) 
 4 Change born of God is opposed by our fleshly nature but embraced by our Spirit.
       We can overcome and crucify our old fleshly nature through Christ’s example and
       God’s Holy Spirit. We can live a holy life, and walk as Christ Jesus walked.
 4 The whole is the sum of all parts. When each of us do our best to obey God, we
       make the whole better, as well. We must encourage each other and seek to be our best.
 4 and MOST importantly......

       Our lives are centered around Christ Jesus. He is everything. He is the Way,
       the Truth and the Life, and no one comes to the Father but through Him. He is our
       Saviour, King, Intercessor, Helper and Friend. He is all in all, and there is no lack
       in Him. Put in its simplest terms, “What are we about”?.....We are about Jesus.