We choose meeting places where people feel comfortable, safe, and protected. Refugee camps can sometimes be places of significant social pressure from other Muslims, so we meet in a variety of settings—homes, restaurants, parks, gardens, and other suitable locations. The key is that everyone feels welcomed and at home.
For small groups, meeting in homes is often the most practical option. In our Ekklesia gatherings, we will celebrate the biblical feasts, because these feasts point to God’s eternal purposes and are celebrated in heaven. We will also celebrate these feasts in larger gatherings, whether in churches, conference centers, or outdoors.
Within the Ekklesia, we seek to identify the people who may be “persons of peace”—men and women who are open to the Gospel and able to influence others. We want to entrust leadership to these people as soon as possible and help them grow in their leadership. Raising up new leaders is essential for the movement to grow and multiply.
Definition of Person of Peace:
We define a “person of peace” based on Matthew 7:24–27: “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
In this passage, we see two key characteristics of a person of peace. First, the person is teachable and eager to learn. Second, the person puts what they are learning into practice. It is not enough simply to hear the words of Jesus—the person of peace responds by putting them into action.