Life Together Churches
Real Presence, Real People, Real Purpose
LTC is to be non-geographic, informal and multi-denominational in its structure and organization. What binds it together is an organic web of existing and emerging relationships and a common vision to make disciples who make disciples and to plant churches that plant churches.
To nurture and grow this dynamic network of relationships, LTC will make extensive use of web-based technologies along with periodic retreats. It also shares as one of its core values the advancement and use of creative media for the purpose of evangelism and discipleship.
Different Types of Churches
Most churches in our network will fall into one of three categories: simple church, cell church and house church network. Simple church is church at its most basic level. It may be a gathering in a coffee shop or a church on the beach or it may meet in a home. It is, by definition, simple. It focuses on people, rather than programs and structure. Cell church can be seen as multiple simple churches linked together to form a hierarchy of support and accountability. There is usually a senior pastor who is overseeing all the simple churches (sometimes called cell groups) and who typically gathers all the groups together for a monthly large group gathering. A house church network differs from a cell church in that the house church in such a network is seen as autonomous, but is networked organically with other nearby house churches for occasional large group gatherings and other shared ministries. They also typically share a leadership team that offers varying levels of accountability, training and support.
Common Vision and Core Values
Churches in the Life Together Network do not share a common structure, but do share a common vision and a common set of core values.
Vision
Our vision is to make disciples who make disciples and to plant churches that plant churches.
Core Values
1. People First
Behind this core value is the belief that the church is temporary in its essential nature. The church is an institution created by Christ for a season. The Kingdom of Heaven is the mother ship which is stable and eternal. Churches are the small lifeboats launched from the mother ship for the purpose of rescuing people from the open sea and bringing them into the safety of the mother ship. We see churches as temporary manifestations of the eternal Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God will not end and people will live forever, but individual churches come and go. Our aim is not to plant churches that stand the test of time, but to make disciples who stand the test of time. Because this is our aim, we are quick to plant a new church knowing that not all of them will survive. But our ultimate calling is not to plant churches, but to make disciples. Life Together churches put people first.
2. Passionate Spirituality
Life Together churches share a passionate spirituality. The church is not a social club, nor does the term life together imply community as our goal. The need for community can be met through many different means, including many that the world as well as various cults can offer. But the church is unique in that it is communion with both one another and with the Godhead, the Divine Community of Three persons in One – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, existing in community from all eternity. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ has made restoration of real communion with the Living God a reality. Jesus leads us into communion with the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit. He promises to be with us to the end of the age and that where two or three are gathered together, that He is there in their midst. And so, when we gather together, we know that Jesus is really present with us. As such, our worship is passionate and our prayers are serious and full of faith and expectancy. We believe God hears us and acts. We are disciples of Jesus who take that discipleship seriously, but who do so in an atmosphere of grace and life toward one another. Life Together churches celebrate and embrace the real presence of Jesus in their midst.
3. Purposeful and Creative Engagement With Lost People and a Broken Culture
Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” The genius of the Father’s plan is that He has released his wonderfully creative and diverse children in a powerful priesthood of all believers. We have each been given talents, passions and spiritual gifts unique to us. The Life Together network of churches is designed to allow for quick evaluation, release and empowerment of new ministries, utilizing web-based systems for the interchange of ideas and the networking of people, resources and support structures. Jesus said the Kingdom would spread like yeast working its way through the dough. We see this happening in our day by use of the same technologies that have given rise to the social networking boon and to other collaborative online resources. We think the possibilities are endless and unpredictably wonderful. We also believe the church has an active role to play in interfacing with and changing culture in positive ways – pastoring cities and discipling nations. As such, we take authority over the Enemy and humbly rise up with the authority God has given us to shake the powers of heaven and impact the world of men. Life Together churches are on a mission.
Life Together Leadership and Oversight Team
The Life Together Leadership Team is comprised of individuals of varying giftings, common passion and practical church planting experience.