I have spent my life participating in the Divine community of church. I grew up in the United Methodist tradition, but in the past three decades I have participated in various others including Evangelical Free, Russian Orthodox, Bible, Baptist, Christian & Missionary Alliance, and various non-denominational / independent gatherings. I have enjoyed worship among old-school hymn-singing groups, with pew-hopping-rolling-down-the-isles Pentecostal churches and everything in between. I have found a home among traditionally black, ethnically Chinese, rural white, and racially integrated church-families. In my travels, I have been blessed by the people in the Russian house church, the Romanian Gypsies, the Canadian First Nations, and the Mexican migrant community. I have enjoyed mega, mini, home, rural and city churches and amazingly all of these diverse traditions can, if they so choose, thrive with Elders at the helm.

I never imagined the Holy Spirit would use my diverse education and experience to plant an Elder-led church. In the past 3 years, I have learned much from studying the Scriptures, talking with good people, and from making mistakes. Today I am convinced that while there are many models for effective church, God’s overarching design is to use Elder-led Families in the fulfillment of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In the coming series, I will endeavor to blog what I have discovered about Elders in the church. Certainly many other men, more qualified and better looking than I, have written on this topic. My only hope is that by adding my small voice to the conversation, God’s Flock will be encouraged to know how “Elders Lead A Healthy Family”.