From The Church of England Newspaper - Friday 28 March 2008 I grew up to the sounds of guitar jangling in my parents' house group meeting once a week at our home, so the concept of cell church has never been alien to me. However for some, it is merely a buzz word or jargon. A 'cell' is a regular meeting of a small number of members of a larger church. Through worship, prayer and Bible study they fellowship and learn and learn to disciple one another. Phil Potter's book, The Challenge of Cell Church, is a useful addition to the number of books written on this subject. For Potter, Cell churches have to reflect five key values in order to succeed. Firstly, everyone must be involved. Cell church is not about choosing the most obviously gifted person to run everything. Sometimes, the shyest and least forthcoming people can make the strongest contributions. Secondly, nurturing discipleship should be the norm. Members should be encouraged to share from their own lives and be open about their strengths and weaknesses. Thirdly, creating community. This means learning to live among a diverse people group with differing opinions on hymns/choruses, for example. Fourthly, Potter focuses on evangelism. This is more than posting tracts out to neighbours. True outreach comes after true discipleship. Finally, there must be an encounter with God in the group. Here Potter shows an openness to the charismatic movement, welcoming the baptism of the spirit in its various forms. Yet he still has time for mere 'boring Bible-bashers', he assures. I was inspired reading this book. There is something refreshing about Potter's outlook in which he encourages churches to look both inwards and outwards to serve the Kingdom of God - there is much here that can bless and encourage anyone trying to do new things in their church. And if you don't take my word for it you can take the commendation of the Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Revd James Jones, who wrote the foreword. Matt Cresswell
