About 2 years ago several different groups of believers in and around the city of Bath set out to explore new expressions of church life in a more organic way. Some of those groups, six thus far, have been growing more closely together and have recently begun gathering as one on an occasional basis for celebration and encouragement. The groups vary in size from half a dozen to thirty, and when together the numbers are around 90.
The life and focus of the groups remains within the homes as extended families. Each has a slightly different emphasis and style but all are committed to seeing the non-churched reached and new home churches opened.
To date most growth has come from the de-churched but there are signs of new growth and churches coming from amongst the non-churched. Members of one group have connected with a Muslim family and gather as often as possible with them in their own home. Their vision is to leave this family 'where they are' within their own network of friends and relationships rather than extricating them from their own culture. They would then encourage them to gather others around them in their home and form church there. In turn they would be encouraged to do the same beyond themselves thus spreading ever outwards rather than gathering more and more in one place; the desire being to keep things simple and reproducible.
