Christian Forums FAQ

Meeting Place Finder (in development, need funding)

The purpose of the Meeting Place Finder is so members of the body of Christ can find meeting places with correct teaching and adhere to Scriptural locality. Imagine if you will a Meeting Place Finder for the body of Christ because Christians don't want fellowship anymore at denominations and under independent congregationalism, so what they seek is to place themselves within and under is the proper organizing of the Church whereby the Apostles are in agreement and there is proper authority and submission from the Head flowing down to the Body.

The Apostles, directly commissioned by God, work regionally such as throughout the churches of Texas or the churches of Alberta. They appoint Elders of each church locality, that is, each city of believers such as Dallas or Edmonton. In turn, the Elder of the locality approves the Elders of many meeting places within his or her locality. This is proper delegated responsibility. The Apostles of a region can meet together from time to time but they are limited to their own region. Likewise, Elders of a locality are limited to their own locality. They have no jurisdiction in a neighboring locality. And the same is true for each Elder of a meeting place. God wants it and does it this way because He knows our flesh all too well. He rejects an Archdiocese of United States or Pope of the planet or board of directors of a denomination or independent congregation. Independency is the problem just as it was with Adam and Eve at the fall!

Now take this a step further and observe the usefulness of the internet. What if we could have a Meeting Place Finder for the Body of Christ on the internet that is all automated to facilitate the function of these 3 offices in the Church? This is what God told me He wants. The first step, of course, is for the Apostles to agree on a certain number of questions for all three groups of workers that they would need to agree to in order to be able access the Meeting Place Finder Map and submit their information. Please contact us here if you have any ideas how to help make this happen.

"And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon it was, to the threshold of the house: and he called to the man clothed in linen [man-child overcomers, Rev. 7.9, 12.5, 19.14], who had the writer's inkhorn by his side. And Jehovah said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof...and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity...but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary [begin in the midst of Christendom itself]...And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me" (Ez. 9.3-6,11).

You may identify the Biblical locality as "Church in [city or remote locale] in the churches of [province or state or country]" depending on the size of the region. Acceptable designations for a Biblical locality: "of", "in", "at", "church which [is] in" (Acts 11.22), "which is at" (2 Cor. 1 .1), "of the" (1 Thess. 1.1), "which are in" (Col. 4.15). Appropriate identification for a region: "churches rest throughout all" (Acts 9.31), "of", "which are in" (Rev. 1.4).

Permission Groups - Apostles and Two Kinds of Elders

Indicate whether you are an Apostle or an Elder. "Let the elders who take the lead among the saints well be esteemed worthy of double honour, specially those labouring in word and doctrine" (1 Tim. 5.17). This is referring to Elders of a meeting place who are also Elders of a locality. The three main workers for the Church to select from are found Permission Groups:

If you are an Elder of a locality, indicate the Apostle who appointed you when you submit your Join Request to this Permission Group.

Apostles (directly commissioned by God and not by gifts) are not normally Elders because they are on the road traveling, but sometimes they do not travel so much. In those cases they may also be an Elders of a locality, an Elder of a meeting place, or both (that is, all three types of workers).

The office of an Elder (either type) is not by gifting either. An Elder of a locality is appointed specifically by an Apostle. Likewise, an Elder of a meeting place is approved by the Elder of his or her locality. Elder is a relative term: they are most suitable to take care of a meeting place relative to others.