The following is extracted from "Christian Packet" located at the very top of this homepage. HOW TO START, KEEP AND GROW YOUR OWN REAL-WORLD HOUSE CHURCHES   For starting and maintaining real-world (non-internet web) fellowships of ex-JWs and other friends, the basic idea is as follows and more details can be found in CHRISTIAN PACKET at the top of christianwitnesses.com:  Namely, you invite friendly seeming people to regularly gather in a home (or other location) following your invitation to do so at that place as well at a time that you set for doing so.  Part of a book in any reputable translation of the Bible is read while all in attendance listen and each is encouraged to try to make some kind of personal application.  Include prayers, simple inexpensive meal (e.g. soup with finger sandwiches; cookies and ice-cream), some singing, perhaps a Bible or fun game for youngsters, visiting, planning for Christian activities such as collecting and getting blankets to the homeless, getting donated food to the hungry, helping the elderly clean up lawns etc, assisting widows, orphans, the infirm and ailing, alien residents isolated due to cultural barriers and languages etc.  Some people like to offer teachings or insights on life's hard knocks and the value of Christianity.  Invite those who attend to give some kind of testimonials or spiritual experiences etc if they wish.  Interactivity and getting the group involved in positive Christian activities is great.  Encourage all who want to to take the lead in areas where they have God-given talents and abilities.   Who's the preacher of such a newly formed Bible fellowship group?  The Bible itself is, although if some present wish, as said, to give a testimonial or short upbuilding talk, then they are welcome to do that, too.  The Bible that is used may be read by yourself, someone else, or by various persons taking a turn.  Instead of reading an entire chapter, focus on doing maybe 12 scriptures, long enough for people to think about and learn from but not so long as to lose the attention of anyone or bore them. How might you contact people?  Among the following are some handy sample "Invitation" forms.   You might also try putting a piece of cardboard or posterboard in the back of a car's windshield with some short message like "FOR NEW LOCAL CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP: JMASONEMERSON@YAHOO.COM" (using your own email though) or, say, "CHRISTIANWITNESSES.COM."  To invite JWs in particular you may use invitation letters to known addresses, or if not having those, then you can for example print in large broad letters “christianwitnesses.com” on a large posterboard in florescent glow-in-the-dark letters and put it where visible when headlights hit it right across the street from a kingdom hall, assembly hall or a convention site.  That way they will get your message of invitation quickly whether the sign is seen in daylight or at night.  The idea can also be used for the general public for example by having the sign in a car or truck that is either parked or driven about in a high traffic area such as at a shopping mall or near a convention site. You can post, where allowed, notes on bulletinboards such as in supermarkets and laudromats, also run a regular newspaper ad, use a yard sign, use a phone directory listing, etc.  Put a stack of leaflets (or tracts) upon a table in your house-church where all who wish to take and give away some can easily do so.  On each leaflet include a contact email for interested readers so that when a leaflet goes to somebody new, that person also can start attending.  In fact at each meeting ask those attending to try to invite someone new to also come back with you during the coming week. We are all Christians whether male or female, and whoever starts a group and lovingly helps keep it going and growing like a flower regularly watered with loving-kindness may be of either sex, though later on a group can decide if it wants to formally appoint (also called "ordain") or not, whom or whom all to appoint or ordain, etc as it has an understanding about such matters from actual reading of the scriptures in actual context.  (See more handy suggestions and forms in "Christian Packet" at the top of this homepage.)   The emphasis is not on doctrines, although correct basic doctrines (see Hebrews 6:1) are important, but rather the emphasis is put upon the hands-on showing of genuine love for one another, and a helping and comforting of those in genuine need.  There is great Christian freedom of thought and expression of views.  (Ro 14)  Offer fellowship regardless of the many different Christian views that we all have and experience proves that few will be bothered if you state that in addition to the Hebrews 16:1 basics, you also believe in and emphasize freedom to differ united by love (Ro 14; Co 3:14); resurrection to heaven or earth; the inviting of friendly people to home Bible readings(Mt 28:19, Ro 16:1), praying, sharing meals, helping the poor and needy (Ga 2:10); any group of two or more where desired appointing elders by concensus, voting or otherwise (1Tim 3; Ac 6:5) and a strong emphasis that Christ himself is our only top Leader. (Mt 23:10; 24:45)  Those who meet can hold differing views about heaven, earth, when resurrection or resurrections take place etc.  No two people will believe everything the same all the time.  Only robots would, and God made us humans with freedom to choose and make decisions, not as robots or machines.  Unity is from love, is not uniformity. (Col 3:14) Most Christians regardless of previous church backgrounds or beliefs will agree that it is wise to stay awake both to educating about dangers such as natural disasters, wars, dangers to human society such as criminals, deadly dictatorships and cults as well as the need to build stronger, happier families and communities.    Some definitely want to know when Armageddon or the end of the world will come, especially with modern concerns ranging from the environment to natural disasters, wars and the economy.  That's natural, but point out that it is good to stay awake although Christ said only the Father knows the exact time for the end.  (Matthew 24:36-44)  We can be praying with trust in God while cultivating Christian conduct and personality.  Note that we are saved by grace instead of works (Eph 2:8, 9, Ac 15:9-11) which is also naturally balanced by Christians eagerly doing things such as Christ and the apostles did like giving of themselves to help the poor, feed the hungry, heal the sick, and comfort the dying and bereathed with the Good News of the resurrection. (Ga 2:10, James 2:24)   Some may ask about prophecies and visions such as are in the books of Daniel and Revelation.   Tell them that our curiousity about such things is natural as all generations and individuals have had different views about those.   We can enjoy the fascination of considering those but at the same time need to remember that we do not have God's super-human mental abilities and knowledge, (Ro 11:33) and the Bible tells us not to be depending upon our own understanding. (Pr 3:5)   Remember, too, that it is a waste of time and not fruitful to go beyond enjoyable discussions into heated arguments over words or what might or might not be correct views on different topics.  (1Cor 10:23)  It is also wrong to cause divisions or stumble others.  (1Cor 1:10; 1Cor 8:9)  Instead we are wiser to cultivate good fruits of Holy Spirit such as love, joy and peace (Ga 5:22); forgive others (Mt 6:12) and in general try to keep pleasing our Father who is looking on from in heaven. (Mt 6:12) Make it comfortable and relaxing for people to meet.  Christ welcomed and told his parables or insightful stories to the crowds and no scriptures exist that he ever told them to dress up.  Invite friendly people to enjoy coming as they are dressed including for example if they have on blue-jeans.  Help mothers and fathers with fretful little ones for example by providing some manner of fun but relevant Christian activities such as Bible games.  Select Christ music and songs or hymns that are enjoyable for your group. (Ps 33:1-11, 20-22)  Baptize those who are beyond small infants and toddlers if they themselves say they have personally decided they want to be publicly baptized and they show that they know clearly what it means.   Unless there is a major health and safety issue where love would show to the contrary, for example, with an iron-lung, immerse them in water saying you do so for Jesus Christ alone in the name of the father, son and holy spirit. (Mt Ac 2:38, 8:15, 16; 10:48, 19:5; Col 3:17) Observe what is called the Memorial of the Last Supper or Lord's Evening Meal at least once a year although history shows the earliest Christians may have done in remembrance of Christ each week that they gathered. Encourage all to become more involved for building up the body of Christ in fellowship by sharing their different God-given talents and gifts.  Some may give life stories, share musical or singing skills, use their language abilities to help immigrants or alien residents in the community, aid and champion deserving widows, help orphans and fatherless children, zealously share the Good News by leaving about or giving out Bible tracts to friends or relatives, help the handicapped and elderly with house or yard work, revive or resurrect those who are spiritually dead etc.  (1Cor 13 etc)  Some will want to start new groups and you need to encourage and help them succeed at it.  Christian activities and attitudes are, after all, an even better way to make new disciples for Christ than mostly just saying words alone. (Mt 28:19) Our one and only name as Christians is just that, Christians.  (Ac 11:26)  If some wish to use a descriptive name to distinguish a little bit, then those who would like to say they are Christian Witnesses or who prefer to use some other name of preference can do so.  For example Paul often used phrases such as Christians in Corinth, Christians in Ephesus etc.  Groups enjoy autonomy led overall only by Christ but are encouraged to work together to spark even more acts of loving kindness when occasionally meeting and in cooperative association with one another.  As said at the outset, more suggestions (not rules but only suggestions) about these and other matters also appear in "Christian Packet" and elsewhere on christianwitnesses.com.  Please inform others of this website and consider forming and serving your own real-world fellowships now.  When we fall or get knocked down, we can either stay down or get up.  Now is the time to step forward again into service, closer than ever to Christ and our Father in heaven.  Enjoy a more full share in ministering than you may ever have had before.

ANDY WALKS WITH ME Andy Walks With Me, authored by Ralph Heidler with an assist from his wife Twila, explores the traumatic, abuse-ridden life of young Leroy in his daily encounters with Father, a psychotic, dictatorial, would-be preacher. Compelled to escape Father’s agonizing punishments, Leroy has nowhere to go but within his own mind to find the peace he needs to survive. Father, a harsh and unforgiving tyrant, did not spare the rod in raising his fourteen children. Mother, who was distant and cold, provided the nursing care for her abused children but could not truly love them or heal their inner pain. When Leroy becomes a young man, he assumes his birth name of Ralph, marries and begins to raise six children. One day he disappears and mercifully loses his excruciating childhood memories. Forgetting his immediate past as well, Ralph finds himself on a strange but eventful twenty-year odyssey that will eventually bring him back to confront his childhood demons and the family he left behind. A unique story of surviving human cruelty that devastated an entire family, Andy Walks With Me is heart-wrenching, inspiring, and yes, even humorous. This is $5.95 as an e-book or $16.95 as a paperback.  This ad will be here 2-3 days and later will be seen in the AUTHORS section up at the top and on ten of the other sections.  Let us carry your own ads whether about books or otherwise.  All proceeds go to help worthy causes such as Silentlambs.org and Bleedinglambs. CLICK THIS LINK TO GET A FREE SAMPLE, PRICING INFORMATION ETC!