Cell church might sound like something
to do with prisons - but its actually a way of being church together,
focussing upon relationships and community rather than buildings, organizations
or institutions.
Usually the cell church will meet in a number of groups of about twelve
or so in members homes coming together more centrally at regular intervals
for specific purposes.
It is very likely that each cell group
will have a slightly different social mix, along with different approaches
to the faith and different styles of worship. It really is for each group
to 'make itself' in Christ's image.
However we hope and pray that each of
the groups will belong together - hence we use the chambered shell image
to talk about the interdependency and relationship of each cell to the
others. If 'one is sad - all are sad';' if one is poor - all help'.