Search

The term “house church” refers to a group of Christians meeting in a private house for mutual pastoral support, for celebration and fellowship, and for common ministry to others. Such groups traditionally engage in Bible study, prayer, and meditation (Devotion, Devotions). They may be linked to traditional churches, although many function as small independent churches, especially in cases of persecution or isolation (Diaspora). Especially in China since 1949, when the government ended foreign mi…

“Electronic church” is a euphemism for radio and television religious programming (Mass Media) that applies modern high technology (in computers and marketing) to media use. With much diversity in ideology, the major electronic churches usually share common characteristics: (1) strong charismatic leaders with clear and simple answers; (2) a divine success story with a miraculous mythology around their beginnings; (3) a distinctive style that identifies a unique package for the gospel (e.g., Jerry Falwell’s “Old Time Gospel”); (4) a quest for an audience; (5) a ten…

[German Version] emerged in the Tsarist Russia of the 19th century from mainly three groups: 1. The “Molocans,” called “milk-drinkers,” because they drank milk on days of fasting; a spiritualist Russia; Nikita Voronin was baptized in 1867 by the Latvian Baptist Martin K. Kalweit. The new Molocans, later called Evangelical Christians, were under the leadership of Ivan Prochanow. 2. The “Hours” movement (“hour-keepers,” German-Reformed colony in Odessa) of German immigrants. Vasilii Pavlov …