Gay Speden

“If the leader of a church is effective, the people will follow“… and, the people are following the leading of Cells-church Consultants International!

I have had the pleasure and delight of being led into a leadership role in our church, shepherding a cell group (or Life-group, as our church calls them).

Cell groups have saved our church from being a heart for God to becoming a heart that “beats for God” – they are the heart-beat of our church! Cell groups are places where people meet together to “DO” life. It’s the best place where the masks we wear can come off … where people can be “real”… where people can share, laugh, cry, sigh, celebrate, commiserate, question, and encourage – find support and listening ears – to just be … with no strings attached; no expectations, and then to reach out to bless others.

Cell groups are places where God can be honoured, where “life” is intentional about journeying together. It’s the place where confidence is assured, compassion is evident, where everyone has a story to tell (and deserves to be heard). Cells are respectful of a person’s place in life and the Christian journey.

Cell groups are where tolerance is put into practise, alongside of forgiveness. It’s a place to GROW, REACH IN, and REACH OUT. Cells are about doing the “real stuff” of life that the rules, regulations, framework and business of church has lost somewhere along the lines.

Cells is what I always thought, believed, dreamed and longed for church to be …  but only found it to be so after having had the privilege of doing CCI’s Small Groups Development training and putting it into  practice (with the help of a tremendous support  team). My only credentials are a deep love for the Lord, and a passion and longing to walk with others, being His hands, feet, ears and voice as I journey on.

The cell-church model is so easy to put into practice, and so effective. It involves all the group members as they choose to participate at their own pace, and empowers and enables them to grow and to reach out to others with the love of Christ.

All the hard work has been done by Cells-church Consultants … which leaves the “shepherd” free to feed, support and encourage their small flock. To seek out the lost and weak ones … to carry the hurting ones and guide the flock through the joys, delights, obstacles and frustrations of life takes TEAM effort (Together, Everyone, Achieves, More), for the individual, for the church, and for The Kingdom.

God must look down with a smile when He sees His kids in Cells – the life of His church on earth.

Gay Speden, Life-group Pastor
Helensvale Baptist Church