John Fenn candidly shares how, after decades of doing church the traditional way—in auditoriums, on platforms, following the institutional model—he came to a sobering realization. Comparing Scripture with his own church experience, he discovered a profound disconnect. The apostles weren’t writing to churches in buildings; they were writing to believers meeting in homes.
The New Testament, he realized, was written by people doing church in homes to people doing church in homes. When that dawned on him, it exposed how far he had pulled God’s Word out of its relational context. He had tried to force a family-based gospel into an auditorium setting, and it never quite fit.
A Supernatural Encounter—and a Divine Commission
This revelation wasn’t just academic. While in Mississauga, Ontario, preparing to speak, John had a vision of Jesus. The Lord showed him a sobering picture of believers running to and fro, chasing after flashy meetings and spectacles—missing the truly supernatural work already happening in their midst and even within their own hearts. Jesus concluded with a prophetic word:
“As it was in the beginning, so it must be now. I’m moving in relationships.”
This moment launched John into a nine-month deep dive into Scripture and church history. What he found affirmed what the Lord had spoken: from the beginning, the Church functioned as spiritual family in homes. This wasn’t a trend or a preference—it was the foundation.
Related:
- Back to Basics for the Church
- Rethinking Church- Not Us and Them, Just US
- Church is an Organism, not an Organization
- Re -Thinking Church- Vision for the Outside
- Re –Thinking Church Revisited
- Re-Thinking Church – Stats say it isn’t Working
God’s Blueprint: Family, Simplicity, and Relationships
By October of that same year, John told his wife Barb, “If I ever pastor again, it’ll be in our living room, the way Paul did it.” Three weeks later, in Edmonton, Alberta, he had a second supernatural encounter. Jesus appeared and affirmed John’s apostolic calling, commissioning him to start a house church and house church network—designed to support others doing the same around the world.
Church Without Walls International was born from that commission. It’s not a denomination but a fellowship of believers hungry for the genuine—those tired of form without substance, who long for real, Spirit-led relationships.
What the World is Longing For
When we look at the hurting world around us, Jesus’ standard in Matthew 25 reminds us of what He values: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned. These are not tasks for a stage—they’re the fruit of community and relationship. As society crumbles and institutions fail, people—believers included—are craving something real. They’re not looking for polished programs. They’re looking for a family.
For John, the simplicity of rotating homes and leaders, as done in the early church, allows the body of Christ to function as God intended—every member engaged, known, and growing.
Related:
- Billy Graham’s NEW Decision Magazine Filled with Timely, Relevant Issues the Church is Facing Today
- Article and programs on exploring God’s “The Original Intent of the Church”
- Re-thinking Church
- Re-Thinking Church- Institutionalized, Confined, and Contented?
- Rethinking Church: We made it Up, George Barna
- Re-Thinking Church: God is a God of order but his name is not Robert
- Activating the Church and Community by ReImagine
A Global Confirmation
200 million believers are gathering in homes and an estimated
one million new believers are coming to faith each month!
John’s experience is not isolated. All over the world, millions of believers are meeting in homes. He cites reports from China where 200 million believers are gathering in homes and an estimated one million new believers are coming to faith each month—immediately plugged into house churches. Why? Because it’s an extension of family, of neighborhood, of real life. It’s not showy, but it’s powerful. It’s not built for comfort—it’s built for growth.
The Call to Return
In closing, John reflects on the foundational truth: house church is not just an option. It is the context in which the gospel was born and meant to flourish. It is centered on family, community, discipleship, and genuine fellowship. If you’re sensing that same hunger—for something real, rooted, and relational—you’re not alone. This may be your call to return to the roots too.
Five Things We Learned
- The New Testament was written by and to people doing church in homes, not in buildings or institutions.
- The early church spread across the Roman Empire through relationships, not programs or platforms.
- Jesus is calling His Church back to its original form—relational, simple, and home-based.
- House church meets the deep hunger of modern believers and a broken world, offering real connection, community, and discipleship.
- Millions worldwide—especially in persecuted or revival-filled regions—are already living out this model, affirming its power and relevance today.