Un-Super-Sized Churches

Written by Kathryn Savage

In a world that super sizes burgers and fries, some churches are taking the road less traveled. Churches are starting to resemble classes I took back at my small liberal arts college - a place where everybody knows your name not because you stand out per se, but because you’re one of seven people in the room.

Why does it matter? Well, here at Blue Zones, we believe belonging is an important part of a long, healthy lifestyle. The centenarians we study all have a sense of belonging and purpose, and for many that comes from spiritual or religious practice.

These micro-churches, or "cell churches", have membership that tends to stop at ten or twelve people. Cell churches usually meet in a member's home, and every member of the cell takes turns leading services. It’s a concept based on trust and mutual support. In a recent article in the Star Tribune on cell churches, a participant, Cheri Hardwick, says she likes it because, "Instead of sitting in a pew while a pastor or priest does all the teaching, we learn and grow from each other.”

Curious? Learn more here.

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written by moozers, November 21, 2008

cow go moooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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written by sarah snider, November 21, 2008

im bored

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written by sarah snider, November 21, 2008

weeeee

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written by mscottexas, August 04, 2008

I'm hearing impaired and can't stand the noise in church and often can't understand what is being said anyway. People try to talk to me and I can't hear them so I quit going. An intimate setting where nothing is loud and people speak one at a time would be much more comfortable for me. I also like the interactive aspect. Instead of just being told how it is, we could actually discuss ideas.
I'm going to look for one in my area.

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It's up to you
written by Glee Hanson, June 16, 2008

I do attend church. All the people there are human-just like me. You get out of it what you put into it.

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written by Jewel, June 12, 2008

I dont attend church. My friends who do have just as much stress from pettiness and jealously and control freaks in church as they do from work and other realationships. My one friend who attends a cell church does not seem to have this stress.

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