By Sharon Mager, BCM/D Correspondent
Columbia, MD–Several BCM/D churches are spending six hours, from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. in intense Bible study and prayer on Good Friday through a “Secret Church” simulcast. The topic is “The Cross and Suffering.”
In an interview with LifeWay president Thomas Rainer, David Platt, author of “Radical,” and founder of “Secret Church,” explained how the movement is a result of Platt’s time ministering with underground house churches in East Asia. There, Christians gathered for up to 12 hours at a time, risking their lives, with Bibles on their knees, hungrily studying God’s Word.
Platt brought that experience to “The Church at Brook Hills,” in Birmingham, Ala., where Platt is the senior pastor. A thousand believers came to study and pray six hours for the persecuted church. There was no music or entertainment, just studying God’s Word.
The experience became so popular, the auditorium couldn’t hold the number of people wanting to participate in subsequent events. The church now streams “Secret Church,” through the Internet.
First Baptist Church of Dundalk, White Marsh Baptist Church and Weems Creek Church are among the churches throughout the United States participating in the live simulcast.
Chris Gudmundson, pastor of First Baptist Church of Dundalk, said half of his congregation has already signed up for the event. He believes the Good Friday simulcast topic, suffering, is drawing many.
“We all struggle with how to come to grip with pain in the world,” he said.
For more information, see http://www.disciplemakingintl.org/secretchurch.