7 Obstacles
as reported by David Yonggi Cho in "Successful Home Cell Groups"
1. Leader Burnout / Slackout
-training program developed
-reporting system developed
-support system developed
2. Time Constraints
-Overlong meetings hindered growth or caused decline so meetings were limited to a maximum of 1 hour
-Lavish spreads and eats hindered host availability and sometimes caused family dissention until only simple eats were allowed in the cell groups.
3. Heresy / False Teaching
brought in unsound teaching and disunity until only trained cell leaders were allowed to teach / lead in the cell and teaching guidelines sent out
4. Financial Deals in the cell
caused problems when things didn't go well or ethics were transgressed until business deals between cell members were put to a stop .
5. Overflowing Attendance
cell groups grew and began acting like large group meetings losing the benefits of the cell format. Multiplication had to be forced despite resistance and growth resumed. A built-in expectation of multiplication from the beginning of all cells was implemented. Now groups are examined at if they DON'T multiply.
6. Offering "Borrowing"
Cell leaders began to "borrow" from the offering until Registrars and Treasurers were appointed.
7. Rebellion
Multiplying cell group leaders become area leaders who become area pastors. One pastor whose area grew to over 2000 members decided to start his own independent church with those members. Within 6 months all those members returned to the mother church and the renegade church had to close its doors.
A priniciple was established that anyone wanting to start a new ministry would have to do so in another city.
8. Control
An ongoing concern with any "system" is that the system can be used to control individuals rather than empower them to follow God.