From Bangkok to Bishkek, Budapest to Bogotá. Kenneth D. MacHarg
of my other books, listened to me chatter on and patiently allowed me to spend voluminous hours on the computer.
Contents
History: Individual union and international congregations 159
Published articles concerning international churches from church and academic sources 290
Previously published articles by the author 340
“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:19-22
Introduction
How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land? Psalm 137:4 NIV
Consider these statistics: There are 9,161 churches in the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA), over 6,939, the Disciples of Christ, 3,627, the Southern Baptists over 47,000, the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) 1,353, and the international churches number well over 3,000.
Wait a minute—international churches? Is that a
denomination? Who are they? Why haven’t I ever heard of them? Three-thousand churches?
One should not be surprised if they didn’t recognize the name “international churches.” In fact, these congregations would be easy to miss because they are not a denomination, but are part of an existing network or fellowship or, perhaps, movement of congregations spread around the globe.
However, their obscurity should not hide their immense influence around the world with people from multiple denominations and just about every nation on earth.
The assumption that someone from an English-speaking nation might make is that when locating to another country they either will have to attend church in the language of the host nation where they are visiting or working, or they might just have to skip going to church while they are abroad.
Think again. For over 450 years, British, Scottish, Canadian, Australian, Filipino, Nigerian, Ghanaian, South African, American and other English-speaking expatriates (those who live outside of their own country) have attended English-language churches in foreign lands while on vacation, studying or working.
Most likely, those congregations have been multi-national, multi-denominational churches meeting in their own buildings, a rented church, a hotel banquet room or school auditorium, a borrowed hall or gymnasium or someone’s expanded home. They have ranged from a handful of people squeezed into a living room to thousands who attend each Sunday in multi-campus congregations.
For the most part, they have met in small to medium-sized gatherings in a variety of venues, worshipping, studying and sharing in fellowship with people who share their common language and a firm belief in Jesus Christ.
And, while these congregations are somewhat hidden from church-goers back in their home country, they number in the thousands and have been a mighty force in the expansion of the Kingdom of God and the evangelization of people in countless countries.
While many of them were most often known as Union Churches, or occasionally American Churches in the past, today they go under the general description of International Congregations and they are unique gatherings of Christians with a wide influence.
This description from the website of the Missional International Church Network best describes these unique congregations:
What is an International Church?
International churches (ICs) are those churches around the world that primarily serve people of various nationalities (expatriates) and church backgrounds living outside their passport (home) countries.
Main Characteristics:
They function in a language (mostly English) not normally spoken in the host country. Usually, there is a significant proportion of the church (which has) English as a second language.
They have a majority of people from other countries – expatriates / people of the global diaspora / foreign passport holders. (In some major cities, the growing numbers of nationals who have been internationalised through substantial overseas experience has resulted in some international churches with a majority of nationals who are culturally more at home here than in the national church. In some others, it is illegal for nationals to attend.)
They have a cultural flavouring and rich diversity, with stronger more global and global-nomad perspectives, which reflects the mix of nationalities and cultures involved. Typically, multi-national, multi-cultural, multi-denominational. Very intentional in preserving a focus on this diversity with a primary concern to serve (or minister to) expatriates.
Other typical characteristics include …
There are well over a thousand1 international churches across the globe. They can be found in nearly all major cities, especially where English is not the main language. Most major and capital cities have several international churches.
They are usually interdenominational, though a proportion is denominationally based. Denominational international churches may not always have the same breadth of multi-denominational expression
They tend to have a high turnover of people as people transition in and out of the country.
They tend to have fewer retirees (and a younger leadership) and fewer post high school students as these usually go back to home country. Otherwise they are multi-generational.
They range from very small gatherings with volunteer leadership through to large mega-churches with multiple sites and multiple pastoral staff.
They have a concern to reach out to and serve the wider expatriate community and, depending on the local context, often also have various roles in supporting the national church and contributing to the wellbeing of the city in which they are placed.
The practical challenges of living far from home country tend to be a significant part of the international church agenda.
There are English speaking international churches in English speaking countries. The emphasis in these is on cultural diversity and the concerns typical of expatriates.
Some international churches may have a majority of nationals but are very intentional in preserving a focus on cultural diversity with a primary concern to minister to expatriates.
But not…
There are many expatriate churches that serve a single ethnic, national or language