Church Workers
Dave Hagel
I grew up in southeastern Pennsylvania with four younger sisters. My parents were committed Christians all their lives and greatly influenced by own relationship with our Lord Jesus. My family hosted a weekly small group made up of half a dozen families from our church that met to basically practice 1 Cor. 14. I think the influence from that group caused me to mature in ways far beyond my peers. Although we didn't call ourselves a house church, we did practice some of the principles of the ekklesia and my whole family benefited tremendously from those relationships.
I remember from my earliest years that I felt like God had a significant purpose for my life and as the years went by it became clear to me that I needed to receive training to serve the Lord as a teacher and shepherd. It was during Bible college that I met my wonderful helpmeet, Julie Hepting, and we've been married now since 1988. About a year after completing my training, I was invited to be on staff at a wonderful, institutional church in Canandiagua, New York. I spent ten wonderful years serving that precious group of people. One of the things I enjoyed most was equipping my brothers and sisters to "do the stuff". I used to think that my main job was to try to work myself out of a job. During that time, I became aware of the cell church model and saw in it a greater opportunity for people to increase their participation in the work of the ministry. I was able to help that church transition to that model.
This season of fruitfulness was due for a time of pruning, however. Due to a difference in doctrine, I was compelled to leave that church and enter a winter season of uncertainty, confusion and doubt. A number of other brothers and sisters had also left the same church and together we were seeking to discover the Lord's purpose for us. It was during this time that I became open to really consider what people were saying about house church. I began to search the internet looking for information and shortly found Steve Atkerson's site "New Testament Restoration Foundation". I stayed up into the wee hours night after night poring over the articles that I found there. I began to share this information with my friends and before long we started meeting in several ekklesias.
Today there are five house churches in the Finger Lakes region of New York that are networking together. Each ekklesia meets as it sees fit and then one Sunday a month we meet together for fellowship, singing, teaching, discussion and mutual support. I thoroughly enjoy teaching both in lecture format and in visiting each ekklesia, answering questions and providing encouragement. I lok forward to what God has in store for us in the years ahead.
Today I'm enjoying living in Stanely, New York with my wife, Julie and my three sons, Austin (16), Ethan (12) and our latest, Tristan (1 month). You can contact me at:
David Hagel
2203 Mott Rd.
Stanley, NY 14561
585-526-7066
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