     |
During the early 1960s, some
believers in Albuquerque had become dissatisfied with denominations. They knew
there had to be something more so they left the denominations and started
meeting as a free group in Albuquerque. In the summer of 1963, some from this
group heard about a co-worker of Watchman Nee by the name of Witness Lee.
Witness Lee was invited to speak to several gatherings of these believers in the
Fall of 1963. The Bible - based messages were rich and enlightening, but the
audience still had many veils upon their spiritual eyes. However, during the
next few years, the Lord was faithful to His Word and as their hearts were
turned to the Lord, the veils were taken away (2 Cor. 3:16) revealing God’s
heart’s desire, His eternal purpose (Eph. 1:9-10; 3:3-4, 9; 4:12; 5:32; Col
1:26; I Tim 1:4).
The group continued meeting in
the free group way until 1968, when they finally decided to begin meeting simply
as the church in Albuquerque, according to the New Testament revelation (Act
8:1; Acts 13:1; Acts 20:17; Acts 15:41; I Cor. 1:2; Rev 1:4). After that time,
they began to enjoy the Lord in the Word of God in a richer and fuller way than
ever before.
In the Spring and Fall of 1969,
there was further fellowship with Witness Lee in a small conference atmosphere,
where the believers continued to receive much shepherding, light and edification
as the Bible was opened in a way of life and truth as never before.
In the Spring of 1970, a conference was held in Phoenix, Arizona with some
Christians from Albuquerque, Phoenix and Los Angeles. At that meeting they
felt it was the Lord’s leading that those who could, should move to Atlanta,
Georgia to begin meeting as the church there. During the fall of 1970 all the
local church members migrated from Albuquerque (except one family which could
not move because of their personal situation, and one older married sister).
The family that remained in Albuquerque after the 1970 migration kept meeting by
themselves for nearly three years, until the Fall of 1973, when some additional
believers from the West coast moved to Albuquerque to strengthen the testimony
there. During the ensuing years all of those who had moved to Albuquerque
eventually moved away; however, the testimony had become strong enough in the
interim that a number of local believers were added to the church. From 1973 to
the present, a number of believers have been added to the church, with some of
them remaining in Albuquerque and others migrating to other cities.
At present the
church in Albuquerque numbers about seventy adults, plus children. There is an
active work for gospel outreach. During the week, there are home meetings
primarily for fellowship in the Word and prayer. On the Lord’s Day (Sunday) all
the members gather together for two meetings in the morning: one for the Lord's
Table (1 Corinthians 10:21) and another for mutual sharing from the Bible (I
Cor. 14:26). With this schedule, the church seeks to follow the principle
established in Acts 2:42 of continuing in the Apostles' teaching, fellowship,
breaking of bread, and prayer.
|
