Levi’s House is a group of Christians that meets most of the time in private homes for worship and fellowship. The group averages between 12 and 15 persons. We have been meeting since September 16, 2007.
- Phil and Matt Appling are a father-son team who share the pastoral and teaching responsibilities of the church.
- Jake Pullen is our musician-song leader. He plays the guitar.
- Les Holmes and Kip Pardon are our two active elders.
- Susan Brandom is our treasurer.
- The congregation as a whole is largely responsible for most decisions.
Levi’s House is an independent church
We have no denominational affiliation but we recognize that God gathers his people in all kinds of groupings, denominational as well as independent. All true churches have their calling from God.
- Our purpose is to worship God through Jesus Christ
- To strengthen and support each other in our daily lives
- To put the Gospel of Jesus Christ into action through our words and deeds
Jesus’ Big Idea was the Church
A gathering of people who believe in him, pray to him and support each other in their desire to live lives that honor God. It was a simple idea. It didn’t involve large buildings or intricate organizations or complicated and ritualized worship services. It was a simple gathering of friends, most of the time in private homes. It wasn’t until the fourth century that buildings started being built and those buildings called churches. Somewhere along the centuries of time the idea of a simple gathering of friends got lost among large buildings, massive financial campaigns, highly elevated pastors and priests and preachers, political and economic agendas and ever-growing bureaucratic organizations.
Our church is a simple gathering of friends that tries to be like the church of Jesus
We don’t own a building
The subject never comes up. What God will do in the future is his business. Churches with buildings are neither good nor bad. For now, the Lord hasn’t led us to construct or buy or even rent a building. He’s in charge and we’ll do our best to let Him stay in charge, building or no building. We have never lacked for a suitable place to meet. We have been able to do some remarkable things because we don’t have a mortgage or rent to pay.
Our usual gathering place is on Sundays at 10:30 AM
At the home of:
Phil and Linda Appling
816-734-2635
Just walk on in through the front door.
No need to ring the door bell.
Go into the kitchen and turn to the right down the stairs to the family room.
Don’t worry if you’re late. We’re not always on time!
We have one or two special gatherings each year in the evening or at a place other than one of our homes. One Sunday we all gathered at the airport as Phil was departing for his mission trip to Sudan Oak Grove Park Kansas City
Our worship service ...
For more about Communion and Baptism, see the section “We Believe.”
includes singing
prayer
a lesson presented by one of the pastors
and
Communion
followed by a short prayer.
For more about Communion and Baptism, see the section “We Believe.”
Financial contributions are placed in a basket on the kitchen counter.
Everyone gives as they have been blessed by God and as their conscience leads them to give. Contributions are known only to the treasurer and are otherwise confidential unless revealed by the contributor. No pledge cards or offering envelops are used and a collection basket is not passed during worship. A financial statement is made available to everyone once a month.
Everyone gives as they have been blessed by God and as their conscience leads them to give. Contributions are known only to the treasurer and are otherwise confidential unless revealed by the contributor. No pledge cards or offering envelops are used and a collection basket is not passed during worship. A financial statement is made available to everyone once a month.
We like to eat together after our time of worship.
It appears that the church in earliest times ate together most of the times they met. For us, this is a meal or snack and might be anything from cookies or brownies or a dessert, to sandwiches, chili, and fresh fruit and vegetables all the way up to a big pot-luck dinner. Sometimes it’s all home-made. Sometimes it comes straight from the store. Members simply sign up for bringing something to eat for the whole group on a sign-up sheet lying on the kitchen counter next to the basket where financial contributions are collected. No one is asked or pressured. Eat with us regardless of whether you have ever brought anything yourself. This just happens and everyone enjoys being together each Sunday with something to eat and with new or old friends to visit with.
It appears that the church in earliest times ate together most of the times they met. For us, this is a meal or snack and might be anything from cookies or brownies or a dessert, to sandwiches, chili, and fresh fruit and vegetables all the way up to a big pot-luck dinner. Sometimes it’s all home-made. Sometimes it comes straight from the store. Members simply sign up for bringing something to eat for the whole group on a sign-up sheet lying on the kitchen counter next to the basket where financial contributions are collected. No one is asked or pressured. Eat with us regardless of whether you have ever brought anything yourself. This just happens and everyone enjoys being together each Sunday with something to eat and with new or old friends to visit with.
Our dress-code is very strict!
Everyone is required to wear what is comfortable for them. None of the guys have worn a tie, yet. But if they wanted to, that would be okay. The gals don’t usually wear dresses, but if one of them wanted to start wearing sequined evening gowns, that would be fine if that’s what made them feel comfortable. Jeans are pretty popular among the group, but if you want to wear silk pajamas or an expensive Italian suit, that’s fine, too.
Everyone is required to wear what is comfortable for them. None of the guys have worn a tie, yet. But if they wanted to, that would be okay. The gals don’t usually wear dresses, but if one of them wanted to start wearing sequined evening gowns, that would be fine if that’s what made them feel comfortable. Jeans are pretty popular among the group, but if you want to wear silk pajamas or an expensive Italian suit, that’s fine, too.
Requirements:
You don’t have to be a perfect person. You might have some real hang-ups. Maybe there are things in your past or even presently in your life that you’d rather remain private. If there’s things that you struggle over that don’t seem to have any clear answers, that’s okay.
You don’t have to be a perfect person. You might have some real hang-ups. Maybe there are things in your past or even presently in your life that you’d rather remain private. If there’s things that you struggle over that don’t seem to have any clear answers, that’s okay.
Maybe you have really messed up your life in one way or another. Maybe you have things so deep and dark and secret that you don’t think you’d be welcome in a gathering like this. Maybe you aren’t even sure you believe in God. Possibly you had a painful childhood or you lost your way in life. Maybe you don’t have any friends, or don’t have very many friends. Some of us can’t sing very well. Most of us don’t read the Bible as much as we know we should. We all forget to pray when we know that would be a good idea. Some of us have doubts. Some of us might have been addicted to something or are presently secretly struggling with something we don’t want anyone to know about.
If you are just a normal person who isn’t perfect and has made some mistakes and doesn’t have all the answers and wonders if God loves you and tries but fails to do the right thing all the time, and loses their temper from time to time and tries to look like you have your act together but sometimes you don’t know at all what you’re doing, and maybe you wish you had someone you could trust just to talk to about it all without worrying that you’ll be condemned … then this is where you belong!
Your invitation is an open one
Visit once or twice. Come back when you want to. No reservations necessary. Bring someone with you if you wish. Don’t worry about us having enough space. We have extra chairs to set up when they are needed. We’ve had groups where the room and every seat was occupied, even one or two people sitting on the steps coming down from the kitchen. We’ve met with only four or five people. Some have attended once and then returned months later. Others have attended once and never returned. Some have attended once and never missed a gathering since that first time. There is one of our group who is in her third year of life and learning to talk. There are others with hair that is getting thinner and grayer. There are members in their teens, twenties, thirties, forties … and older. Some are married and others are single. Some have been active in the Christian faith since they were children. Others have found a meaningful relationship with God only in recent years.
The one thing that we all have in common is a desire to know God and to have friends.
If you fit that description, then you ought to spend a morning with us to see if this group fits your needs.
If you fit that description, then you ought to spend a morning with us to see if this group fits your needs.
Questions? Call or email:
Phil Appling – 816-734-2635 – mpa@kc.rr.com
Matt Appling – 816-550-4842 - mappling@hotmail.com
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