No place like home: ‘House church’ founder says you don’t need a church to pray
A New Brunswick man said he believes organized religion is moving in a new and better direction with the advent of so-called house churches — groups of people who worship in living rooms and kitchens instead of parishes and pews.
Dan Lirette and his wife left their Baptist church and founded Revival House Fellowship in 2011, and their small group of members meets in homes in the Moncton, N.B., and Riverview, N.B., areas on Sundays and Wednesdays.
In an interview, Lirette said the traditional Christian church system — with “Sunday best” dress codes and stringent customs — can make some people feel unwelcome, adding that many people in New Brunswick struggle with poverty, homelessness or drug addiction, while others engage in sex work.
“In a normal church setting, you couldn’t get them through the doors,” said Lirette, before adding: “But you can get them into your house.”