Myths & Truths of the Cell Church by Joel Comiskey: Book Review

In 1993, I started working for Ralph Neighbour Jr., the man whom some have dubbed the Father of the Cell Church. His 1990 book Where Do We Go From Here? sold over 120,000 copies domestically and was translated into numerous languages. In the 1990s the cell church was a huge hit. It was hard for us to keep up with all the work of helping churches develop cell groups.

Now in the US, the cell church is viewed as a fad that has passed. Sadly, during the 1990s, cell church got associated with the mega-church/church growth focus and now it has been written off as passe. Overseas, it is a different story. My former colleague, Jim Egli, spent three years writing training modules for church leaders who wanted to transition to the cell church approach. Recently we learned that Robert Lay, the leader of the cell church movement in Brazil is still using that training and will lead 1000s of pastors through it over the next year.

While the tendency in America for fad hopping has led church leaders on to other pastures, there is one writer who has remained true to the cell church vision. His name is Joel Comiskey, and he has just published what may be the best book on the cell church ever.

It's calls Myths and Truths of the Cell Church. (Read parts of the book by clicking here.) Joel deals with common misunderstandings about the cell church and about how cell groups work. From myths about the cell church being a mega church strategy to those about cell groups having to multiply within a certain time frame, this book reveals truths that will break false conceptions that have hindered the cell church strategy from being effective.

The way the book has been written makes this a page-turner. He identifies a myth and then follows it with a truth, each of which can be read very quickly. In addition, each chapter opens with personal insight from cell church leaders from all over the world. With a Foreword from Ralph W. Neighbour Jr. and an Afterword by Carl George, this is a gem.

If you embrace the cell church strategy, this book is an absolute must. But even if you don't and you have small groups, then it's really close to being a must.

For a list of the top six books on the Cell Church, click here.