by Joel Comiskey, Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church
Psalm 23 reminds us: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).
And Psalm 42:7 echoes that same depth of struggle and divine presence: “Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.”
In June, I had the privilege of ministering several times in Spain. God is clearly at work in this nation. One key leader in the DNA cell church movement in Spain recently wrote to me:
“In our training, your book Biblical-Theological Foundations for a Cell-Based Church is required reading—a great contribution of yours to the vision. The entire church, along with every brother and sister from more than 100 churches in Spain, has already read it. We believe your book’s biblical and historical foundation is vital, so the vision doesn’t rest on methodology alone, but on Scripture. For many pastors, it was the key that helped them embrace the cell church model without fear.”
That book was born during one of the most challenging seasons in my cell church journey. Our church plant in Moreno Valley wasn’t growing the way I had hoped. I used to dream of converting the entire U.S. to the cell model, but in that season, I was struggling to see fruit in my local church.
And yet, through that painful valley, God brought resurrection—an awakening to the New Testament foundations for cell-based ministry.
What valleys have you walked through in your cell ministry journey? As a pastor, supervisor, or small group leader? What trials have shaped your understanding and deepened your commitment? Sometimes what once felt like a setback becomes a deep well of strength and wisdom in how you now lead, coach, and shepherd others.
Let’s be honest: cell church isn’t a magic formula. It’s a way of life—rooted in Scripture, empowered by the Spirit, and lived out in community. It leads to growth, yes—but often not in the way we expect, or on the timeline we prefer.
At our recent conference in Madrid, Mario Vega openly shared about Elim’s struggles during the COVID-19 crisis. They lost many leaders. The pain ran deep. But out of that darkness came a fresh resolve to return to the heart of their calling: making disciples. That’s what the cell church is all about. And that clarity often comes not on the mountaintop, but in the valley.
As we step into July, let’s reflect on cell church as a lifestyle—a biblical way of walking with God and one another, especially when the road is hard. Let’s lean into the refining work God wants to do. Let’s not give up. Seasoned pastors and leaders will write twenty blogs on this topic. Click here if you’d like to receive these daily blogs in your email inbox. We’ll cover:
- July 6–12: The Biblical View of Trials: Scripture is filled with stories where hardship becomes the pathway to greater purpose. God molds us in the fire—not to harm us, but to prepare us.
- July 13–19: Rediscovering Cell Values: Many churches are drawn to the cell vision for its growth potential—and yes, the largest churches in the world are cell-based. But most of them have also endured deep trials. In the end, those trials helped purify their motivation: to make disciples who multiply.
- July 20–26: Trials Within the Cell: Cells are where real life happens—broken marriages, addictions, emotional wounds. Ministry in the cell requires courage, grace, and perseverance. We’ll cover what we’ve learned through those messy moments.
- July 27–August 7: Struggles in Building the System: Equipping tracks, coaching structures, metrics, and mapping—it’s not an easy task. There’s trial and error. And copying another church’s model usually doesn’t work. Depth comes through wrestling, adjusting, and trusting God in the process.