The Local Churches Movement began in China, a result of the ministry of Watchman Nee, a Chinese Christian and author of several books on evangelical Christianity.
The Christian fellowship has no official name, but they have become known as Local Churches because of the movement's emphasis on the local congregation. Nee believed that there should be one Christian church in each city, following the New Testament model, whose members were those who have left the denominations and divisive sects.
Watchman Nee's friend, Witness Lee, joined him in forming the movement in 1934. Within a few years, there were seven hundred churches in China influenced by Nee and Lee.
Nee was jailed by the communist Chinese government in 1952 and died in prison. By then, the movement had spread to Taiwan and other places in the Far East.
Witness Lee brought the movement to the United States in 1958, where he built on Nee's strong reputation as a Christian author, particularly among evangelical young people. He and his followers established a publishing company known as Living Stream Ministry, which is still in operation. Lee died in California in 1997 but, by then, the LCM had been established in America.
His followers established a network of churches throughout the United States, with the goal of forming one Christian church in each city. Member churches are occasionally called "The Lord's Recovery," but are sometimes known as "The Church in Houston," "The Church in Salt Lake City," or whatever corresponds to the city of its location. Some have grown large and have built or purchased meeting facilities, while others assemblies that meet in homes.
Member churches emphasize follow an organizational structure that is similar to the Plymouth Brethren, which Nee was once loosely associated with. LCM churches are without clergy and their meetings are unprogrammed, but generally including Bible study and worship. Like the Plymouth Brethren, they are often characterized as a cult by people outside of the group.
LCM churches are trinitarian, centering their beliefs on the person and work of Jesus Christ. They hold a strong belief in the authority of the Bible, and stress evangelism and discipleship.
Member churches practice mutuality during worship services, in which each member is invited to speak. Those in attendance are invited to request hymns, offer comments, or pray at will.
Accusations that the Local Churches Movement was a cult were most heavily voiced from the 1970s through the 1990s and based largely on what may have been a misinterpretation of their belief that Christians were able to become part of God's family. This was interpreted to mean that they believed they could become a deity. There was also an understanding that the LCM believed that only they were true Christians. The LCM denied both of these accusations and, although these claims continue to be made, they are now widely accepted as an evangelical Christian group.
During his life, Witness Lee held his ministry apart from that of the Local Churches Movement, not requiring member churches to follow his ministry. Nor did he put himself up as the head of the network of member churches.
The Local Churches Movement encourages the leadership of women in some areas of the church, but the eldership or oversight of the church is for men only, citing the New Testament example. The LCM also holds that marriage is between a man and a woman only, and that all sexual behavior outside of marriage is a sin.
The focus of this category is on the movement known as the Local Churches Movement, founded by Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, as well as the lives and ministries of Nee and Lee. Official sites representing the movement are appropriate for this category, as are any other site whose topic is focused on the movement, whether supportive, antagonistic or simply informational.
Recommended Resources
In response to a couple of decades of accusations against the Local Churches movement in general and the teachings of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, the Local Churches responded on behalf of the ministry to matters concerning the teachings of the fellowship. An introduction to the movement is given, along with a statement of faith, a history of the fellowship, and testimonies from respected Christians regarding the Local Churches are included.
https://an-open-letter.org/en/
An Open Letter to the Leadership of Living Stream Ministry and the Local Churches
Authorized by more than seventy evangelical Christian scholars and ministry leaders from seven nations, the letter represents an appeal to the Local Churches to disavow statements made by their founder, Witness Lee, about the doctrine of God and the doctrine of man, which they feel denigrates evangelical Christian denominations and organizations. The letter may be downloaded in PDF format, along with the text of a formal response.
http://www.open-letter.org/
Promoting a book written by John Myer, who had been a member and leader in the Local Church movement for twenty-six years before separating in 2010. Offering the author’s observations of what he terms the group’s eccentricities, extremes, and points of concern, the book also outlines how member congregations can transition to a healthier form of Christian faith. The book may be purchased, or it can be downloaded for free in PDF or HTML format.
http://www.assemblylife.com/
Presented in English, Spanish, Korean, and Chinese, the site covers a variety of topics related to the Local Churches movement, Watchman Nee, Witness Lee, and the activities of the movement, including apologetics dealing with the labeling of the movement as a cult, and other allegations that have been made against the fellowship. Included are downloadable books and other publications, statements and reviews of the movement from several sources, and responses.
https://contendingforthefaith.org/en/
Hymns by Witness Lee & Watchman Nee
Throughout their Christian ministries, Witness Lee and Watchman Nee wrote several hymns that are used by the Local Churches today. Hymns may be found by topic category, first line, the first line of the chorus, or by keyword. An overview of the Living Stream Ministry collection are highlighted, and a guide to enjoying the hymns, understanding their content, the standard, and the tune, are included, along with a statement on writing hymns.
http://www.witness-lee-hymns.org/
Available in Chinese, Portuguese, Spanish, and English, Living Stream Ministry is the publisher of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee and the Local Churches movement. Available are the Recovery Version of the Bible, the Life-Study of the Bible, tracts for downloading, and the Collected Works of Witness Lee, the Collected Works of Watchman Nee, and several other publications, including tracts for downloading, booklets, hymns, and audio versions.
https://www.lsm.org/
The Life-Study of the Bible with Witness Lee is a 30-minute radio broadcast made up of excerpts from Witness Lee’s spoken words, with a focus on the enjoyment of a divine life as revealed in the Bible, followed by a discussion of the portion presented, including questions and answers from the radio audience. The broadcasts began in 1996, and several of its programs may be heard online. Printed studies, scheduled, Scripture, commentary, and newsletters are included.
https://www.lsmradio.com/
Based in California, the movement was founded by Witness Lee. Although the group’s beliefs and practices are considered by some to be cultic, theologians often disagree on how it should be classified. Articles, essays, and personal testimonies from current and former members of the Local Churches movement are set forth here, along with links to additional information. Its submission policies are outlined and general information about the movement is included.
http://www.lcinfo.org/
Known as the Local Church movement, and as the Lord’s Recovery movement, the author considers these to be derisive terms, signifying that those assigning the name consider it to be a work of man, not of God. The site argues that it is a movement of God, brought forth through the obedience of men like Watchman Nee and Witness Lee. Under discussion are the fruit borne by the movement, achieved through continuous consecration, prayer, and accepting the Lord’s dealings.
http://www.local-church-movement.org/
The Holy Bible Recovery Version
Translated and revised by the Editorial Section of Living Stream Ministry from 1974 to 2003, the Recovery Version of the Bible includes several study aids such as the subject and background of each of the books of the Bible, interpretive outlines, footnotes, cross-references, and charts and maps, each of which were written by Witness Lee. A sample of the text may be viewed online, along with a tour of the translation. Purchases may be made online.
https://www.recoveryversion.bible/
Born in Northern China in 1905, Witness Lee grew up in a Christian family and became a Christian himself at the age of nineteen. Soon after, he met Watchman Nee and was entrusted with the publication of his publishing operation. In 1949, Lee was sent to Taiwan to ensure that the writing of Nee would not be lost, establishing the Taiwan Gospel Bookroom. In 1962, Lee came to the United States, settling in California, where the Local Churches movement is based.
https://www.witnesslee.org/
Witness Lee and the Local Churches: A Personal Testimony Refuted
Although not representing the Living Stream Ministry or the Local Churches, the site offers a refutation of accusations that have been made against Witness Lee, as well as the labeling of the Open Church movement as a cult. The definition of a cult is given and, step by step, the site refutes the idea that any part of the definition fits the beliefs, practices, and teachings of the Local Churches movement.
http://www.witness-lee-cult.org/
