From Bangkok to Bishkek, Budapest to Bogotá. Kenneth D. MacHarg

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      Introduction

      How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land? Psalm 137:4 NIV

      Consider these statistics: There are 9,161 churches in the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America (PCUSA), over 6,939, the Disciples of Christ, 3,627, the Southern Baptists over 47,000, the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) 1,353, and the international churches number well over 3,000.

      Wait a minute—international churches? Is that a

      denomination? Who are they? Why haven’t I ever heard of them? Three-thousand churches?

      One should not be surprised if they didn’t recognize the name “international churches.” In fact, these congregations would be easy to miss because they are not a denomination, but are part of an existing network or fellowship or, perhaps, movement of congregations spread around the globe.

      However, their obscurity should not hide their immense influence around the world with people from multiple denominations and just about every nation on earth.

      The assumption that someone from an English-speaking nation might make is that when locating to another country they either will have to attend church in the language of the host nation where they are visiting or working, or they might just have to skip going to church while they are abroad.

      Think again. For over 450 years, British, Scottish, Canadian, Australian, Filipino, Nigerian, Ghanaian, South African, American and other English-speaking expatriates (those who live outside of their own country) have attended English-language churches in foreign lands while on vacation, studying or working.

      Most likely, those congregations have been multi-national, multi-denominational churches meeting in their own buildings, a rented church, a hotel banquet room or school auditorium, a borrowed hall or gymnasium or someone’s expanded home. They have ranged from a handful of people squeezed into a living room to thousands who attend each Sunday in multi-campus congregations.

      For the most part, they have met in small to medium-sized gatherings in a variety of venues, worshipping, studying and sharing in fellowship with people who share their common language and a firm belief in Jesus Christ.

      And, while these congregations are somewhat hidden from church-goers back in their home country, they number in the thousands and have been a mighty force in the expansion of the Kingdom of God and the evangelization of people in countless countries.

      While many of them were most often known as Union Churches, or occasionally American Churches in the past, today they go under the general description of International Congregations and they are unique gatherings of Christians with a wide influence.

      This description from the website of the Missional International Church Network best describes these unique congregations:

      What is an International Church?

      International churches (ICs) are those churches around the world that primarily serve people of various nationalities (expatriates) and church backgrounds living outside their passport (home) countries.

      Main Characteristics:

      Other typical characteristics include …