The modern Cell Church movement began in the early 1960's when South Korean pastor, David Yonggi Cho, began to re-organise his church on the basis of small groups led by lay leaders. His church grew at an ever-increasing rate until it became the largest church in the world. One independent assessment in 1997 put Sunday attendance at about 253,000 people (including all 7 services and satellite venues used by this city-wide church). The Guiness Book of Records continues to recognise the Yoido Full Gospel Church as the world's largest church.
This thriving church, in which every believer is personally cared for and involved in ministry through their own home cell group, has impacted not only the nation of Korea, but also the whole world. Pastors' from around the world have visited this church, been inspired by what they've seen, and have taken Cho's Cell Church Principles and adapted them for their own churches and cultures. In stark contrast to the decline of the traditional, Sunday-focused church, the Cell Church movement has exploded across the world over the last 30 years. According to Cell Church pioneer Ralph Neighbour, 19 of the 20 largest churches in the world are now Cell Churches (Where do we go from here? Touch USA, page 37).
Cell Churches exist in many denominations. The largest Methodist and the two largest Presbyterian churches are also cell group congregations based in Seoul, South Korea.
There are Cell Churches in many other parts of the world too, including Canada, South Africa, Australia, Russia and former Communist countries.
Pastor and cell church researcher Joel Comiskey, has documented many more examples – see Joel Comiskey Group Resources.
Christians in the UK have been involved in the Cell church movement since the 1990's, with most early interest being shown by Anglican Churches. Notable examples are St. John's in Bradford and St. Mark's in Haydock, Merseyside The current ‘flag-ship' cell church in the UK is Kingsgate Community Church in Peterborough, with a weekly attendance of around 1500 people. The UK also has its own national training organisation, Cell UK, that runs training courses, conferences and supplies resources.
The idea of a ‘cell' is taken from biology. Every living thing is made up of cells. Each cell is a complete working unit with the capability to reproduce itself. Many cells together form a larger unit – an organ or a body. Cell groups are the smallest reproducible unit of the church; a local church brings many cell groups together in a larger, united body. A cell church grows by creating new groups and, no matter how big a church may become, every member remains connected to the body through the close personal relationships of their own cell group.
Throughout the world Cell Churches emphasise 5 core values or purposes that define what church is all about. These purposes form the foundation of the church:
A Cell Church regards both large and small gatherings as equally important. Cell groups are not treated as optional extras but as an essential part of the church's core activity. Both large and small meetings are equally church – each has its own advantages.
Cell Churches generally have a systematic equipping process to intentionally help members grow and develop. The equipping system not only helps believers' live a more fruitful and fulfilling life, but also helps to prepare new leaders, thereby increasing the church's capacity to reach more people.
Cell Church promotes supportive personal relationships, spiritual character growth, the discovery and use of your God-given gifts, continuous, relationship-based evangelism, and the creation of warm Christian community.
Cell Church principles provide a very effective way to organise church. It requires all members to be actively involved in the spiritual life and ministry of the church. It also requires strong leaders with a clear vision and the determination to overcome all obstacles.
Cell UK Materials Joel Comiskey Group Resources
Cell Church Intro - for church members - Version 2 – Feb 2025