Lifted from "Pilipino Methodist Pastor" written by Jess Alvarado
Christianity traces its roots to Jesus Christ, then to the apostles who started the small groups of house churches. Examples of these small churches are enumerated in Romans 16, like the church in the house of Priscilla and Aquila, a church in the house of Narcissus, or the church in the house of Philemon. These small house churches are more personal, and interactive in nature. They are more like a family church. A vivid description of their way of celebrating the Holy Communion in 1 Corinthians 11:17-22 resembles a less formal gathering with eating and drinking, just like a family.
Today, in our churches, because of the number of people attending, some members do not even know one another. The "family" nature of the church is no longer felt. Some members go to church without even asking themselves if they really belong to the congregation. They just go to worship God, without considering to fellowship with other believers.
Through the formation of DOC - Care Groups, MEA United Methodist church members can now be a part of small group that resembles a family like gathering of worship, sharing, and prayer. I am so glad that we are directed by our bishop to revive this ancient Christian practice.
As Methodist, we already learned from our Confirmation Classes that John Wesley required anyone who wanted to be a part of the early Methodist Society to join a "class meeting" on weekdays. Then they worship together as a band (a medium group) and as a Society (Big Group) on Sundays.
Class meetings were the early Methodist care groups. On every class meeting, a Methodist member is prayed for, cared by group and is guided by a class leader to the faith. Members of the "class meeting" invite other people to join, and in that way, the "class" grows in number while the members are expected to experience the deepening of their knowledge and relationship to God.
On Wednesdays and Fridays, every member is asked to pray and fast a meal. The total amount of food not consumed is then given to the class leader. These amount will then be used for the charity ministry of the Methodist Society. In so many ways, every Methodist is trained within the "class meeting" to do his or her ministry of ACTS OF MERCY (giving, helping the needy) and ACTS OF PIETY (prayer, worship, and fasting).
In this manner, coupled by the anointed preaching of the Wesleys and their pastors, the Methodist Movement grew tremendously.
It is obvious, and I firmly believe that John Wesley rediscovered an ancient path with the formation of his class meetings. Through those care-groups which were called "class meetings", the early Methodists led more people to Christ as they bonded each other in love as brothers and sisters in the Lord.
MEA-DOC is an authentic way of revisiting and reliving our ancient Christian roots and our Methodist Heritage.