Local Churches

There are over 2,000 "local churches" worldwide that are not PB, but influenced by Darby's writings, its principal founders both spent time within the PB in China. Their assemblies are referenced as "local churches", regarded as descriptive rather than sectarian title. The movement is also known as the "Lord's Recovery".

Watchman Nee (1903-1972) was saved in 1920, and aligned 1930-1935 with Raven/Taylor exclusives but in 1933 ministered in North America and included some non-Raven/Taylor groups in his itinerary, and was disavowed in 1935. Independent thereafter.

Witness Lee (1905-1997) - raised 4th generation Southern Baptist, saved in 1925 at the age of 19, after hearing the gospel from a 25-year-old independent evangelist named Peace Wang. Early influenced by Nee's writings starting in 1925, and corresponded with him, who introduced Lee to Darby's Synopsis and other writings. 1927-1934+ in fellowship with a branch of the open brethren, and baptized in 1930 by Mr. Burnett, a violin-maker and Bible teacher, who was previously a student of Benjamin Newton. Instrumental in globalizing the local church pattern that Nee promoted.

Also See

• Ministry Samples
• Local Churches

Controversies

• "We Were Wrong" from Hank Hanegraff with the Christian Research Institute with regard to earlier criticisms promoted in earlier books and articles utilizing poor scholarship that questioned Lee's orthodoxy.
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