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| ⚫ | The '''Potter's House Christian Fellowship''' (or ''Potter's House Christian Church'', or ''The Potter's House'') is an ] ] church. The group was founded in ] in ], but has since spread to other parts of Australia and to some other countries. They trace their founding back to another Pentecostal group, the '''Christian Fellowship Ministries''', in ], ] led by Pastor |
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| ==Distinctives== | |||
| The church sees itself as one that has returned to the original church of the 1st century. In this sense, they see themselves as being a ] movement (although without some of the negative connotations this description has). | |||
| The Potter's House adheres very strongly to the belief in ], and believes that the church members require strong relational ties in order for effective discipleship and discipline. | |||
| Like many Pentecostal and Charismatic churches, corporate worship is enthusiastic and ecstatic, with tongue-speaking amongst members common during the meeting. Many members want to see their faith lived out during the week, and their enthusiasm for the faith can be quite evident to outsiders. | |||
| A great emphasis has been placed on evangelism and church planting which has led to a multiplication of churches. This, in turn, has meant that the church is becoming well-known amongst the Pentecostal community. | |||
| == Common Criticisms == | |||
| Since CFM was founded in ], there have been concerns that the church's strict discipling and adherence to those in authority has led to many leaving the church. There have been two major divisions in the church's history. In 1990, over 100 pastors left the church with Ron Jones, one of the church's longest serving pastors. In 2001, over 100 churches left CFM over the direction of the church. | |||
| CFM and Wayman Mitchell were also the subject of a damaging critique in the book '''' by Ronald Enroth. The book asserts that CFM, along with associated churches like the Potters House, had put in place a system of control and influence over members that was allowing uncontrolled psychological abuse. Such complaints from ex-members have been reported by sources such as newspapers, Christian magazines and, in the case of Enroth, by a book from a well-known Christian publishing company. | |||
| ⚫ | The '''Potter's House Christian Fellowship''' (or '''Potter's House Christian Church''', or '''The Potter's House''') is an ] ] church. The group was founded in ] in ], but has since spread to other parts of Australia and to some other countries. They trace their founding back to another Pentecostal group, the '''Christian Fellowship Ministries''', in ], ] led by Pastor '''Wayman Mitchell'''. | ||
| Stand on Bible Schools (Referenced from) We can take the Land by Ron Simpkins(ISBN 0918389003) Page 275 -276. This book is a standard potters house discipleship/New Pastors book with the Potters House Christian Fellowship, which gives the account and is freely available and has no copyright.<br><br> | |||
| ---Start Quote---<br> | |||
| ⚫ | There is always an ] in the Fellowship's ] of ] as a ] for ]. The following are a few reasons for this: <br><br> | ||
| ⚫ | 1) Bible schools aren't ]. They are a ] ] left over from ], and are used in ] of the world.<br> | ||
| ⚫ | 2) ] ] can't do the job of ] ]. The world ] is growing at a rate of seventy million people a year. That means that every day 194,444 people are added to the population, over and above those who die, The cost of ] ] by ] ] is prohibitive. Even if ] were available, the Bible school method is slow and ] that the ] is not even able to keep pace with the risingpopulation, let alone reach the world.<br> | ||
| ⚫ | 3) The Bible school isolates the man of God from practical ], which is meant to come through the church, For most ], thee school begins to take the place of church ] and ]. This leads to bad habits of ] and isolates them from the very ] they are preparing to ] to.<br> | ||
| ⚫ | 4) All attempts to mass produce disciplines will ultimately fail. Men of God must be ] ].<br> | ||
| ⚫ | 5) The ] of Bible schools eliminate many who ] would use. The requirements of ], previous ], and ] would have ] ] and the twelve disciples.<br> | ||
| ⚫ | 6) The Bible school ] puts the church on a standard of "]" not "]" rewarding wrong ], and creating an ] ] of really having paid too high a price to reach the ]. | ||
| ⚫ | 7) Bible Schools tend to put those who can't pastor into the role of ] ].<br> | ||
| ⚫ | 8) The system ]s into the church a ]-laity mentality that denies the ] of the ], and others just need to be ].<br> | ||
| 9) (Editor says: Not in the Book see for yourself.)<br> | |||
| ⚫ | 10) Bible schools ] the church of ] it was meant to have in the preparing of workers and reaching a ] world.<br> | ||
| ⚫ | 11) They ] the ] ]. <br> | ||
| ⚫ | 12) Bible schools while not ] in themselves are not God's ] ].<br> | ||
| ---End Quote---<br><br> | |||
| The '''Potter's House Christian Fellowship''' is a ] (close to the original) Pentecostal, Bible believing, Disciple making, and relationship building type of church. The church members are ], full of energy in your face Christians who like to continually outreach and ] GOD wholly. There are biblical ] for ] and the ] believes in teaching by discipleship. There is a Conference in Prescott Arizona twice per year, and a ] in Perth Australia once per year. There are approx. 1400 Churches belonging to the Fellowship world wide from the mother church in Prescott Arizona US. The Potters House is a church planting ] ] who seems to be making great ] towards ] ] in:<br> | |||
| '''Mark 16:15''' ''And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.'' | |||
| The Name seems to come from the bible in:<br> | The Name seems to come from the bible in:<br> | ||
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| The '''Potters House Christian Fellowship''' embraces all ] and ], They have an ] ] in their outreach towards the ] class of ], and yet the Congregations are of mostly ], which goes to prove the change in peoples lives that this church's message has. There is ] ] of ] ] and Comradeship, and ] that mostly appear to be joyous and ]. | The '''Potters House Christian Fellowship''' embraces all ] and ], They have an ] ] in their outreach towards the ] class of ], and yet the Congregations are of mostly ], which goes to prove the change in peoples lives that this church's message has. There is ] ] of ] ] and Comradeship, and ] that mostly appear to be joyous and ]. | ||
| ==The Church's teaching on theological training== | |||
| The Potter's house is generally opposed to formal theological or biblical training for its pastors and members. The following is a quote from official church teaching material regarding this issue: | |||
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Revision as of 04:05, 5 March 2005
Read Discussion before Editing Please.
The Potter's House Christian Fellowship (or Potter's House Christian Church, or The Potter's House) is an Australian Pentecostal church. The group was founded in 1978 in Perth, but has since spread to other parts of Australia and to some other countries. They trace their founding back to another Pentecostal group, the Christian Fellowship Ministries, in Prescott, Arizona led by Pastor Wayman Mitchell.
Stand on Bible Schools (Referenced from) We can take the Land by Ron Simpkins(ISBN 0918389003) Page 275 -276. This book is a standard potters house discipleship/New Pastors book with the Potters House Christian Fellowship, which gives the account and is freely available and has no copyright.
---Start Quote---
There is always an interest in the Fellowship's rejection of Bible schools as a vehicle for church planting. The following are a few reasons for this:
1) Bible schools aren't biblical. They are a medieval institution left over from Catholisism, and are used in imitation of the world.
2) Bible schools can't do the job of world evangelism. The world population is growing at a rate of seventy million people a year. That means that every day 194,444 people are added to the population, over and above those who die, The cost of training workers by traditional methods is prohibitive. Even if finances were available, the Bible school method is slow and inefficient that the church is not even able to keep pace with the risingpopulation, let alone reach the world.
3) The Bible school isolates the man of God from practical experience, which is meant to come through the church, For most students, thee school begins to take the place of church commitment and worship. This leads to bad habits of discipline and isolates them from the very people they are preparing to minister to.
4) All attempts to mass produce disciplines will ultimately fail. Men of God must be hand crafted.
5) The requirements of Bible schools eliminate many who God would use. The requirements of money, previous education, and age would have stopped Jesus and the twelve disciples.
6) The Bible school system puts the church on a standard of "mind" not "heart" rewarding wrong motives, and creating an elitist mentality of really having paid too high a price to reach the poor.
7) Bible Schools tend to put those who can't pastor into the role of pastor trainers.
8) The system builds into the church a clergy-laity mentality that denies the priesthood of the believer, and others just need to be saved.
9) (Editor says: Not in the Book see for yourself.)
10) Bible schools rob the church of dignity it was meant to have in the preparing of workers and reaching a lost world.
11) They violate the indigenous principle.
12) Bible schools while not evil in themselves are not God's best method.
---End Quote---
The Potter's House Christian Fellowship is a Fundamental (close to the original) Pentecostal, Bible believing, Disciple making, and relationship building type of church. The church members are enthusiastic, full of energy in your face Christians who like to continually outreach and worship GOD wholly. There are biblical standards for ministry and the Fellowship believes in teaching by discipleship. There is a Conference in Prescott Arizona twice per year, and a Conference in Perth Australia once per year. There are approx. 1400 Churches belonging to the Fellowship world wide from the mother church in Prescott Arizona US. The Potters House is a church planting New Testament Church who seems to be making great progress towards biblical goal in:
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
The Name seems to come from the bible in:
Jeremiah 18:2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
And this phrase below is coined quite frequently.
You oh GOD are the Potter, and I am the Clay, Mould me and Make me oh Lord.
The Potters House Christian Fellowship is also known for its Outreach Concerts, Witnessing, Movies and Drama's. There is at this time just over 100,000 members, who also come under the Potters House name through these ministries - The Door(CFC), Victory Chappell, 'CFM' Christian Fellowship Ministries.
The Doctrine is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Truth over Relationship, Submission unto Headship, Pro Life, Biblical Moral Standards, Winning the Lost to Christ by continual outreach. This Church has a modest attitude and refuses get caught up in the latest things like: Laughing Spirit and Pensacola type Fads.
When last researched almost all who dislike or protest The Potters House Christian Fellowship, have trouble with submission, and seem quite bitter, and don’t to have True Biblical principles in their lives, and although only a very small minority are quite vocal on the internet.
The majority of experience is that of thankfulness and that the congregation are glad to really know the truth and nearly all tell of a Testimony of how Jesus Christ has touched them and changed them into better people. It seems about 25% of the congregation are ex Drug Users or Alcoholics and all seem to of been set free indeed, some have been serving GOD for over 20 Years.
The Potters House Christian Fellowship is NOT into Getting Religious Folk or Taking other congregations members, but into outreaching those who do not have a church or who have never heard of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This attitude has caused the church to flourish.
The Potters House Christian Fellowship embraces all Nationalities and Class, They have an extra focus in their outreach towards the lower class of society, and yet the Congregations are of mostly Middle Class, which goes to prove the change in peoples lives that this church's message has. There is strong sense of Team spirit and Comradeship, and Faces that mostly appear to be joyous and smiling.