Member congregations
  Christ the King Church, Conroe
  The Father’s House, Cut and Shoot
  House Church Network

Training
  Foundations I-IV
  Issues of the Heart
  Joshua School of Ministry

World outreach
  Mercy Missions International
  Dreamaker

Resources
  MCF audio recordings
  Document downloads
  Calendar

   

About us
  Contact
  Beliefs

  Log in

Celebration : : Directory : : Audio

What is a house church?

A house church is a community of Christian believers living out the commands of Jesus together. A house church differs from a church-in-a-building both in size and practice. The most obvious difference is apparent in the primary weekly meetings.

In the house church there is a greater emphasis upon each member having the opportunity to participate in sharing, praying, teaching, singing or exercising various supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:7-11; 14:26-31).

Another notable difference is that the house church typically celebrates the Lord’s Supper in the context of a whole meal in its main meeting every week (Acts 2:42-46; 20:7; 1 Cor 11:20-21, 33). Because a house church is generally smaller in size than a church-in-a-building, it can accommodate such relational activities in a way that would become unwieldy for a larger group.

A primary guiding value is the training of new believers to eventually host a house church in their own neighborhood. This is an important strategy employed by house churches, aimed at penetrating all of Montgomery County with the gospel.

When do you have praise and worship?

Sometimes, especially if we have a gifted musician in the group, we will sing in the house church meeting, but we also enjoy a more dynamic style of praise and worship with lots of instruments. Therefore, we look forward to our regular gatherings where we join with the other house churches in our network. There we experience corporate prayer and powerful music, typically followed by testimonies, a message, and ministry.

In addition, we encourage the house church members to participate in the special meetings hosted by Mercy Christian Fellowship throughout the year. It is at these times that we really appreciate being part of something bigger.

How can I receive in-depth Bible teaching?

Foundations I-IV (a comprehensive 30-week introduction to the Christian life) and Leadership Training are offered at times outside the main house church meeting. In addition, Mercy Christian Fellowship offers advanced training through the Joshua School of Ministry and other seminars.

What is the relationship between the house church network and MCF?

Mercy Christian Fellowship is a fellowship of churches, including churches-in-buildings as well as a network of house churches. Michael Walsh is the leader of the governing body of MCF elders. He works directly with the house church leaders for the purpose of training, multiplying, encouraging, and networking the leaders with one another.

Members of the house churches are invited to participate in joint MCF activities, including:

• Seasons of corporate prayer and fasting
• Joint celebration meetings (several times a year)
• Evangelistic opportunities, such as the Encounter Weekends
• Joshua School of Ministry classes
• Seminars and workshops
• Foreign missions projects

MCF is endeavoring to model a biblical form of unity in which churches within a city are able to work together. We do not pretend to have the perfect form, but we have purposed to walk humbly before God in the light we have, believing that God will give increased understanding as we obey what we know.

Where does the money go?

The biblical principle of giving is practiced by the house churches (Ps 41:1-3; Mal 3:10; 1 Cor 9:9-11; Gal 6:6). Donations are used in four ways primarily:

1. Expansion of the local network
   We help support full-time workers involved in planting house churches and mentoring house church leaders. At the moment, Michael and Denise Walsh are the principal individuals serving the MCF house church network in this capacity.
2. Operations and administration
   Some of the monies are used to cover the cost of rent and equipment necessary for our monthly celebrations and to supply free training materials used by the house churches. There are also costs associated with MCF services that benefit all the congregations, such as database management and leadership development.
3. Foreign missions
   Our work outside of Montgomery County is coordinated by Mercy Missions International. These efforts include church planting, teaching, evangelism, and ministries of compassion to the poor and fatherless. The primary areas of focus at this time are in India, Uganda, Mexico, and Peru. We are also helping to plant a church in Tucumcari, New Mexico.
4. Aid to the poor in Montgomery County
   Some of the money is used to meet pressing needs for those who are unable to help themselves. For example, The Father’s House, one of MCF’s churches in Cut and Shoot, operates a weekly food pantry, serving 75-100 families per week.

What is the difference between a house church and a cell group or a home fellowship group?

The primary difference is in how we view ourselves. A house church views its house meeting as the primary expression of its community life. The joint meetings with other house churches or with MCF serve important functions, but they do not represent the house church’s primary community.

Consequently, a house church leader has a level of responsibility more like that of a pastor than of a small group leader. The house church is responsible for insuring that every member is baptized, praying, reaching out, and growing spiritually.

House churches are not limited to a certain topic, people-group, or duration of time. They are not Bible study groups or prayer meetings, although they might have these subgroups within them. They are true churches, offering a wide scope of Christian ministry in their effort to bring every member to spiritual maturity and fruitful ministry.

Is there a size limit for a house church?

Theoretically, a house church can grow as large as the house will accommodate. However, because a house church has a vision for equipping its members to reach out into additional neighborhoods, it is usually looking to birth new groups as quickly as possible.

What do you do with children during the meetings?

House churches deal with children in a variety of ways. Some keep the children in the meeting with the adults. Others put them in a separate room where an adult teaches or otherwise cares for them. In some cases, when weather permits, the children play outside.

Because there is often no specific children’s program in a house church, special attention is given to helping parents train their children at home in the ways of God (Deut 6:6-7; Ps 78:5-6; 2 Tim 1:5; 3:15).