Potter’s House

Founded in 1970 Potter’s House Christian Fellowship began in Prescott Arizona. It wasn’t always a large international organization. It started small. Wayman Mitchell a Pentecostal pastor led the way. He was initially part of the Foursquare Gospel Church. However differences arose particularly regarding pastoral training. This led to a split. Potter’s House became an independent fellowship. The name itself comes from Jeremiah 18:2. The scripture speaks of hearing God’s words at a potter’s house. This reflects the church’s focus on God’s word and spiritual growth. The Potter’s House holds strong Pentecostal beliefs. These include salvation by faith the infallibility of the Bible and the second coming of Jesus Christ. The church is known for its emphasis on evangelism. It plants churches worldwide. It also promotes discipleship a form of on-the-job training for future ministers. This training is not formal theological education. The church believes formal theological training may diminish a pastor’s passion. Potter’s House also incorporates faith healing into its practices. It believes in the power of prayer for physical healing. It holds meetings for this purpose. The church’s financial support is based on tithes from its members. It also encourages additional offerings. There are also criticisms. Some label Potter’s House a cult. Concerns exist regarding levels of control over members high commitment expectations and the treatment of former members. The church has experienced splits throughout its history. This is due to various reasons including restrictions on freedom of expression of faith and internal conflicts. Despite these challenges Potter’s House remains a significant Christian organization with thousands of churches worldwide. It continues its mission of spreading the gospel and establishing new congregations. It also conducts annual week-long conferences.