Fellowship House Index

Overview: Top

1) Offer Christians in need, affordable housing and Pastoral Counseling:

     A) from abusive family situations

     B) from the recovery from the life of sin

     C) transitional housing for those released from prison

     D) low cost housing and a stable Christian environment

     E) experience in ministry

     F) structured living environment offering counseling, classes, and studies

2) Fellowship Houses offer a way for the church to become more involved and help resolve some of the needs of individuals in the community.

3) Fellowship Houses help reduce crime and costs often associated with crime.

4) Fellowship Houses help put the control back into the hands of the church.

Purpose: The Fellowship House is established to provide a place for recovery from sin, seek God and His righteousness, and learn a new way to live. Each house is self-supporting, and self run. The residents strive to live the life that Christ did and do the things He did. Contributions are used to train more outreach individuals to establish new houses and to provide central service support to existing houses.

How Fellowship Houses Work! Top

Fellowship Houses are family, Christian oriented houses that groups of individuals rent, to live together in an environment supportive of living the life that God would have us lead. These house are formed for several purposes; transitional for those leaving prison, drug and alcohol recovery, changing direction in life, looking for a closer walk with God or even foster care or adult foster care. These are safe houses as the residents work during the day and attend Christian classes in the evening with a focus on who they are in Christ, their purpose or calling and the gifts they have been given to help get to get the job done.

Jesus gave us this work to carry on in faith. If we all learned to do this, we would all be living in a different world. He gave us the keys to the kingdom, the power, but left it up to each one of us to stand in faith to get the job done.

Each house is self-run and self supported as they are a part of the New Testament Church operating under Ephesians 4:11-16. Each group obtains a charter from Our Daily Bread, Ministries, the umbrella organization for the network of individual Fellowship Houses. At times there are matching funds available to start a house which come from donations and corporate sponsors when people purchase items through our links.

Each Fellowship House Charter has and meets these basic requirements:

     *That they are formed with the idea and purpose of the residents seeking and serving God in their local area.

     *That each member is seeking to live as Christ lived and for the purpose that Christ lived.

     *That each House is self-run.

     *That each House is financially self-supported.

     * That the houses expel those individuals not interested in pursuing the life of Christ.

Fellowship House History: Top

The first Fellowship House was established more than 35 years ago during the Jesus movement. These Houses through Christ changed the lives of many and were designed to house the workers in ministry, those preparing to go into ministry and those in traditional jobs. These houses are a nurturing and caring environment that provides residents with a place to live at a low cost, while offering Fellowship, support and counseling to the residents and each other.

Many residents instead of continuing in a life of crime or abuse, recovered from sin, regardless whether if it was drugs, alcohol,prostitution, etc. Fellowship Houses provide a unique support system as residents exhort and encourage one another to do better and to stay focused on Jesus, the solution.

Steps to Recovery and Healing Top

The answer to all of our problems and needs is Jesus, and we believe that He wants us to look to Him daily, for all of our needs. To do this, many believers need help staying focused. Support from staff and residents are crucial in the recovery process. Jesus was, and still is the solution.

When God is put in first place in our lives, recovery and healing can begin. We help others and it helps us. This help to others is sometimes in a form of cutting the grass at the local church or helping an elderly person, or working in a hospital. Others work in soup kitchens or serving the community in some way once or twice a week, whatever the community may need.

We are all called to be ministers or to serve, but we need to learn how to serve others, as we help them in their needs, Jesus helps us, and all those in need.

Structure and Set-up Top

At times loans are available to start new houses. Some of the machinery is in place to start new houses, depending on the need and the desire to provide housing for 5-8 people recovering from their old life. This money is used to pay the deposits and start a new Fellowship House in that community.

Whether starting a new house or moving into an existing house, these guidelines for success make sense. Do what Jesus did, become involved. Use the Word, live the Word, make it work in your life.

Accept responsibility and accountability for the Fellowship House to work. Share the experience and the growth personally with your Fellowship House and other Fellowship Houses across the world. Become involved in the local movement of God to help change lives and set people free, from the bondage of sin, by helping others help themselves through Christ.

Contact Us for available services offered in your local area. If there is no local chapter you or your church should consider Fellowship House as an outreach in the community. We are here to help you get started. We provide the training and can help with the necessary resources that it takes to get started and in an on going basis.

Charter information: Top

What is a Fellowship House Charter and why would I need one?

A Fellowship House Charter gives legal authority to operate as an outreach member of Our Daily Bread, Missions Organization and use its name. Without a Charter a person would have to file Articles of Incorporation in the state they desired to operate in and open a checking account.

What are the different Charters and why?

Our Daily Bread, Missions Organization has several charters for different reasons as each category of charter has different needs:

Church Charter: Used for starting a church, mission or certain types of outreach.

Pastoral Counseling Center Charter: Used for Counseling services.

School Charter: Used for Schools, Church Schools, Home Schools, Day Care and Pre-school.

Prison Ministries Charter: Used for organizing believers to work in prison ministry especially if they are from different churches.

Fellowship House Charter: Transition Housing, Drug & Alcohol, Youth, Foster Care, Adult Foster Care, Women's and Men's Home (Abuse) & Missions

How do I receive a Charter?

If you do not have a charter click here.

Can I legally start a non-profit organization?
Yes you can but you must obtain a Charter to be recognized as a legal organization.

What are the Qualifications & Requirements for a Charter? Top

Pass the appropriate Certification Program offered by Our Daily Bread, Bible Institute.

Be a Licensed by Our Daily Bread, Missions.

Read and Agreed to the following:

Articles of Faith

Have a working knowledge of their chosen field.

Standards of Practice for Pastoral Counselors or Code of Ethics for Teachers, Administrators of Schools or for General Pastors or Missionaries Missions Board Code of Ethics for Missions Work.

Submit Application for Membership if credentialed by another church with Annual fee or enroll in Licensing Programs offered by Our Daily Bread, Missions.

Submit quarterly reports.

What do I receive? Top

1. Certificate of Charter (Legal Entity) authorizing you to do ministry with the particular charter that you have. It will also allow you to open a commercial checking account.

2. Referrals that we receive if you choose.

3. Online support, tools and resources to help you get going and help you expand.

4. A Free listing in the resource directory.

5. Brochure templates and information that you can customize.

6. Recognition: We are a global ministry.

7. Organizational Membership (Automatic unless otherwise specified) to either Association of Pastoral Counselors, Association of Accredited Bible Schools, or Alliance of Accredited Ministers and Churches.

8. Optional Web Page with ODB (Additional Cost of $24 Annually). You give us the content, we do the design and layout.

Other Questions Top

Help Desk Online Global Support

I am responsible…..

When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want our hand always to be there. For that I am responsible.

We are responsible both to God

and each other.