What is Potter's House Christian Fellowship Church?

Origins and Historical Development

The Potter’s House Christian Fellowship Church, also known as Christian Fellowship Ministries (CFM) or The Door, began in the early 1970s. Its origins trace to a small congregation in Prescott, Arizona, where Wayman Mitchell (1930–2020) served as pastor. Prior to Mitchell’s tenure, the church had fewer than 25 members. Through a focused approach to evangelism, discipleship, and church planting, the fellowship expanded rapidly.

Many trace the name “Potter’s House” to the biblical theme in which God is likened to a potter shaping His people. Jeremiah 18:1–2 states, “This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: ‘Get up and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will reveal My message to you.’” This concept captures the church’s emphasis on spiritual transformation, as believers submit themselves to the hands of the divine Potter.

Core Beliefs and Theology

Potter’s House Christian Fellowship Church holds doctrinal stances consistent with mainstream evangelical, Pentecostal-oriented traditions, affirming:

• The inerrancy and authority of Scripture.

• The triune nature of God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

• Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection.

• The work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration, sanctification, and empowering believers for service.

• The imminent return of Christ and the literal hope of eternal life.

The fellowship draws on passages like John 14:6, where Jesus declares, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me,” underscoring that only through Him can humankind find salvation. Their teachings also emphasize the Great Commission: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

Congregational Structure and Organization

Local congregations within The Potter’s House emphasize practical discipleship and evangelism. Many churches feature:

• Regular worship services with preaching that integrates biblical exhortation and personal application.

• Teaching sessions that incorporate both apologetics and real-life spiritual formation.

• Men’s and women’s discipleship classes that stress character growth, moral living, and dedication to service.

• Fellowship groups and prayer meetings, supporting close-knit bonds between members.

A hallmark of their strategy is church planting, wherein established churches send out pioneer pastors and small congregations to begin new fellowships in other cities and countries. This multiplication approach has contributed to the international reach of the movement over several decades.

Emphasis on Discipleship and Evangelism

Evangelism is central. Members often engage in street preaching, concerts, drama presentations, and personal testimony to share the gospel. The church draws impetus from Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Public outreaches and open-air meetings exemplify the grassroots style, reflecting a conviction that direct engagement—one-on-one witnessing—carries transformative power. Many local fellowships hold weekly evangelism nights, encouraging believers to put faith into action by sharing Christ with their communities.

Community Life and Worship Practices

Most Potter’s House congregations follow a contemporary style of worship, often accompanied by bands or music groups. Sermons tend to be direct and expository, drawing from passages of Scripture and emphasizing practical application. Altar calls are common, inviting participants to commit or recommit to Christ. Baptism by immersion for new believers features prominently, guided by Matthew 28:19: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

The church community often includes fellowship events—dinners, informal gatherings, and testimonies—meant to foster unity, accountability, and the relational aspects of Christian growth. Some congregations include small groups or home Bible studies.

Authority of Scripture and Doctrinal Stance

Potter’s House pastors typically uphold the Bible as the inspired Word of God, aligning with widespread archaeological evidence (e.g., Dead Sea Scrolls) affirming the historic continuity of biblical manuscripts. They view apparent challenges to the Bible’s reliability—whether textual or scientific—as resolvable through further study and trust in the God who reliably oversees His Word.

In keeping with the focus on biblically shaped living, Hebrews 4:12 is frequently cited: “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” The fellowship’s approach seeks to ground both teaching and practice on this conviction.

Global Missions and Church Planting Efforts

From its starting point in Arizona, The Potter’s House has sent missionaries worldwide, establishing fellowships across North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia. Leaders attribute the swift growth partly to the holding of conferences where pastors and disciples receive practical training, biblical exhortation, and motivation for missions. These events commonly involve reports from international works, testimonies of changed lives, and spirited calls for workers to answer the urgent need around the world.

The fellowship’s approach to missions emphasizes establishing self-supporting, self-governing, and self-propagating congregations, in line with the model depicted in the Book of Acts—local believers leading local churches, but operating in unity and cooperation with the broader movement.

Controversies and Critiques

As with any dynamic, rapidly expanding fellowship, there have been criticisms. Some former members and observers allege an overemphasis on pastoral authority or rigidity in church discipline. Others challenge the strong evangelistic tactics or question certain aspects of leadership structures.

Nevertheless, the Potter’s House Church typically maintains that its direct accountability, emphasis on discipleship, and adherence to biblical mandates bring fruitful, moral, and spiritual order to believers’ lives. Recurring testimonies highlight deliverance from addictions, restored marriages, and positive community impact.

Biblical Foundations for the Name

The imagery of the potter and the clay is deeply rooted in Scripture. Beyond its Old Testament reference in Jeremiah 18, it appears in Romans 9:20–21: “But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why have you made me like this?’ Does not the potter have the right to make from the same lump of clay one vessel for special occasions and another for common use?”

This passage reinforces the understanding of God’s sovereignty and creative authority, a principle pivotal for The Potter’s House in explaining how the Lord shapes believers, calling them to holiness, service, and spiritual growth.

Conclusion

The Potter’s House Christian Fellowship Church stands as a global network rooted in a fervent commitment to evangelism, church planting, and discipleship. Its focus is on life transformation through Christ, a belief richly symbolized by the potter-and-clay imagery found in Jeremiah and reinforced in the New Testament.

Members typically share testimonies of personal encounters with God—miracles, spiritual renewal, and robust community ties—affirming their conviction that the gospel remains “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). Despite occasional internal or external critiques, the fellowship’s continuing expansion underscores a consistent adherence to biblical principles, a direct evangelistic mindset, and a dedication to fostering vibrant, replicable local churches worldwide.