Potter’s House Christian Fellowship is a non-denominational evangelical Christian church founded in Prescott, Arizona in 1970 by Wayman Mitchell and Fred Price. It is overseen by an eldership based in Phoenix, Arizona and has grown into a worldwide fellowship of over 275 churches.
The Potter’s House emphasizes the preaching of the gospel, Bible-based teaching, discipleship, and the centrality of the local church. Some of their key doctrines and practices include:
Statement of Faith
The Potter’s House has a statement of faith that outlines their core beliefs. This includes affirming the Bible as the inspired, infallible Word of God, belief in the Trinity, Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, salvation by grace through faith in Christ, water baptism by immersion, the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, divine healing, and the return of Christ.
Conversion and Discipleship
There is a strong emphasis on leading people to faith in Christ through conversion. They believe this involves repentance, confessing Jesus as Lord, and receiving the gift of eternal life by grace through faith (Romans 10:9-10, Ephesians 2:8-9). The church also has a structured discipleship program to help new believers grow in their faith.
Pentecostal Practices
The Potter’s House embraces Pentecostal experiences as described in the Book of Acts. Practices like speaking in tongues, prophecy, words of knowledge, and divine healing are regularly exercised in their worship services and ministry activities. There is an expectation that the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit will be manifested.
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Related to Pentecostalism, they believe all the gifts of the Holy Spirit described in 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12 are valid for today’s church. Members are encouraged to earnestly desire spiritual gifts and discover their unique gifts and callings from God.
Pastoral Leadership
Local Potter’s House churches are led by a pastor who provides oversight and leadership. The pastor is assisted by associate pastors, elders, and ministry leaders. Apostolic alignment and accountability to the eldership in Phoenix provides covering and maintains doctrinal integrity.
Cell Groups and Outreach
In addition to main worship services, cell groups meet during the week for prayer, Bible study, and relationship building. There is also an emphasis on evangelism and community outreach to spread the gospel message.
Missions and Church Planting
The Potter’s House actively plants new churches and supports overseas mission work. Many members participate in short and long-term missions trips. Their goal is to expand the kingdom of God locally and globally.
Christian Education
Potter’s House churches usually have a Christian school affiliated with them. This provides biblical education for children along with regular academics. Some larger churches have also started Bible colleges to equip members for ministry.
Worship and Arts
Exuberant worship and the arts are promoted as ways to glorify God. Services include contemporary praise and worship, prayer, testimonies, prophecy, and preaching. Dance, drama, and other creative expressions are encouraged as acts of worship.
Organizational Structure
Each local Potter’s House church has oversight over its affairs but is affiliated with the International Fellowship of Ministries. Apostolic teams provide spiritual covering, relationship, guidance, and governance to churches and pastors worldwide.
In summary, the Potter’s House is a rapidly growing Christian fellowship dedicated to fulfilling the Great Commission through evangelism, discipleship, church planting, world missions, and operating in the power of the Holy Spirit.
History of Potter’s House
The Potter’s House Christian Fellowship was founded in 1970 by Wayman Mitchell and Fred Price in Prescott, Arizona. Mitchell, an itinerant evangelist, met Price, a young Pentecostal pastor, and the two joined forces to start a new church.
The church started with just a handful of members meeting in a small building on Potter’s House Street, which is how the church got its name. As the congregation grew, Mitchell and Price emphasized door-to-door evangelism, dramatic worship services, and uncompromised preaching.
By the late 1970s the church had grown significantly and was impacting the Prescott area. The church continued to plant other churches in Arizona and other states. In 1983 Mitchell moved to California to become the pastor of the mother church in Prescott Valley.
Throughout the 1980s and 90s, the Potter’s House expanded rapidly under Mitchell’s leadership. Churches were planted across the United States and then internationally. By 2005 there were over 300 affiliated churches.
Mitchell helped develop a network of apostolic leadership that could provide oversight to the growing movement. Five regional bishops were appointed to support the churches organizationally. This leadership base allowed church planting and evangelism to accelerate.
The growth was not without controversy, however. Concerns were raised about the intensity of the discipleship program and the level of pastoral control exercised. But overall the churches experienced steady growth.
When Wayman Mitchell retired in the early 2000s, the Potter’s House continued to expand its network of churches. As of 2022, there are over 275 churches in the U.S. and 1,000 worldwide affiliated with Potter’s House Ministries International Fellowship.
Beliefs and Doctrines
As a non-denominational Pentecostal church, the Potter’s House adheres to the core doctrines shared by Evangelical Protestant Christianity. Some of their primary beliefs include:
The Bible
The Bible is viewed as the inspired, authoritative Word of God without error in its original manuscripts. It is the final authority for Christian faith and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21)
God
There is one God who exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is the almighty Creator and heavenly Father who seeks relationship with mankind. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 28:19)
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Son of God, born of a virgin, who lived a sinless life, performed miracles, died for the sins of the world, resurrected bodily, ascended to heaven, and will return personally and visible to establish His kingdom. (John 1:1, 14, Colossians 1:15-20, Hebrews 4:15)
Salvation
Salvation is the free gift of God received by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. People must repent of sin and believe in Christ to be born again and receive eternal life. (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:9-10, Titus 3:5)
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit indwells believers at conversion empowering them to live godly lives. Subsequent experiences include water baptism, Spirit baptism, and the exercise of spiritual gifts and fruit. (Acts 2:38, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Galatians 5:22-23)
Afterlife
There is an afterlife where believers will spend eternity in heaven and unbelievers will spend eternity separated from God. The church awaits Christ’s millennial reign on earth. (John 14:2-3, Revelation 20:1-6, 21:1-5)
In addition to these core doctrines, the Potter’s House emphasizes the present-day supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, exercising of spiritual gifts, divine healing, deliverance from demonic forces, passionate worship, cell group community, and uncompromised Biblical preaching.
Church Services and Practices
The Potter’s House style of worship and church services reflect their charismatic Pentecostal theology. Some of the elements include:
Music
Services include extended times of contemporary praise and worship music with drums, keyboards, guitars and vocals. The worship is expressive and lively. Worship teams and individuals exercise musical gifts and spontaneous prophetic singing. (Psalm 150:1-6, Colossians 3:16)
Prayer
Prayer for various needs, divine healing, and spiritual empowerment is a vital part of Potter’s House worship services. Believers lay hands on people and pray for them. Prayer teams are also available to intercede for people. (James 5:14-15, 1 Thessalonians 5:17)
Preaching
Verse-by-verse Biblical preaching aimed at life change is central to services. Messages emphasize salvation, victorious Christian living, moral purity, commitment to Christ, and relying on the Spirit’s power. (2 Timothy 4:2, 1 Corinthians 1:18, 21)
Baptism
New converts are baptized by immersion in water as a public declaration of their new faith in Jesus Christ. Baptisms are joyful events accompanied by applause and shouts of praise. (Romans 6:3-4, Matthew 28:19)
Speaking in Tongues
Speaking in unknown tongues as described in Acts chapter 2 is actively encouraged for all believers as a private prayer language or public message with interpretation. (1 Corinthians 14:2, 14:39)
Healing and Miracles
Prayer for the sick and believing God for miraculous healing is practiced regularly. Testimonies of recoveries, restored relationships, and God’s supernatural interventions are shared. (1 Corinthians 12:9, James 5:14-15)
Church Government and Leadership
The Potter’s House operates under a variation of the Episcopal form of church governance in which apostolic leaders function as bishops providing spiritual covering and accountability. Key leadership roles include:
Apostles
Apostolic leaders give oversight, relationship, and counsel to pastors and churches regionally, nationally, and internationally. They help maintain doctrinal and ethical integrity. (1 Corinthians 12:28, 2 Corinthians 11:28)
Pastor
The senior pastor of each local church provides onsite leadership, preaching, and vision casting with the aid of assistant pastors and ministry directors. They are accountable to apostolic leadership. (1 Timothy 3:1–7, Hebrews 13:17)
Board of Elders
Elders function as spiritual advisors to the pastor and assist with pastoral care and governance of the local church. They serve as a leadership team surrounding the pastor. (1 Timothy 4:14, Titus 1:5–9)
Deacons and Deaconesses
These servant leaders attend to the practical needs of the church including finances, benevolence, facilities, and assisting with services and sacraments. (1 Timothy 3:8–13)
Cell Group Leaders
Leaders of small groups in the church provide closer fellowship, discipleship, Bible study, and mentorship of members during the week. (Hebrews 10:24–25, Acts 2:46–47)
This interconnected leadership structure allows Potter’s House churches to maintain relationship, accountability, and team-based ministry under the senior pastor’s oversight.
In Conclusion
Potter’s House Christian Fellowship has grown from humble beginnings into an international church movement emphasizing evangelism, Biblical teaching, discipleship, church planting, and operating in the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. While some critique their intense commitment level and authoritarian approach, they have remained faithful to their calling of reaching the world for Christ.
With a blend of Pentecostal worship and reformed theology, the Potter’s House offers a vibrant Christian community for those drawn to their message. Their motivation is summed up in their motto: “Reaching the World for Jesus Christ!” As they continue to plant new churches worldwide, their passion is to see lives changed by the Gospel of Christ.