Why join the H4H Network?

I could begin my own home group, and do my own thing couldn't I?

Yes you can. But Consider the following.

H4H is About Real Meaningful Caring Relationships- Anytime, Anywhere, Everywhere!

Are you tired of "going to church" talking about the weather, not really connecting with anyone, not ministering to your world? Imagine a gathering of people who do more than just smile and ask, "how are you?", or say "Nice day out there!"one day a week. We gather with friends, people interested in our lives outside of church. People who take time, make time, to care, discuss the scriptures, pray, and reaching out to others for Christ. Who Actually want not just the mercy of God, but his mission as well.

If you long to connect with others over mission. H4H is about doing life together, not just church. Not one hour, but life lived in community, and out in the community. It's all about relationships. Here is a good video that exemplifies a goal of H4H groups.
What to give it a try?

Who Can Join H4H?

The New Testament shares and amazing fact. Ordinary families spreading the gospel of Jesus.

"Forced to leave home base, the Christians all became missionaries. Wherever they were scattered, they preached the Message about Jesus." Acts 8:4 (TMSG)

We have profesionalized service to Christ so much that we have forgotten that WE ordinary believers have a function. We practice the priesthood of all believers (1 Peter 2:9), where each participant has a ministry. Each member serves as a bridge between God and man, through service to the saints, and the world. God chose the ordinary things to shame the wise. 1 Cor 1:27-28

H4H seeks:

To Join H4H you will need to be secure in your biblical understanding of Church. Some of you may have a difficult time viewing a H4H concept fellowship as being "real" church. Others will have a hang up over the "size" of the fellowships (10-20). But Jesus said: "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20. Where two or three or single people or families gather, Jesus enters in, in a special way.

First, you need to sense H4H as a Way of doing your Service/mission.

Convinced that this is how God wants YOU to disciple others. Don't jump on H4H because it seems like the latest cool new "Church growth fad", or you hope to "give it a try" for a few months. Attend an existing H4H group if you want to try it out. As a Family have many discussions and prayer times before you make the move (include the older kids). As a Student or Single person, discuss this with a friend to partner with you. Put a piece of paper on the wall and list the possible pro's and con's of using this model as your ministry for the kingdom. Can you really buy into this as mission, as church?

Second, your motivation for Entering H4H is critical.

Disgruntled people are naturally drawn to these "freeing" H4H ministry concepts. However, they desperately lack the character, integrity, and doctrinal substance to see H4H through, for very long.

If you wish to begin a H4H fellowship because you are;

A. Bitter about your existing church,
B. You simply want to do church "your own way",
C. You wish to have an isolated group doing it's own thing, accountable to no one for practice or teaching but you,
D. Your a charismatic person and feel you have the "hottest gifts and insight " to offer people for you know how to do church "right", with more "spirituality", more "correctly".

Don't join H4H! God simply will not honor such motivations and studies show that people or groups that have these motivations will die within two years.
You will discourage and injure many people, consume precious kingdom time as we are left trying to fix YOUR mess.

So why exactly are you drawn to H4H, and for how long?
How do you envision the H4H concept helping you further the kingdom of God?

Third, you need to be connected with others in the Movement.

Are you ready to meet with other H4H fellowships, attend the annual H4H conference?
Having a sense that we are a part of something larger than ourselves is critical to survival, and effectiveness. People who see this as an opportunity to connect more deeply with Christ and other people through hospitality and worship in their home.
Let your home become a light among your relational network.

H4H is a NETWORK

It is ESSENTIAL that we Network TOGETHER!

Studies show that most isolated home groups die within 2 years. Simply put, you can not do this alone. It is not healthy, nor is it sustainable.

H4H fellowship groups must agree to:

1) Cross Fellowship

Hold combined worship meetings at least once every 2-3 months, with other H4H groups.(Rotate them as geography enables) If necessary, rent a room at a hotel, or church for the larger gathering. (On PEI we could all meet in Charlottetown or Summerside, easily enough.)

2) H4H Training & Encouragement:

Attend & support your annual H4H conference: All those in the H4H network come together for training, vision, fellowship, prayer, focus, and cross pollination.

H4H Fellowship Finances

1) H4H fellowships will have an abundance of finances for ministry. With no church building, or paid minister (80% of most churches funds go to these expenses) you will find you can disperse a large among of your funds to ministry and people needs.

The day is coming when we will simply give to the Lord and expect nothing back on tax day. We are not opposed to taking advantage of this charity tax break. However, the day may come very soon when the disadvantages of being a "registered" nonprofit religious organization will outweigh the advantages. We feel that a "Charity Tax Number" is simply not necessary for each H4H fellowship. The application is now a complicated matter and will actually interferes with groups multiplying quickly. But apply if you wish. H4H groups have great freedom and flexibility to meet the needs they wish, without the mounting annual paper work, not to mention the now two year application process.

Accountability is the key.
Simply open a joint account for your specific H4H fellowship group and require three signatures to access the funds. Do not be concerned over a Charity Tax receipt. Simply take the amount you normally give and decrease it a little to compensate for the tax loss, if you must.

Each H4H group in the network is free to make a group decision for themselves of how to assure accountability of finances.

However, the key is don't hoard money EVER. This is such a monumental shift in thinking for most people, especially those coming form traditional churches.
Give away as much as you can to miniseries, people in need, community projects that honor Christ, mission projects, support H4H conferences, and training events, Pay travel expenses for H4H leaders to come to your group and speak with you, or help you with issues,

Suggestions of how to use offering:

Help poor families with heating, electricity or groceries.
Repair a needy persons house in the community,
repair a widow's car.
Help a single mom with some expenses, or hire her a baby sitter and invite her over to a fellowship night to give her a break.
Support a missionary or overseas project.
Collaborate with others groups or all groups in the network and pool resources for a Larger mission project.
Dig a water well for a needy Village.
Buy a cow for a poor African family.
Buy small group DVD's or books to use for studies.
Send your kids to Youth Conferences, and mission events "postage paid".
Buy special gifts for mission children. Support a family in the third world.
Go on a short-term mission trip.
Rent a bus to take you group to a Christian event.
Support a ministry student.
Support your Local Bible College
Rent a room for a combined service with other H4H groups,
Rent the pool for the who H4H group.
Pay for your Groups leaders to attend training programs
Support your H4H Network, the annual conference, www Site expenses to promote H4H,
Pay for travel expenses for H4H Traveling Coordinators to come and encourage your group.
It takes some people serious serious time to keep this network going. Your support will help the work to continue, and multiply.

Reach a consenses as a group. But Please! Some of you, you are just so difficult, please take off your "Traditional Church" way of using money and give liberally. Every incidence in the NT where money is discussed in the context of the Church, is in meeting needs of people.

Giving generously to the needs of people all around your community opens doors for the group to grow and multiply. People will beging to talk about you all over the place. They will never have seen such a small group doing so much to help people before. They will be impressed and Jesus will get the glory he deserves. But give it in Jesus Name!

H4H Teaching Times Are Relaxed Conversational Studies Where All Participate - Why?

We promote open discussion with all participating for the teaching times at H4H. Retention and understanding of the material is significantly increased this way.
Here is a video to help you understand why we promote a relaxed and conversational learning environment rather than the traditional sermon monologue.
Enjoy this 6 minute video