At Household of Faith Community Church(HOFCC) we celebrate our Lord’s Day each week as a delightful holiday for the family of God. The atmosphere of our weekly gathering is intended to be a wonderful family reunion, full of joy and loving concern for one another. Because this is our only service each week, we like to “make a day of it.”

Our gathering is age-integrated. That means all ages participate together in worship, Bible teaching and fellowship. Our worship is doctrinally sound and musically appealing to all ages.
Likewise, our Bible teachers make every effort to feed all ages on sound, soul-stirring expository preaching. Following our service, we host a weekly Shared Meal where we come prepared to show our love for God by the way we love and serve one another. (Visitors are welcome as our guests!)

This extended time together once each week accomplishes two things: First, it allows our members to really reconnect with one another.

Second, it leaves ample time each week for everyone to “Be doers of God’s Word, and not merely hearers” (Jam 1:22). Rather than multiply church services, we encourage our members to live a lifestyle of ministry hospitality: hosting times to pray and worship together, Bible study groups, and organizing “work-parties” for one another. In times of crisis, we expect everyone to flex their schedules and squeeze their finances to pitch in and help by preparing meals, caring for one another’s children, and helping one another make it through hard times.

“Those who walk with the wise become wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm” (PRO. 13:20). Many families and churches today are losing their children to the world. This is because they fail to be truly converted to Christ and knit into the body-life of the church. But by God’s grace, at HOFCC, we are not losing our children. This is partly because we do not offer a Sunday School or a Children’s Church. Instead, we put our efforts into equipping our member parents to include their children in their lives at home and in the church. In our services, the children sing the same songs as their parents, hear the same teaching, and feel the same awe as God moves among us in the gifts. 
As a visitor with children, please do not feel embarrassed if your children seem uninterested. Help them to understand that their eternity is at stake. Train them to enjoy being included. Coach them in worship. Use our Nursing Mother’s/Changing Room (to change diapers and attitudes). This approach is not easy, but it is well worth the effort.

“Each one has a song, a teaching, a revelation...” (1 COR. 14:26). During our worship time the Holy Spirit prompts believers to build up one another by means of spiritual gifts. This “body ministry” is welcomed, provided it is offered in keeping with the guidelines laid down by Paul in 1 Cor. 14:12-19 & 26-35. In keeping with scripture, we have laid out the following guidelines. 
All men, ages 13+, are free to speak without prior “screening” by from the elders. This is because, “the head of every man is Christ,” (1Cor 11:2-7). However, all that is said will be evaluated by the leaders and other men of the church as to its faithfulness to the Bible. And will be corrected congregationally. Paul does not permit women to participate audibly in this evaluation process (see 1Cor 14:31-35). Women may move in the spiritual gifts. Phillip had four daughters who prophesied. (Acts 21:9) But, because “the head of a wife is her husband” (1Cor 11:2-7) a wife or daughter must ask her own husband or father for his oversight before addressing the congregation. Our leaders will cover for those whose husband or father is not present. Time may not permit everyone to share. Allow the Worship Leaders to pace the flow of this ministry, and defer to one another.

Communion is celebrated at the close of our gathering each week. Tables of bread and grape juice are set up where we welcome the believing head of each household (whether male or female) to serve our Lord’s Supper to the believing members of his or her family and guests. Huddle together or slip outside to a quiet place and use this special time to draw closer to God and closer to one another in Christ. Examine yourselves. Confess your sins to God and renew right relationships with one another. Step away to speak privately as needed. Forgive. Embrace. Then partake together. As a visitor feel free to join with a member’s household if you like.

At HOFCC we teach New Testament “grace giving” under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament God’s people were required to “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house” (Mal. 3:8-10). In the New Testament, giving continues to supply the church’s ministers, members, and missions, but it is no longer divesting oneself of money, but rather of investing in far safer opportunities which yield far better returns (Php. 4:17). Every Christian is commanded to love others and to give in proportion to (i.e., as a percentage of) his actual income (2 Cor. 8:12-15 & 1 Tim. 6:17-19). All such giving is to be done cheerfully, from a willing heart, without compulsion (2 Cor. 9:6-8).

God does not need our money. He already owns everything. But our fellow members will need occasional charity. At HOFCC we “hire them” to get back on their feet.  So, find a local church that you can believe in enough to support it with your tithes and offerings. Identify where you would turn for assistance in times of crisis, and then do your part to make it financially strong for everyone.

Our Offering Box
In doing so, please give discreetly and without fanfare. At HOFCC we do not collect offerings. Instead, we ask our members to place their tithes and offerings in the Offering Box which is towards the back of the room.

“... go to the place that the LORD your God chooses and spend [an annual tithe] for whatever you desire... And you shall eat there before the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household.” (See Deu. 14:22-26) The spirit of this Celebration Tithe continues in God’s command that we practice hospitality toward one another. Hospitality, and especially sharing meals, is an offering of worship toward God expressed by loving one another. 

On this basis we encourage all our members to set aside a generous percentage of income each year for use in celebration. Bring ample quantities of quality food for our Shared Meal each week. Celebrate worthwhile holidays with family and friends. Live well as Ambassadors for Christ. Make your home an embassy of God’s kingdom. Practice hospitality toward new friends. As your income allows, consider taking a ministry vacation or going on a short-term mission trip. Invest a reasonable amount of money each year in rejoicing with your family and friends. By sharing your celebrations, you adorn the Gospel of Christ, and allow others to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psa. 34:8).