About the Servant Ministry of 153 House Churches Network

153 House Churches Network is a servant ministry led by God to focus upon serving God's people in the Church at large, including those groups such as house churches, Internet ministries, and "creative" ministries that fall outside most classic definitions of "ministry." 153 House Churches Network is not a person or persons - it is a work of God through many people in different places, ways and times - so you will find no list of staff at this site. 

We earnestly believe that followers of Christ must be vigilant to remain servants, and that we must not allow ourselves or our "ministries" to be portrayed as "spiritual superstars." In fact, the name "153 House Churches Network " is only used here for the purposes of explaining to visitors how a servant ministry of this type works.  We do not usually refer to ourselves by any name at all. 

We have sought to become a brown paper bag, so that the Jesus inside of us and the work He's commanded us to do will be the only thing that receives attention.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:13

Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
John 4:34-38

And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.
But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
Luke 17:5-10


Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:5-11



The 153 House Church Network

The 153 House Churches Network is a network of believers and partner house churches, Internet ministries, and creative ministries based in Western, Central and Northeastern Ohio, Minnesota, the Internet and beyond; working together in the harvest as led by God's Spirit to win souls and make disciples for our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Believers at 153 House Churches Network do not generally refer to themselves by any specific church name. They are just people who love God and are seeking to obey Him as they walk through life together. Most people feel more comfortable with a church having a name, however, so 153 House Churches Network members do still sometimes refer to the house church network and its ministries as "153 House Churches Network" for the purpose of making it easier to share their faith with other people.

14 house churches have been united by God to partner together as something referred at this website for the purpose of clarity as the 153 House Churches Network, and are - as of January 2006 - the 14 churches that serve as "hubs" for other house churches, Internet ministries, and creative ministries.

Through these, believers at 153 HCN partner with still other believers to reach out throughout the United States and in Mexico, Central America, the former Soviet Union, Africa, and the Pacific Islands.

153 House Churches Network also has close, working “sister church” relationships with a number of other ministries and house church networks in Ohio, California, Arizona, to name a few. There is a great deal of exchange between 153 House Churches Network churches and these ministries, including:

· The mutual lifting of prayer requests
· The meeting of practical needs amongst ourselves through sharing what we have with others
· The sharing of Bible teaching and prophetic words via mail, phone communication and e-mail
· The traveling of church members from church to church to minister to one another