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Start A New TC House Church

Church planting has evolved into a complex, difficult, burdensome, and expensive process, reducing how and where new churches are being planted. WELCOME to our efficient, cost-effective, quick, and easy way to be trained, ordained, plant a transformational house church, and be fully supported to pastor it well.

Want to pastor your own house church? We want TC house churches throughout the world so we've made it easy to get started today!

Phase 1: Meet the Qualifications for TC house church Leadership

Who is going to lead (pastor) your house church? See our Governance page for:

  1. Our requirements for TC House Church Pastors (Overseers/ Elders) under “Distributed Leadership and Qualifications.”
  2. Our complementarian policy regarding women under “Gender Roles in Church and Ministry.”
  3. Our upfront and ongoing requirement commitments under “House Church Pastor Qualifications and Oversight.”

Do you, or the leader you have in mind, meet these qualifications? Are you passionate about transforming people into disciples of Jesus? Do you agree with our Beliefs, Values, and Governance? Do you understand and agree to abide by all of these terms? If so, great, you’re pre-approved! Continue to phase 2.

House Church Pastor Qualifications
Church Ministry Leader Graduate
Start here

Phase 2: Get the Pastoral Training and Ministry Qualifications

Few people need pastors that are pulpit-focused public speakers with advanced seminary degrees. But they DO need someone who is: 1) godly, 2) healthy, 3) knowledgeable in biblical theology and transformational discipleship, and 4) committed to be actively involved in their life to disciple them.

That’s great if you already have education or experience but to pastor a TC house church you still need these 2 qualifications:

  1. Certificate in House Church Pastorship. (This series of courses includes a solid foundation for faith and life, theology, biblical studies, discipleship, church leadership development and ministry training with a Pastoral Care concentration.)
  2. Transformation Church Pastor Ordination. (This is a Pastoral Care concentration elective you will take as part of the House Church Pastorship program. It’s a combination course, both educational preparation for house church pastorship, and assignments to become ordained as a pastor.)
  3. OPTIONAL – Certificate in Christian Discipleship. (Huge bonus if you also complete these courses. We recommend because we want you to encourage your future church members to work through these too. You can better guide them if you’ve completed it, or you can do it with them.)

START TODAY! Get started on any of the courses required towards these certificates today at the Empowered365 Network Ministry Academy. All training could be completed in as little as 6 weeks. All are 100% online, video lectures, with quiz-based testing. Start today and do at-your-own-pace and schedule! Buy to own everything, or complete it even more affordably as a level 3 member. Get coaching and additional support as a level 4 member. While you’re in phase 2 consider also getting experience and start building the pieces of your future church (phase 3).

Phase 3: (Optional/Recommended) Get Pastoral Experience

As you’re completing the training, begin laying the groundwork for your church by witnessing to the lost, forming relationships, and discipling others one-on-one and by putting together small group Bible studies and other types of discipleship groups.

Tell them you’re in school to be a pastor and plan on making that a house church with Transformation Church. This way, you’re building a flock to shepherd, that’s already beginning to think of you as their pastor, but they also know it’s not an “official” church yet, that you won’t have all the answers yet, and to give you grace because you’re still “in training.” It’s also good to get this practical experience, prayer, support, and encouragement during your ministry training phase.

Continue to seek the Lord for confirmation that He’s calling you to a Pastoral Care ministry focus, and of a TC house church, for at least the next season. If, while you’re learning, you feel Him calling you to a different ministry focus, or to pastor in a more traditional church setting, that’s ok too! All your education and experience will still benefit you no matter where He leads you! And we’re here to help empower you to have support and thrive wherever He calls you. To launch a TC house church continue to Phase 4.

Find a House Church
Apply to Start New House Church

Phase 4: Submit an Application to Launch a New TC house church

Once your training is complete (or almost is), you can begin the process to apply to launch a new TC house church as its official TC house church pastor. You will need to fill out a detailed application which outlines your personal and spiritual history and. This will be reviewed manually by our team. Get started now by clicking the “Apply Now” button.

Here are some items to have prepared:

  1. Transcript showing completion of the required training
  2. Copy of Driver’s License or other Government Identification (only if Christianity is legal in your country).
  3. Name and contact info of Christian reference you personally know and will be accountable to going forward.
  4. Meeting location of your church (will not be shown publicly)
  5. Initial member roster and their roles (if applicable)

Phase 5: Develop, Grow, and Multiply your TC house church

Once you’re approved, your TC house church will be soon added to our website directory where others can find and contact you. You’re free to create business cards or other promotional materials that make it easier to tell others about your house church and vision for your community. To remain in good standing you must continue to:

  1. Maintain regular accountability to the Christian reference that you provided.
  2. Maintain regular accountability to the TC Pastoral Coach that was assigned to you when you were approved and submit a monthly status update report.
  3. Maintain active Level 4 (Leader) membership in the Empowered365 Network. (This is mandatory but we do encourage you think of it as your tithe/offering to TC).
  4. Consistently attend Monthly Group Coaching with your TC Pastoral Coach, and other house church pastors, to discuss your personal life and how your church is doing.
  5. Encourage all your church’s members to be Level 3 (Disciple) members through your affiliate link as their primary way/tithe/offering to support you, your church, and us.
  6. Schedule Bible Counseling here (as needed) to prevent issues or at least catch them very early. (It’s your duty to stay spiritually healthy so you can pastor your people well!)
  7. GIVE above your membership (as you/your church are able). 
  8. Use the courses and other resources at Empowered365.Net to evangelize, make disciples, pastor your flock, and grow your church! We’re here to support you! Here’s ideas.
  9. Commit to continuing your education by taking additional courses at Empowered365.Net as you’re able.
  10. If/when you’re able, consider volunteering to help support Transformation Church and the Empowered365 Network.