Our History
In 1970 Wayman and Nelda Mitchell moved to Prescott to take over a small, struggling congregation. Shortly after arriving, God saved a number of young hippies who were very different than anyone in the church. But as they were welcomed, God began to pour out His Spirit on the congregation. As Pastor Mitchell sought to reach young people, they saw the possibilities of the “coffee-house” concert ministry. At the first concert they ever tried as an evangelistic tool, more than two hundred young people attended, with many saved. Out of this a regular concert ministry was birthed. Two nights a week, bands played, testimonies of salvation were given and the Gospel was preached, with many being saved each night.
“As Pastor Mitchell sought to reach young people, they saw the possibilities of the “coffee-house” concert ministry.”
From the beginning, Pastor Mitchell understood that concert ministry was to be a training ground of ministry development; It was run by young people who were committed to Jesus and His church. From the beginning, people who had been radically converted sought to share with others what God had done in them. Personal evangelism began to be one of the basic foundations of the church. Then came impact teams: Groups of people that would travel to other nearby cities to help people there experience what God was doing here. Over time, God began to reveal His plan of discipleship: Training young couples for ministry within a local church. In 1973 the first couple was launched directly into the ministry – and God blessed them! Churches then began to be planted throughout the Southwestern United States, and then further across America as converts prayed for the Gospel to be preached in their hometowns.
“ From the beginning, people who had been radically converted sought to share with others what God had done in them.”
In 1978 the first couple was planted into another nation – Australia; and we discovered the Gospel worked there, just like it did here. After that, churches were planted in Mexico, Holland and Germany then as we came to understand God’s global mission more and more, churches began to be planted throughout the world. To date, there are almost 3500 churches in 46 US states, and 130 nations of the world. Annual week-long people’s conferences are a feature of national leadership churches throughout the fellowship. The founding church in Prescott continues to have full biannual conferences in January and July of every year.
As of 2023 there are 60 recorded conference centres in the Potter’s House Christian Fellowship
Why is our history important?
We are unlike many other churches in that we have a specific focus, built from years of experience and the testing of time. The wisdom Pastor Mitchell has learned through those beginning years laid the foundation for the Potter's House Christian Fellowship . The result of his vision is now being lived in us; to go into the world and make disciples. This is why and how our church came to be, and we will continue to be faithful until the Lord returns.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...”
What We've Achieved
Through this vision, we have seen
CONVERSIONS : radical sinners converted and made new
DISCIPLESHIP : men and women trained in the local congregation to minister
CHURCH PLANTING : the sending of couples into hundreds of cities worldwide