Welcome to Belonging House

In 2006 our founder, Christ John Otto, was called to "raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus a throne in the earth."    

We do this by laying a solid foundation of big ideas for those who are called to create and shape culture.

Traditionally this idea was called discipleship. A disciple is someone who is a living copy of the master.

Jesus Christ is the perfect Icon of the Father, and our job as artists for the Kingdom is to become master copies of the Icon.

Our inner life determines our creative output. 

We believe in forming deep theological and biblical foundations as well as a dynamic charismatic spirituality.  To quote Jesus:  we want to know the scriptures and the power of God. 

Since the beginning we have been given the direction to "Listen to the Lord and do what He tells you."  

Imagine if there was a strong deep disciple of Jesus Christ . . .

on the board of every major arts organization

on the faculty of every arts, design, theatre, and music school

on the board of directors of every media and entertainment company

on the set of every film and theatrical production

making the decisions to greenlight every new music, film, video, or entertainment project.

Imagine a very different world than the one we live in today.

 
Jesus modeled for us a healthy way of having boundaries in his ministry.

There were the multitudes, the one hundred and twenty, the seventy-two, and the twelve.

And out of the twelve he chose three who would become his future leaders.

Belonging House is called to provide a place to belong for those who are called to our core mission:

Raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus a throne in the earth.

Following the example of Jesus, we will be adopting the following structure.

The Multitudes.

This is the outward face of our community, and these are largely men and women who enjoy our teaching, Christ John Otto's books, and our online presence.  They are not subscribers, and they may never become part of our community.

The One Hundred and Twenty.

This is our larger body of subscribers, both free and paid, on Substack, the Friday email and various media platforms.  This group resonates with our larger message: to raise up an army of artists who will build Jesus a throne in the earth.

There are no prerequisites to become a subscriber.  You do not have to be an artist, a baptized Christian, or align with our core beliefs.  We are grateful you take the time to read, and also support our work.

Our open prayer meetings and public events are open to any of our subscribers.

The Seventy Two:  Coming under the Belonging House Roof.

Those who are artists or creative people, and who align with our core mission, are invited to come "under" the Belonging House roof.   

This is for people who want to become disciples, little copies of Jesus the Master Copy of the Father.  We ask those who come under the Belonging House roof to make the following commitment:

I will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and love other people. 

I will surrender myself to the Holy Spirit, and depend on His supernatural help. 

I will attend to the Breaking of the Bread and Prayer. 

I will stay in relationship with others who are passionate about Jesus. 

I will saturate myself in all of the Bible and allow its story to transform my story. 

I will listen to the Lord, and do what He tells me. 

I will pursue excellence in my craft, and continually choose to grow and learn. 

I will go low, become a servant, and trust that God will raise me up. 

I will become more aware of Christ in me, the hope of glory. 

I will express a life of generosity. 

I will embrace my vocation as an artist, artisan or creative professional, no matter my medium, knowing that God wants to transform the kingdoms of this world into the Kingdom of our Lord through the arts and creativity. 

I will live a life of expectation knowing Christ will come again.

1. We also ask that you read the daily gospel every day and take time to listen to God.
2. Pray for Belonging House regularly.
3. Form or become part of a small group of artists.
4. Fast one day a week, we recommend the John Wesley Fast.
5. Support Belonging House financially.

In exchange for this commitment and support, Members of the Seventy-two will receive access to our closed Mighty Network Community, invitations to ministry only events, and support from our leadership and community.

Those who make the Belonging House commitment are welcome to attend any church or community they please.

The House of Artisans, the Twelve.

The real heart of Belonging House is our worshiping Eucharistic community, our church.

Although Belonging House is unaffiliated, we are not "independent."

Belonging House is an expression of English Christianity, whose roots are as deep as the first Christians in Britain.

We continue in the long history of Celtic Saints and Catholic faith and prayer in the Anglican tradition.  Belonging House emerged out of the charismatic renewal in the Catholic and Anglican churches, and we affirm the present functioning of the charismata in the church.  

We are also sensitive to the Jewish framework and community of the early church.

Membership in the House of Artisans is open to anyone who has received Christian Baptism, and who affirms the core faith of our community as expressed in the Nicene Creed.

We also affirm the seven Ecumenical Councils, the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and the Authority of Scripture in all areas of faith and life.

We expect every member of the House of Artisans to: 

• meet all the requirements of the Belonging House commitment,
• attend the Eucharist weekly and be present at the Easter Vigil and other principle feasts,
• be formed by the reading of Scripture in the Lectionary and prayer,
• express an ongoing commitment to transformation and Christian discipleship,
• offer themselves freely to help serve and maintain the community,
• and give ten per cent of their income to the community (tithe).

The House of Artisans will serve as the spiritual home for these members, and functions as the spiritual center of the Belonging House mission.

The Three

We believe the need for future leadership of the community is vital, and have plans to create a leadership track for those who feel a vocational call to lead Belonging House in the future.

We will begin the transition to this membership structure on March 5, 2025, and use Lent to prepare for the initiation of these membership tiers to take effect on April 20, 2025, Easter Sunday.

A big thank you to all who have supported Belonging House and all who continue to do so. 

May we build Jesus a throne in the earth.