Ministers' Credentials

Second to one's experience of being born again into salvation by Christ Jesus, a person's agreement with God calling him/her to be a gift-specific Minister of Christ is the most important election in one's lifetime.

Because of this, True Hope Churches & Ministries takes very seriously the matter of granting credential recognizing Divine Ordination into The Ministry of The Gospel. It is because of this that we do much more than print a certificate with your name on it ... we actually want you to make full proof of your ministry!

We want to know that you are indeed Ordained of God and are not seeking some false benefit or advantage for yourself! At the same time, we know that in many traditional churches, there are false restrictions and requirements placed on a candidate for ordination and many truly ordained ministers of Christ are frustrated in their election of ministry!

Not that one elects him or herself into a position of ministry, but that he or she elects to comply with what God calls that person in ministry! We are told to make our calling and election sure which in reality means this, we are to make sure of what God calls us and subsequently that we make certain that we elect to comply with that calling! This holds true first in salvation and second in ministry!

True Hope Churches & Ministries holds the strong conviction that each of God's children are to be engaged in one of the five areas of ministry, and that each of the five areas of ministry are to be led by those which God has ordained to hold a higher degree of responsibility and accountability ... to both God and His people!

We humans do not ordain men and women of God into the Ministry of Christ, only God can do that! We can only be faithful to recognize those whom God has Divinely Ordained into His Ministry and support that recognition by validating that Divine Ordination in the eyes of men!

With that in mind, True Hope Churches & Ministries offer 3 levels of Minister Credentials to those men/women who meet the Biblical qualifications.

Each applicant must affirm that they agree with and will abide by:

• True Hope Churches & Ministries Statements of Faith
• True Hope Churches & Ministries Code of Ethics for Ministers
• True Hope Churches & Ministries Code of Ethics for Churches/Ministries

PLEASE READ THE ABOVE ITEMS PRIOR TO REGISTRATION, THANK YOU

Register Here For Minister's Credentials

Ministry Apprentice - (aka Christian Worker Certificate) For the person who is just beginning in Christian Ministry this level is designed to acknowledge the person's call into ministry and to validate his/her presence in ministry situations under the direction and supervision of an Ordained Minister.

NOTE: A Ministry Apprentice will be required to study prescribed study materials and courses of Bible training and complete and submit periodic exams on this material. There are costs involved in these materials but are designed to work within most budgets of those who are serious about this endeavor.
Once this prescribed course of studies are completed, you may apply for Licensed Minister.

Licensed Minister - This person has completed the basic studies in the Ministry Apprenticeship and by recommendation of the Mentoring Minister is ready to advance to a more independent performance of ministry. This person is authorized to conduct the sacraments of the Church and to preach and teach Gospel messages without the presence of a supervising Ordained Minister but not totally independent of ministerial oversight.

The minister with a License to Preach will have the authority to perform marriages and funerals with the preparations for these services being made under the supervision of a Senior Minister.

• A Licensed Minister will be required to complete a further series of studies and materials with examinations due throughout the course.
  These studies are intended to help the Minister develop a Biblical World View, learn and apply Biblical Doctrine, learning to live a Biblically Confirmed Life thereby developing an effective Life Message; you will determine and develop as the Ministry Gift which God has designed you to be (Ephesians 4) and how to effectively function in that calling in cooperation with the other ministry gifts to the church.
• Licensed Ministers are expected to work under the supervision of an Ordained Minister wherever possible.
  Ministry Development Education will involve costs that are affordable to the budget of a person serious about his or her advancement in the Ministry.
  Upon conclusion of the study courses, you may apply for Ordination Credentials.
  Click Here for more information on Bible College courses and degrees for the ministry.

• Ordained Minister - This person's life displays the conduct resulting from a Biblical World View and exhibits the faith in Christ as Lord in an manner that others can readily identify.  This person meets the Biblical qualifications and has satisfied all the prescribed studies* as evidenced by written examination and is recognized as having been called by God as a minister of the Gospel.
  
  Ordained Ministers are fully authorized to perform all the duties of Christian Ministry which include to ...

• Perform all sacraments and rites of the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ independent of any direct supervision;
• Perform ceremonies of marriage according to Biblical standards and to be recognized as legal marriages when so performed;
• Perform ceremonies of burial according to Biblical standards;
• Establish, expand and lead congregations of like Christian faith;
• Recognize, raise up and recommend members of the Body of Christ, especially those from within their congregations, those men and women whom God has called and ordained into His ministry.

The Ordained Minister has the authority to grant ordination credentials to those whom he has personally mentored into the ministry.

Ordination Credentials are granted only to those whose lives are verifiably spiritually mature, who exemplify Biblical standards of living in all areas of life. 

Additionally, to receive Ordination Credentials from True Hope Churches & Ministries, one must either:

1. Already hold Ordination Credentials from a Biblically sound organization, are in currently good standing with this same organization and are asking for their existing credentials to be recognized by True Hope ...
   -OR-
2. Applicants who are willing to accept our License To Minister credentials for a period of at least one year, and faithful to complete any/all prescribed Bible studies, actively minister under the direct supervision/mentorship of an Ordained Minister (local to the applicant whenever possible) and that of True Hope Churches & Ministries.

We will only grant Ordination credentials to those who meet either of these two requirements.  This is the only means we have of "knowing those who labor ..." who are not local to us and we will not grant credentials to anyone whose references and qualifications are not verifiable.

*Notes = Ordained Ministers who are desiring to transfer their credentials to the covering authority of True Hope Churches & Ministries are not required to undergo further course of studies, but as part of their application, must complete a written exam that confirms their understanding of basic Christian Doctrine and Theology and that they share like-faith with us.

• For those who are advancing from the level of Licensed Minister, there will be no further studies required once the Ordination Examination is successfully completed and the only costs at this point will be the processing and handling fees to deliver credentials to the successful applicant.

To acquire an application for minister's credentials, please register with True Hope Churches & Ministries, upon successful registration you will be emailed a Credentials Application Package for the level of credentials you indicated on your registration.

During the application process, you will be personally interviewed by a True Hope Churches & Ministries Leader. This interview may be conducted by telephone or, for international applicants, by means of Internet or Skype LIVE CHAT. Personal contact is an important aspect of being affiliated with True Hope Churches & Ministries, not just during the application but throughout your tenure as a True Hope Minister!

You will be asked to supply at least two Ordained Ministers as personally known references. Please ask their permission for this and also ask permission for us to contact them personally in order to satisfy any questions we may have.

PLEASE NOTE AGAIN: Ordination Credentials will only be granted to persons who either:

• Ordained Ministers who are transferring their covering to True Hope Churches & Ministries
• Who presently have held a License to Minister with us for at least one year and can meet the Biblical qualifications for Ordination Credentials.

IF you do not meet either of these requirements ...
... Then you may apply for a License to Minister certificate which will be granted to those who can demonstrate God's call of Ministry and who meet Biblical requirements for ministry leadership and will comply with the requirements - including to satisfactorily complete any prescribed Ministry Study Courses while working with Ministry Leadership to develop in their calling.

Licensed Ministers who carry credentials from another Ministry Organization may transfer their Licensed Ministry Credentials to True Hope Ministries in like manner as Ordination Credentials, but will still be required to:  Complete the prescribed time period and courses of studies and pass an Ordination Examination demonstrating his/her applied understanding of Christian Scripture in order to apply for Ordination Credentials