LICENSING REQUIREMENTS & PROCEDURES

It must be understood that True Hope Churches & Ministries does not act as a "credential mill".  We are not in the business to freely give out ministry credentials to anyone who applies.  While we strongly hold to the structure of Ephesians 4 and believe that all saints are called into one specific area of ministry, and that within each area of ministry there are to be leaders who are to raise up others to do the work of that area of ministry ... we must be satisfied that an applicant is truly walking worthy of God's calling and is at a level of spiritual maturity that provides the safety of both the applicant and saints who will be under his/her leadership.

• 1 Timothy 3:1-7

This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop (leader/overseer), he desires a good work.
A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence
(for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);
not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

The basic requirements for becoming a licensed True Hope Minister are:

• The applicant is born again having received Christ Jesus as Lord.
• The applicant's life is conducted on the foundation and according to the standards of the Gospel of Christ and Biblical Scripture.
• The applicant lives according to the Holy Spirit and not according to the flesh.
• The applicant is growing in an intimate fellowship with God as his/her Abba.
• The applicant is growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

• If married, the applicant's marriage is spiritually and morally sound and in proper Biblical order; the applicant's family lives a Biblically correct life.
• If married, the applicant's spouse is also a born again saint, has reached a level of spiritual maturity that he/she can be in agreement with and support the role of the applicant as a Minister of Christ Jesus.
• If married, the applicant's spouse is, in fact, in agreement with the applicant being in the ministry and is prepared to make such sacrifices necessary to follow God in the ministry He has called the applicant into.
• IF NOT MARRIED*, the applicant is living a morally correct life as defined by Scripture; is living celibate; is not seeking a spouse (as in not shopping around or hunting for a spouse); and is committed to seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and the ministry of Christ is first and foremost above and before any other pursuit.  
• • If divorced - - the above certainly applies and the matter of your divorce will be considered on an individual basis and is kept strictly confidential to the True Hope examining minister(s). 

• All applicants must be in general agreement with the Articles of Association, By Laws and Ministry Guidelines of True Hope Churches & Ministries.
• All applicants must be in full agreement with the Statements of Faith, Statement of Ethics for both ministers and churches.
• All applicants must understand, agree with and will enact the True Hope Keys to Membership in any congregation which they may organize or establish.
• All applicants agree to maintain the priorities of compassion, mercy, forgiveness and reconciliation/restoration towards all saints of God of whatever denomination or tradition so as to fulfill the command of Christ to have love towards one another.  This is not to say that we will embrace non-Biblical "church groups" but will at all times embrace those individuals who are born again saints in Christ Jesus.
• All applicants agree to maintain the standards of Godliness and Biblical correctness in their associations, friendships and social relationships outside the Body of Christ.
• All applicants agree to be pure from carnal pleasures and morally compromising activities which may be otherwise socially acceptable or politically correct but are Biblically condemned.
• All applicants agree to hold themselves accountable and answerable for their conduct and lifestyle and at any time that they are unable to comply with the Biblical standards for exemplary Christian living and/or Biblically correct ministry, they will either seek spiritual assistance and/or counseling from a True Hope authorized minister/ministry or will voluntarily remove themselves from active ministry until such time as they are spiritually/morally restored.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

During the term of licensing, the True Hope Minister will be required to complete a minimum of an Associates Degree from True Hope Bible Institute at the prescribed tuition. 

• If the applicant has an earned degree in Bible/Ministry studies, this requirement may be waived or credits may be applied towards the Associates degree program.  However, a secular or liberal arts degree will not be recognized as meeting this requirement.

Licensed Ministers who enroll for an Associates Degree will be provided a complete Bible Explorer Study Library at no additional charge (which is normally reserved for Bachelor and Master study programs).

The Licensed Minister must complete this course of study with a grade for passing of 70% minimum on every course exam.

Other study assignments will be prescribed during the term of licensing and must be completed in a timely manner if the minister expects to be ordained or to continue as a licensed minister with True Hope Churches & Ministries.

The total cost for a True Hope Bible Institute Associates Degree is $315.00 which includes registration, tuition and all course materials plus the bonus of the full version Bible Explorer Library.

• To learn more about True Hope Bible Institute - - click here
• Payment plans are available for Licensing Applicants.
• To register click here.

LICENSING EXAMINATIONS

Examinations are given to determine the applicant's level of Biblical understanding, his/her perspective on life (worldview), his/her grace perspectives (aka motivational gifts) and understanding of his/her area of ministry calling ... what it is that God calls him/her, and his/her general knowledge of ministry issues.

Exams are given for two purposes:  1)  To confirm to YOU the knowledge and understanding that you already possess and the knowledge and understanding you need to acquire; 2)  To provide US with insight as to what areas of study we may need to focus on in order to assist you in your spiritual and ministry development.

When an exam is assigned, you will be expected to complete said exam in the time frame assigned and must be available to discuss the results of your exam with Dr. Timothy Hoflund and/or other ministers who are invovled with your development as a minister.

NOTE:  With the exception of the worldview exam, exams are not used to qualify/disqualify an applicant from the licensing/ordination process. 

• The worldview exam is assigned first in order to determine if the applicant has a worldview compatible with being a minister of Christ ... if the applicant scores lower than a Biblical worldview thinker, he or she is not spiritually developed enough to be a licensed minister. 
• Should this be the case, he or she will be offered the opportunity to be a Ministry Apprentice which involves a great deal of basic Biblical discipleship and Bible studies.

REGULAR DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCES

The licensed minister must commit to regular development conferences via the internet or teleconference services.

These will be determined upon acceptance and at the start of the licensed minister's affiliation with True Hope.

These conferences are at least one hour in length and are simply to cover the licensed minister's studies, Q&A, prayer and to address any concerns or issues that arise in the experience of the new True Hope minister.

These conferences are especially important for the minister who is starting a True Hope congregation of any kind, house church, temple church, etc.

STEWARDSHIP REQUIREMENTS

All True Hope ministers hold credentials for life as long as they remain in good standing on spiritual and moral grounds.

With the exception of the initial costs of becoming a True Hope Minister, the financial obligations are simple:

There are no annual fees.
There are no monthly dues.
There are no renewal charges.
There are no "fee schedules" - except fixed educational costs.

Stewardship is required on this basis:  The minister is expected to be faithful in his/her tithe to the ministry. 

• If the minister places his/her tithe in their local congregation, that is fine.  In such cases the True Hope minister is expected to make a financial commitment to the True Hope Ministries and be faithful to that commitment.
• Some ministers place their whole tithe with us.
• Other ministers pledge and are faithful to an amount that is entirely up to them.
  
  We only ask that the amount pledged be realistic for all concerned.  Don't give us a monthly "gratuity" but don't pledge something that will place you in a financial bind every month!  Be real!

Our main concern is that True Hope Ministers exemplify faithful stewardship to their followers.

Dr. Timothy Hoflund (True Hope Founder) personally tithes into the ministry and True Hope Ministries exercises stewardship by being faithful in our financial obligations -- part of which is to be financially faithful to the Epic Ministers Alliance which is our spiritual covering and storehouse.

READY?  GET STARTED TODAY!

If you are ready to begin your ministry walk with and offering the world True Hope ... then contact Dr. Timothy Hoflund to arrange an interview or simply register here!