Welcome
Are You New Here?
Welcome to the dynamic community of The House of the Lord. We are people, and sometimes we don’t smell good. We aspire to be dispensers of the love of God, but we are real people who often fall short of our aspirations.
We are a community that seeks to love you where you are and walk with you as you become who God wants you to be. We don’t want to try to fix you—we want to walk with you, while God is walking with all of us in vivid relationship and fellowship.
We’re walking towards what God wants us to be, not towards some performance-based goal.
Loving, Inspiring and Hospitable
What do we mean when we say Loving, Inspiring and Hospitable? This is how we are called to live out the reality that relationships are everything. Relationships are everything is the foundation we are building upon by being a church that is loving, inspiring and hospitable.
Our Worship
From a biblical and Hebrew perspective, we are not thinking things or believing things, but imaginative, desiring animals who are defined fundamentally by love.
The first and most important commandment of the Old Testament and a profound principle of the New Testament is that “You shall Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.”
We are loving animals who worship what we love!
This worship is captured in the rituals, liturgies, or habits that point toward what we love. These habits are formed unconsciously through socialization and consciously through choices.
We invite you to participate with us in forming conscious worship habits, i.e. gathering together, praising God, studying and living the Bible, giving, embracing, struggling, etc.
These acts will point us and form us, consciously and unconsciously, in the direction of experiencing and loving God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and each other.
Bishop Joey Johnson
Bishop Joey Johnson has pastored The House of the Lord from its establishment over 50 years ago. He has had several seasons of leadership, but in this current season, he has moved from being a hero of organizations to a host of conversations.
This has led Bishop Joey to a growing list of community conversations, initiatives, and endeavors for the purpose of speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves and facilitating justice for those who are being crushed.
You can learn more about his work by consulting his webpage: http://www.bishopjohnsonministries.com
Pastor Daren
Daren Brake is the Lead Pastor at The House of the Lord in Akron, Ohio, under the leadership of Founder and Preaching Pastor Bishop Joey Johnson. He is the pastor of Local Missions, Christian Education, Comfort Care, Prison/Reentry, and the Minister and Deacons ministries. As Lead Pastor, Daren is also responsible for preaching and teaching God’s word when needed. He also serves on the board of various local organizations, is Vice President of the Beth-El Fellowship of Visionary Churches, is a board member for CORE, and is a board member for Love Akron.
Daren graduated from Malone University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Management. He is an avid reader, consuming around 20 books annually on Biblical Theology, Biblical Studies, and related topics. Daren loves God’s people and God’s word, and loves to preach that word. Daren’s wife of 13 years, Alaina, is also actively involved at The House of the Lord, and he has three sons, Donovan, Brayden, and Brandon.
Where Do We Take Our Kids?
The House of the Lord is a Family-Oriented and Kid-Friendly Church. We encourage parents to bring their children to church with them so that they can receive a strong Christian foundation that will carry them throughout their lives.
Children are welcome and encouraged to attend worship service with their families so they are familiar with the corporate worship experience. We also provide ministry to our children through our Nursery and Children’s Neighborhood, our Christian education component for children 6 weeks of age through 4th grade. The 4:12 Youth Ministry is available for students in 5th grade through high school.
Nursery
Our Nursery is available for children 8 weeks to 35 months (under 3 years old) and is open during the 10:30 a.m. service and special events. This is not a babysitting service, as we desire even the smallest children to know how much God loves them. The nursery provides a safe and positive setting through an appropriate teacher-to-child ratio and age-appropriate toys and activities. Children can enter from 10:15 to 10:45 a.m.
Children's Neighborhood
Every 2nd Sunday in the Fellowship Center. For more information, please email: [email protected]
The Children’s Neighborhood provides exciting, engaging and interactive activities for children 3 years old through 4th grade. Children’s Neighborhood uses lessons, music and crafts to help kids develop a strong biblical foundation. That helps to discover God’s love and grow in their faith and relationship with the Lord.
Adult Division
The Adult Neighborhood offers a variety of classes for men, women, couples and seniors. Men can take part in Show Them the Father, Tuesday evening Bible Study and weekday morning prayer. Women can gather for Creative Women Designed by God. Couples can find connection with This is Us. For Seniors there’s Stewards of Wisdom. Some classes are virtual, others in person, and some are a combination of both.
4:12 Youth Ministry
4:12 Meets every 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th Sunday in the Youth Center and is 5th - 12th grade. For more information, please contact Minister Alexandra Thomas at [email protected]
The Youth Ministry is our Junior and Senior High Ministry. Here the youth are encouraged to develop their Spiritual Gifts, share their faith, and bring their friends as they learn how to walk out their faith in genuine and authentic Christian love.
This age group often turns their faith into action by helping other ministries and outside organizations.
Connect with us! We want to know you’re new.