A little closer to community

Why Buddy Rathmell started House Churches Near Me.

House Churches Near Me exists to help more people get into a house church. I’m Buddy Rathmell, the person responsible for this directory. I wanted a place where people could find a nearby gathering without needing to know which network to ask first. I also wanted hosts to be able to welcome people without putting their home address on a public map.

A place to begin a conversation

This is a directory of Christian house churches, forming groups, online gatherings, and network contacts in the United States. It is a starting point for a conversation with a host. It is not a church itself, and being included here is not an endorsement of a group’s teaching, leadership, or safety. Groups describe their own life and beliefs. Visitors should ask questions and decide what fits their needs.

The first entries come from public directories and network pages. Some are old, and many have not been confirmed by the people who lead them. Each entry shows its confirmation status. When a host claims an entry, they can correct the information and remove the group if it is no longer meeting. New hosts can add a group and confirm their email to make it live.

Private homes stay private

We show a city or general area, and move map points away from the source location. We do not publish street addresses or phone numbers. Hosts decide when to share meeting instructions. Contact emails are never shown on a group’s page. Notes reach a host only through the private “I’d like to visit” relay. The visit form offers another way to make contact.

Keeping this useful

There are no paid placements, ratings, or rankings. A free entry does not require signing a statement of faith. Hosts and visitors agree to community guidelines about honesty, consent, and respectful communication. I handle reports personally and can hide or remove entries. If something needs correcting, please use the report button or contact page. A small correction can save someone a wasted journey and help a host receive the right questions.