How to Start a Christian Frat House

Dear reader, 

I don’t know if I have ever mentioned my old living situation, but that’s what this letter is about. So if you don’t want to hear the wild adventures of multiple young adult males you might want to pass on this one. 

Back in 2020 I met a fellow. His name was Jacob Orr, and he had a fire to do things right even if the others around him didn’t follow him. He was gonna press on no matter what. 

We got to talking during a bible study one night.

(DISCLAIMER) I don’t remember the exact words shared in the conversation, so this is as close as we can get for now.

 “So what do you want to do with your life Jacob?”

“I don’t know, buy houses for people, help people with their walks with God. Something along those lines.” 

“Why don’t you put the two together?” 

“Huh? How?” 

“Kinda like a Christian frat house.”

“Dude, that’s a great idea.”

Then I left for a missionary that would have taken me outside the USA for about 11 months. We decided to help each other create this house once I returned, Jacob didn’t want to do it alone, and I didn’t know anything about owning a house. 

Well, January 2021 I was kicked off the trip due to not being fit for fieldwork as they told me, so I bumped into Jacob again a lot sooner than I ever anticipated. 

“You’re back already?”

“Yep. My plan did not go the way I thought it would.” 

“I’m not ready to buy a house yet.”

“That’s okay, I’ll help my little brother for a while then jump on board when you’re ready.”

So my brother and I moved into a rental house. 

It was quite a fantastic set up. Big TV, multiple bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and we had one rule.

The door was always unlocked and open for anyone who needed to come in. 

You might be surprised but we had many people pass through that little house.

Many people who needed a place to sleep, cry, share frustrations, eat a bowl of cereal, play a game, or debate deep theological ideas. 

It was a fantastic season. I grew a lot, I also learned how hard it is to sacrifice time to those who need it. 

Naturally I’m very introverted, I thrive and am recharged when I’m alone. But in that house I was rarely alone. And that was to prepare me for The Big House…

In the late Summer of 2021 (If I’m remembering correctly, I sadly have an atrocious memory.) Jacob had found a large foreclosed home, to say it was a fixer upper would be a grand understatement. 

Squatters were there before we were, so some areas needed to be cleaned a good couple times before anyone even entered the house besides Jacob. 

He began to do fix up each room one by one, and as soon as he did someone needing a place to stay would occupy each room. 

It was kinda fantastic at the start. We had a lot of momentum, and desire to live in community with Godly principles and guidelines. 

We had young guys come and go. We had hard conversations and hurt friendships. We had trust broken and grace given. 

But Jacob and I quickly realized that the house needed hard rules, and leadership in order to have discipleship to be at the center of all we do. 

We would lacklusterly write up rules and guidelines, but never follow them. 

We’d get mad at the state of the house and it’s members, but then we’d realize we set the example for all of the guys in the house. 

It took us until this week to actually plan out how that would take effect in the house. 

Jacob told me I should buy the house, but realistically that wasn’t going to happen in my timeframe or Jacob’s, so he said he would still own the house but pass of the leadership to Myself and My Dad as he also lives there as well. 

I am glad to say there is a shift coming. 

A focus on discipleship and loving God first above all else. 

But also grace in a world that is so unwilling to offer it. 

But that’s the story so far. 

I’m sure it will change, and there are many stories untold from that house even now. Whenever God brings them to my mind I’ll be sure to capture them. 

Sincerely Your Fellow Christian Frat Boy,

-Mitchell