House of Charis

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Contents 1 House of Charis 1.1 House Leadership 1.2 Monday Nights 1.3 Small Groups 1.4 Real Life Ministries 1.5 Meals 1.6 Chores 1.7 Rent 1.8 Contact Information

House of Charis

The House of Charis was established in 2003 by Real Life Ministries, which is the college ministry of Calvary Chapel of Corvallis, to provide living accommodations to collegiate Christian women. It is located at 350 Northwest 23rd, which is only a five minute walk from the Oregon State University campus. The purpose of the House of Charis is to help young women grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ and learn to honor God in all they do. Currently, there are a total of fifty women living in the House.

There are four basic requirements which must be met if one wishes to apply to live in the House of Charis:

• One must be a female between the age of 18-24;
• One must know Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, and be seeking to grow in her walk with Him;
• One must be involved with an Evangelical Christian Campus Ministry and attending an Evangelical Christian Church; and
• One must be in full agreement with the House commitment which also encompasses the House Policy Booklet.

House Leadership

The House leadership is composed of several positions, including: House Manager, Treasurer, Chore Manager, Social, Historian, Kitchen Steward, and Discipleship Leader. The Discipleship Leaders include the Worship Leader, Small Group Leaders, and Small Group Co-Leaders. All of these positions are filled by women living in the House and are chosen by the leadership, specifically the House Manager, from the previous year.

Monday Nights

The House has a mandatory Monday night meeting every week. Unlike most sororities, Monday meetings at the House of Charis are not formal. The following is a schedule of the typical meeting:

• 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Dinner and details
• 6:30-7:00 p.m. – Worship and prayer
• 7:00-8:00 p.m. – Small Groups

Small Groups

Small groups meet for about one hour every Monday night. This time is designated for prayer, studying the Bible, and fellowship. Typically, each group has a leader, a co-leader, and three or four additional girls from the House. In addition, girls from outside of the House are welcome to join a group. The purpose of small groups is to create a longing in the women to know Jesus Christ more intimately.

Real Life Ministries

The House of Charis is owned and operated by Real Life Ministries. Therefore, the women of Charis are strongly encouraged to be involved with this group. Real Life focuses on in-depth teaching, worship, and fellowship with other believers. In this ministry, there are numerous opportunities to serve, which include: leading small groups, being part of a worship team, prayer, and organizing events. A strong emphasis is also placed on reaching out to the Oregon State University campus and the surrounding community. Real Life meets every Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m. during the school year at MU East on the OSU campus. Real Life also plans various events, such as Fall Retreat at Sunriver, Winter Formal, and “Diet Shasta” in the Spring.

Meals

Breakfast foods, such as cereal, toast, granola bars, yogurt, etc., are provided every day. Lunches are prepared and served by the cook Monday through Friday. Dinners are prepared and served Monday through Thursday. The residents must provide food for themselves on the weekends. Lunch is served between 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Dinner is served between 5:30 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.

Chores

Each resident is required to do three weekly chores. Typically, the girls end up with two kitchen chores – such as breakfast clean, lunch prep, lunch clean, dinner prep, or dinner clean - and one other chore - such as vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom, or mopping the dining room. Chores are chosen on a seniority basis at the beginning of each term. The girls are also responsible for doing “weekend duty” once per term. In addition, everyone is required to be at “term clean.” These are typically on Saturday mornings at the end of each term (usually week eight or nine according to Oregon State University’s academic calendar).

Rent

Rent to live in the House of Charis is $4,750 for a nine month contract. Move-in day is approximately one week before classes begin at Oregon State University. The contract ends one week after Oregon State University concludes its Spring term. Rent is typically paid in ten installments of $475. The first payment is due on Move-in day, and each payment thereafter is due on the fifth of each month (October – June). Rent can also be paid in three equal installments at the beginning of each term, or in one lump sum at the beginning of the year.

Contact Information

350 NW 23rd, Corvallis, Oregon 97330

Email: houseofcharis@gmail.com

The House of Charis Website is currently under construction. The best way to find out more information is through email.