Becoming a Member
Becoming a member of our church is about more than joining an organization. It is a step in becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ, a decision to follow him, not alone, but within a community of faith that will walk with you, grow with you, equip you, and, send you out to serve God in the world.
Before you take that step, we want you to know us. We want you to worship with us, ask questions, and spend time with our people. Membership is about belonging to a community, and we want you to be confident that this is the right community for you. If after spending time with us you find that we are not the church where you can best grow and serve, we genuinely mean it when we say: we pray you find the one where you can. What matters most is not that you join our church, but that you are part of a church; a community where you can grow in faith, be known, and discover your calling.
But if this is your community, we would love to make it official. And we would love to sit down with you first.
While it is not required, it is our custom for one of our pastors to meet with individuals or families before they become members. This is not an interview. It is a conversation. It is a chance for you to ask questions, and a chance for us to get to know you, pray with you, and hear a little of your story. If you would like that kind of visit before joining, we would consider it a privilege. Just let us know.
Membership begins with two simple but important questions:
Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ?Membership in the church begins with faith in Jesus. If you are still exploring that decision, we welcome you to keep exploring with us. We would be honored to walk with you on that journey.
Please see our page What Is Salvation? for more.
Have you been baptized?
Baptism is the sacramental beginning of the Christian life. If you have been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, in any Christian tradition, we recognize that baptism and will not ask you to be baptized again. If you have not yet been baptized, we would love to talk with you about taking that step.
Please see our page on Baptism for more.
We believe that children belong within the life of the church from the very beginning. Many of our children are baptized as infants and are nurtured in the faith as they grow.
When a child is ready to take ownership of their faith personally, we invite them to go through confirmation. Confirmation is a series of classes designed to walk a young person through the essentials of the Christian faith; what we believe, why we believe it, and what it means to follow Jesus. At the end of confirmation, they have the opportunity to affirm their faith in Jesus Christ and to personally embrace the gift of their baptism. If they have not yet been baptized, they receive baptism at this point as well.
Confirmation is typically done in the 5th or 6th grade. Once confirmed, a young person may become a full member of the church.
Our vision as a church is:
“Fostering a Bible-based, Spirit led
community, growing in faith and serving others until Christ returns.”
Membership is the commitment to pursue that vision together. It is not primarily about receiving benefits; it is about belonging, growing, and participating in God’s work in the world. We want to help every member find four things, which we describe more fully on our Discipleship Pathway page:
Community — Every Christian needs to be part of a Christian community. The church is not a vendor of religious services. It is a body, a living community of people who are learning together what it means to follow Jesus. You need a community, and this community needs you.
People — Within a larger congregation, every person needs a smaller circle of people who know them and walk with them. You cannot know everyone here, but you should know some of them, and they should know you. These are the people with whom you share life, strengthen one another in faith, and bear one another’s burdens.
Circle — Your circle is the world where God has placed you: the places where you live, work, and, play. God does not call us only to serve inside the church. He sends us out into the world with purpose and intention. Your neighborhood, your workplace, your family, these are mission fields.
Purpose — Every Christian is called by God to serve him in the world. Your purpose is the specific way God has gifted and called you to do that. One of the great joys of belonging to a community of faith is discovering that calling together and living it out.
When you are ready to become a member, you will be asked to take the following vow:
“Will you be loyal to this church and uphold it by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness?”
This vow is not about perfection, it is about direction. Here is what each commitment means:
Prayers. The church is a supernatural community. We are
counting on God to do something among us and through us that cannot happen unless he shows up. Your prayers are part of how that happens. Prayers are like an invitation to God. They open the door for the Holy Spirit to be present and active in our midst. We need you to pray for this church.
Presence. A community is only as good as we make it together. When you are not here, something is missing, not just a person in a seat, but you. Your presence shapes this community, and your absence is felt. We build this together.
Gifts. Everything we do, from leading worship, to teaching
vacation Bible school, to feeding hungry people, to reaching the world with the gospel, is only possible through the generosity of our people. Your financial giving is not an obligation. It is an act of faith and an investment in God’s work in this place and beyond.
Service. Our church is not built on a large paid staff. It is built on the hands and hearts of volunteers. This is by design. We believe every Christian has a calling, and we are not interested in creating an audience. We are creating a movement that has the potential to change the world. The work of this church gets done because our people show up and do it, and that work is part of our discipleship.
Witness. We are called to tell the world about Jesus. Together, we work to find creative, compelling, and winsome ways to do that, in our community and around the world. Your witness, the way you live and speak and love, is part of how this church reaches people who don’t yet know him.
If you are coming from another church or denomination, we are glad to receive you. With your permission, we will send a courtesy letter to your former church to coordinate the transfer of your membership.
We know that people come to us from many different backgrounds; Baptist, Catholic, Presbyterian, nondenominational, and many others. Whatever your background, the most important thing to know is this: if you have been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we recognize that baptism fully. You will not be asked to be re-baptized.
We are part of the Methodist tradition, and we hold certain convictions shaped by that heritage; especially our emphasis on grace, spiritual growth, and a life of holiness. We invite you to explore those distinctives as you consider membership. Please see our page on Methodist Distinctives for more.
Contact Us
Have questions about joining the Church? Contact us to start the conversation!