Any person who accepts and publicly confesses Jesus Christ as personal Savior and Lord is eligible for membership.  To join First Baptist Church in membership, the following steps must be followed:

Step 1
The candidate must read, understand, and accept as true the Statement of Faith as set out below.  Any candidate holding a view that the Statement of Faith should be amended in some way must disclose and explain that belief to the Elder Board prior to becoming a member. 

Statement of Faith

 

We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament are given by inspiration of God and are our infallible rule of faith and practice.

 

We believe in one God, eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

 

We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, was born of the Virgin Mary, and is the Son of God.

 

We believe that all mankind is, by nature, sinful and in need of Jesus Christ as Savior.

 

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins and that all who believe in Him are saved by grace through faith in Him.

 

We believe that all who receive by faith the Lord Jesus are born again of the Holy Spirit and thereby become children of God.

 

We believe in the resurrection of the crucified body of our Lord, in His ascension to heaven, and in His personal return for His church.

Step 2
The candidate must meet with the Elder Board and advise the Board that they have indeed accepted Jesus Christ as their only savior and that they believe and will abide by Step 1 above.  First Baptist Church practices water baptism by immersion as well as open communion.  The candidate will advise the Board at this time of their baptism experience or desire for baptism.  The Elder Board will vote whether or not to recommend to the congregation any candidate for membership.

Step 3
Following a Sunday morning service the candidate will be asked to the front of the auditorium by the pastor, who will advise the membership of the recommendation of the Elder Board and ask for a voice vote.  Membership acceptance will be by a majority vote of the congregation. 

Step 4
Members of First Baptist Church are expected to work together to fulfill the Great Commission and the Church Covenant: 

Church Covenant

Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now in the presence of God and this assembly, mostly solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.

We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love, to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness, and comfort, to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines, to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel throughout all nations.

We also engage to maintain as far as possible family and secret devotion; to teach our children the Christian truths; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, exemplary in our deportment, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.

We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offense but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay.

We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of the covenant and principles of God’s Word.

Download the Application for Membership here: