Becoming a Member
What binds us together is not common education, common race, common income levels, common politics, common nationality, common accents, common jobs, or anything else of that sort. Christians come together because they have all been loved by Jesus himself.
—D.A. Carson
Membership in the church is unlike membership in any other organization. Membership in most organizations is primarily about what you can receive; membership in Christ's Church is about committing to the mission of Jesus. Membership is publicly committing yourself to Jesus and to his people, the church. If you are ready to make this commitment (and have us make the same commitment to you), consider becoming an official member of First Presbyterian Church.
The first step to membership is to attend a New Members' Class, taught several times each year. Upon completion of this class, we ask each prospective member to come before the elders at any one of their regular monthly meetings to give a brief account of their faith in Jesus Christ and to assent to the following five membership questions:
- Do you acknowledge yourselves to be sinners in the sight of God, justly deserving His displeasure, and without hope save in His sovereign mercy?
- Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and Savior of sinners, and do you receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation as He is offered in the Gospel?
- Do you now resolve and promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes the followers of Christ?
- Do you promise to support the Church in its worship and work to the best of your ability?
- Do you submit yourselves to the government and discipline of the church, and promise to study its purity and peace?
If you have any questions about church membership or any of these vows, please contact one of the pastors at (228) 863-2664.