Become a Member.
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Church Membership
Local church membership does not bring salvation to anyone. Everyone who accepts Christ and becomes a Christian automatically becomes part of The Church, which is often referred to in the Bible as the “Body of Christ.” This worldwide fellowship of believers is represented locally by individual congregations. The Bible repeatedly compels believers to become fully devoted to a specific LOCAL CONGREGATION (Acts 2:42, Romans 12:4-8).
Why is Local Church Membership Important?
Becoming a member of a local church is an intentional step that helps to move an individual into a place of committed participation.
Church members publicly voice their support and take on the privilege and responsibility of:
• Praying for the ministry, outreach and growth of the church.
• Protecting the unity of the church
(Eph. 4:11-13).
• Sharing in the ministry of the church through the use of talents and spiritual gifts in the life of the congregation (1Pet. 4:10)
• Being accountable to other believers (Eph. 5:21), which is an important part of spiritual growth (Gal. 6:1-2, Heb. 10:4-25).
• Being under the spiritual protection of Godly leaders (Heb. 13-17, Acts 20:28-29)
• Supporting the ministry of the church financially (1 Cor. 16:3).
• Having a voice at church business meetings where decisions are made that affect the future of the local congregation and its ministries.
Membership Brings With it a Sense of Ownership and Accountability
Ownership: Presents the challenge to not merely be a spectator by to publicly affirm that this local body can count on us to help fulfill the ministry that God has called this church to.
Accountability: The church offers spiritual safety and discipline to members that develop Christian character, principles and maturity.
Who May Become a Member of Snow Valley Christian Fellowship?
Membership is open to those individuals who have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and who are endeavoring to live by the principles of the bible.
Conditions of Membership are:
• Water Baptism
• Acceptance of the Statement of Fundamental Truths as outlined in the PAOC Local Church Constitution as the doctrinal position and practice of SVCF.
• Acceptance in the Local Church Constitution which states:
Persons desiring to become members of this church shall give credible profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. They shall give evidence of compliance with biblical standard of Christian practice and manifest spiritual growth by giving evidence of the fruit of the Spirit, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”
(Gal. 5:22,23).
They shall refrain from, “acts of the sinful nature: sexual immortality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissenting, factions and envy, drunkenness, orgies and the like” (Gal. 5: 22, 23)
Sexual immortality shall be interpreted to mean common-law marital relationship, pre-marital and extra-marital relationships (1Cor. 6:15-18, 7:1,2; 1Thess. 4:3-8; Heb. 13:4).
Homosexual activity, along with other practices deemed inexcusable for Christian conduct, and which place a person under God’s judgment (Rom. 1:26-2:11)
• acceptance of the procedures outlines in the “Local Church Constitution” for the carrying on the affairs of SVCF.
• A willingness to renounce all sin and evil habits with the help of the Lord.
• Support the church regularly with finances, time and talents.
• Regular attendance for six consecutive months prior to application.
• Approving vote of the church board.
As an active member of SVCF, you will share personally in the joys of seeing the Kingdom of God penetrate the community and region through this body. Maintaining a position of connectedness and contribution is key to seeing God’s will done in the local church, you as an individual and in our community.