recentchristian

Coming into the church pretty much cold, I had no clue that you could become a member of a church.

At the first church I went to for almost a year after my conversion, I kept checking off the “I’m interested in becoming a member” and the “interested in baptism” (I did get baptized at that church) boxes on the handout.  I didn’t think through what membership entailed or meant.  I’m thankful now that they were slow to take action.  I’m also thankful that when the Pastor there did ask me, I had done a bit of reading and told him that I wanted to check out another church before making any kind of a commitment.

I did check out another church and found Pastor John.  Pastor John’s sermons are like extremely nourishing 6-course meals.  The church I had been going to was just serving appetizers.  The sermons at the other church left me craving and yearning for more, they also left me incredibly disappointed.

This church (Pastor John’s) seems to be run the way a church should be run.

Pastor John holds the members accountable.  Sure, it may seem a bit “over the top” to some (I loved the idea from the get-go, believing that it is outward evidence of soul care).  I told a friend from the church I used to go to (about members being held accountable) and she said that “it might help some people” … and “personally I would find it too invasive, and would be worried about it becoming judgmental and legalistic.”  I assured her that it isn’t the case at all.

Pastor John asks (from the heart) where we’ve seen God’s grace at work to enable us to overcome sins and he also asks which sins we struggle with.  He also shares which sins he struggles with.  We pray for each other.

I believe that Pastor John truly cares for the souls of each church member.  There’s no way he can do soul-care if he doesn’t know which sins members are struggling with.

I haven’t (yet) seen any hypocrisy in this church and don’t believe that I will.  If it enters, I’m sure that Pastor John will be quick to deal with it.  He cares that much.

I talked with Pastor John about membership just a few days ago (on February 5, 2015) … I want to belong to a church that truly cares about my soul and will hold me accountable.  Belonging to a church with a pastor who cares about each member enough to talk with them if he sees that they have taken a side-road leading away from God is important to me.

I’m writing my membership testimonial now and it will go into circulation to other church members.  As long as there are no concerns raised by other members, I will become a member of a church for the first time in my life!   This is an exciting time for sure.  I’ve experienced a torrential grace-storm just being able to hear Pastor John’s sermons … to be considered for membership at this church is beyond words.