What does it mean to be a Member?

The difference between "attenders" and "members" can be summed up in one word:  Commitment.

At Wills Valley Community Church we recognize the need for a formal membership.  We ask you to commit to membership for 4 reasons:

1. A Biblical Reason:  Christ is committed to the church.  " . . . Christ also loved the church; and gave Himself for it."  Ephesians 5:25
2. A Cultural Reason:  It is an antidote to our society.  We live in an age where very few want to be committed to anything . . . a job . . . a marriage . . . our country.  This attitude has even produced a generation of "church shoppers & hoppers".  Membership swims against the current of America's "consumer religion".  It is an unselfish decision.  Commitment always builds character.
3. A Practical Reason:  It defines who can be counted on.  Every team must have a roster.  Every school must have an enrollment.  Every business has a payroll.  Every army has an enlistment.  Even our country takes a census and requires voter registration.  Membership identifies our family.
4. A Personal Reason:  It produces spiritual growth.  The New Testament places a major emphasis on the need for Christians to be accountable to each other for spiritual growth.  You cannot be accountable when you are not committed to any specific family.

What is expected of me as a member?

At Wills Valley Community Church we never ask our members to do more than the Bible clearly teaches.  We only expect our members to do what the Bible expects every Christian to do.  These responsibilities are spelled our in the Membership Covenant.

The Wills Valley Membership Covenant

1.  I will protect the unity of my church.

• By acting in love toward other members

• By refusing to gossip

• By following the leaders

"Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded one toward another according to Jesus Christ."  Romans 15:5

"Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart."  I Peter 1:22

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying..."  Ephesians 4:29

"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch over your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you." Hebrews 13:17

2.  I will share the responsibility of my church

• By praying for its growth

• By inviting the un-churched to attend

• By warmly welcoming those who visit

"We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers."  1 Thessalonians 1:2

"And the Lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled."  Luke 14:23

"So receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God." Romans 15:7

3.  I will serve the ministry of my church

• By discovering my gifts and talents

• By being equipped to serve by my pastors

• By developing a servant's heart

"As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." I Peter 4:10

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:" Ephesians 4:11-12

"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:" Philippians 2:3-4,7

4.  I will support the testimony of my church

• By attending faithfully

• By living a godly life

• By giving regularly

"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."  Hebrews 10:25

"Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ..." Philippians 1:27

"Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God has prospered him,..." I Corinthians 16:2

"And all the tithe of the land, or whether of the seed of the land, or the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's: it is holy unto the Lord."  Leviticus 27:30

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This site last updated:02/19/2008