PATH OF LIFE CHURCH MEMBERSHIP​

 

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The Benefits of Church Membership:  
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A committed person can expect to develop into a healthy, functioning, overcoming mature Christian.  There is opportunity for developing their gifts and their calling to be recognized, enlarged, encouraged, adjusted and covered.  

The church member is expected:
      1) To be faithful to this church’s  Statements of Faith;
      2) To know and follow the Bishop and Pastor of this church with love and with a non-critical and non-divisive spirit;   (I Thess. 1:6;  5:12-13)
      3) To consider it a privilege to be planted by the Lord in this portion of His body and to support the needs of the body with his time, talents and tithes and offering (Matthew 25:14-15;  Malachi 3:10).
       4) To desire to be a loyal, living part, identifying personally with the teachings, vision and purposes of this Church and to accept this body as his focus for fellowship, prayer, offerings, breaking of bread, teaching activities, with faithful attendance; (Acts 2:42, 47;  Titus 2:15;  Psalms 92:13).
       5) To strive to continue to grow in personal relationship with Jesus and obediently follow Him and glorify Him in relationships at home, church, work and all other areas of life, cultivating the fruits of the Spirit and actively pursuing the development of Christian character;
       6) To faithfully attend all services of the church and be involved in a Home Bible Study and prayer groups when available;
       7) To be faithful, available and teachable, striving to maintain the unity of the Spirit in this place by laying down their own lives and interests for the purpose of the Gospel;  (Galatians 6:1-2;  Ephesians 4:1-3;  Colossians 3:13;  I Thess. 4:9;  John 13:35;  Phil. 2:13).
       8) To commit their heart and will to the direction and protection of the Holy Spirit through their Bishop and Pastor honoring them as chosen by God to lead and cover them; Heb. 13:7; I Cor. 16:16; I Tim. 5:17.
       9) To commit to personally spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to others in a manner appropriate to their personal gifts and abilities;
     10) To be actively involved in the servant ministry of the church as abilities enable at the request of the leadership of the church.

   b)  Any person shall be a church member who:
       1)       expresses true repentance and/or a desire to be saved  or to continue to learn and grow as a Christian, agrees to submission to the Bishop and Pastor and the leadership of POLC matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine;  
       2)       have been baptized or desire to be baptized by water immersion;  
       3)       has completed the required course of introduction to the belief’s of the church
       4)       has read and subscribes to the statements of faith as set forth in this document, and agrees to abide by them;  
       5)       has made written application to join the Church;  and
       6)       agrees with the principle of scriptural tithing, shall be a member of the congregation of this local church.
 c)     Members of the congregation of this church shall enjoy the following rights and privileges:
       1)       They shall be entitled to attend church worship services and functions, including special private   membership services and functions;
       2)       They shall be eligible for leadership training;
       3)       They shall be eligible to function in the ministries of the church as their gifts and callings are recognized and released by the Senior Pastor and Elders in the church;
       4)       They shall be entitled to sow financially of their material means into the Christian ministries of this church, by honoring the Lord with their first fruits (Proverbs 3:9-10); by bringing or sending their tithes into the Lord’s storehouse (Malachi 3:10); and by giving or sending their financial gifts  (Luke 6:38 and II Corinthians 9:6-11) for the Lord’s work which brings great benefits Mal. 3:11-12
       5)       They shall be entitled to receive Christian teaching, personal pastoral care, and prayer support;
       6)       They shall be entitled to receive the intangible benefits of fellowship by growing in grace and love together;
       7)       They shall, as part of this covenant body of believers, be entitled to spiritual covering from the Bishop and Pastor for the good of their souls;
       8)       They shall be eligible for personal discipline from the Board of Directors/Elders, Bishop and/or Pastor for they watch for their souls.
       9)       They shall grow in God by having their gifts recognized, nourished and developed through training, teaching and practice proved by gifted and able teachers, who have been set into the body by God.