Once you have believed in and trusted Jesus Christ for salvation, you are spiritually born into the body of Christ. Being spiritually born into the body of Christ, you are a member of “The Church.” All saved, born-again believers make up one complete spiritual church, the body of Christ.
The body of Christ works together in the world to carry out the Great Commission of sharing Christ with the world. It is also gathered into smaller local congregations. Sunny Slope Baptist Church is one such local congregation.
While each congregation is united to the body of Christ through salvation in Jesus Christ, congregations may vary in their application of church practices, doctrinal interpretation, and service style.
You will be given a brochure of Sunny Slope Baptist Church’s biblically based Statement of Faith. As you pursue membership, you will acknowledge that you have read, understand, and will adhere to the church’s Statement of Faith.
Sunny Slope Baptist Church is an independent fundamental Baptist church. We operate independently from other churches and do not belong to an outside governing association. Our governing authority is the Holy Scriptures and the leading of the Holy Spirit of God.
Start by speaking to our pastor to express your desire to become a member. Our pastor will guide you through the steps necessary to becoming a member.
First things first: you must be “born again” and become a member of “The Church,” the body of Christ. This is done by placing your faith in Jesus Christ and His shed blood for your salvation.
If you have yet to do that, our pastor would love to lead you in your salvation. You must be able to give an account of your salvation experience.
Once saved, you must be baptized as a result of your faith in Jesus for salvation. This is referred to as “believers’ baptism.”
When a believer is immersed, they testify that salvation by faith has already taken place. Baptism is a biblical command and not an option for a Christian. Once complete, membership in the local church can be granted.
“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”
Acts 2:41Sunny Slope Baptist Church does not recognize infant baptism. We understand that infants are not yet able to comprehend their sin or salvation by faith, and therefore cannot be baptized as a result of personal faith.
If you have believed on Jesus Christ for salvation and have not yet been baptized, please speak with our pastor. He will explain baptism in greater detail and answer your questions.
Being able to provide an account of one’s salvation and baptism is essential to becoming a member.
If a believer is already a member of another Baptist church, membership may be transferred by letter. Sunny Slope Baptist Church will send a letter requesting the transfer from the previous church.
Another way to be received into membership is by statement of faith. Those requesting membership this way will be asked to share their salvation testimony and baptism.
Everyone received into membership in a local Baptist church ministry must provide a clear testimony of having been born again and saved.
“...And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
Acts 2:47Once you are verified as a candidate for membership, your name will be added to the monthly business meeting agenda for consideration by the current church membership through a membership vote.
We are excited over your interest in becoming a member of the Sunny Slope Baptist Church family and partnering with us to advance the kingdom of God in our local community and throughout the world through foreign missions.
Having joined Sunny Slope Baptist Church in membership, you enter the following covenant with our congregation.
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.
We engage therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church, in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, and the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.
We also engage to maintain family and secret devotion; to religiously educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating drink as a beverage, and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.
We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; to be slow to take offence, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay.
We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible unite with some other church, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.