Why Membership?
It is true that the word “membership” is not in the New Testament (but then again, neither is “trinity” or “rapture”). But, the concept of participation is! The Greek word is koinonia which means “fellowship” or perhaps “togetherness” (Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 1:9), “participation” (Philippians 1:5), “contribution” (Romans 15:26; 2 Corinthians 9:13) and “sharing” (Heb. 13:16). The idea in the New Testament is to belong to one another and the commitment of membership is exactly that - belonging to one another like a family.
So why a formal procedure for membership? It is vital to make sure that all “members” are, in fact, embracing the unified direction and beliefs of the church family. For the first three centuries, the early church was so careful that they spent a year examining the prospective member for beliefs and conduct to make sure there was true unity. The membership process is intended to help both the church and the person considering membership. We feel it is important for anyone seeking to join Harvester to know what we believe and who we are so that all decisions are well-informed ones.
Becoming a Member
There are three ways to join our church.
The first is through baptism.
The second is by letter, which is a transfer of membership from another church.
The third is by making a statement of faith that you are a Christian and that you have been baptized through immersion.
Membership 101
We require that every person interested in joining attend and complete our membership class, Membership 101. This class is open to anyone wanting to know more about our church. Enrollment forms are available at the Get Connected desk in the Atrium.
Membership 101 classes are offered the first, second and third Sundays of each month, excluding July and December, at 10:45 AM in Room A102 located in the main level of the Atrium.
We invite you to come forward at the end of one of our worship service. Deacons are available following every service and can answer questions and explain the process of joining.