Baptism & Church Membership

Baptism

The mission of the Christian faith is to make disciples of Jesus Christ (Matt 28:16-20). Faith in Christ brings salvation and starts a person on their journey of discipleship. One of the first steps along the journey is to be baptized as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

What is baptism?

1. Celebration: Baptism is a declaration of the salvation that Jesus has brought into a person’s Sharing this new reality with others is a celebratory event. The experience becomes an anchor point for the participant’s faith. The celebration encourages all believers because it is a reminder that Jesus Christ transforms lives, and he has done so again (Rom 6:1-11).
2. Ordinance: Jesus instructs the church to baptize his disciples, so baptism is an act of obedience to him (Matt 28:19).
3. Testimony: Church membership is comprised of The act of baptism publicly declare one’s faith in Christ and the reality of their changed life in Christ. This testimony qualifies them to become a church member (more details on membership below).

When do we baptize?

1. Spiritually: After someone has accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, the Holy Spirit is deposited in them and they are That person is now ready to be baptized. Baptism is one of the first steps a Christian will take as they live out the faith they have received. Baptism is not something to defer until an individual is “good enough” (Acts 8:34-38). Jesus commands all believers to be baptized.
2. Practically: We usually host baptisms as part of a Sunday worship service. One of our pastors will coordinatea date with the baptism Factors include special events for the church and enough time for distant family and friends to plan their attendance.

How do we baptize?

• Immersively: We baptize by immersion in water whenever possible, enjoying the ease of doing so with a tank built into our sanctuary (Col 2:9-12).

Ready?

If you would like to discuss baptism further, or you are ready to proceed with scheduling your baptism, please talk with one of our pastors and they will guide you through the next steps.

Church Membership

From Scripture, we know believers need to meet together to worship, learn, love, and serve (Heb 10:24-25). Our abundant life with Jesus naturally draws us together as we follow Him—and we can’t fully love without other believers (Jn 13:34-35). A group of believers who have committed to working together is a church. Our church is Lethbridge First Baptist Church, also known as FirstB.

Why join?

1. Focus: When you commit to a group of believers, it becomes your team and allows you to fully invest yourself into the life of the church.
2. Encourage: Just like adding a new teammate is exciting and good for a team, joining a church encourages the church.
3. Support: As you live out your faith, you have a group of people around you providing support in both the easy times and the hard times.
4. Impact: Membership grants you a voice in shaping the projects and plans that will be acted on. You are involved when decisions are made to allocate our gifts and resources for God’s Kingdom.

How do you join?

1. Meet with a pastor and discuss membership, beliefs, and any questions you have.
2. The pastor determines how your membership will move forward: Baptism, Transfer or Statement.
   • Baptism: After coming to faith in Jesus, your next step is baptism. Being baptized in our church makes you eligible for membership with our church.
   • Transfer: If you are a member at another church, then transferring your membership is likely the best option.
   • Statement (of Faith): If you are a baptized follower of Jesus, then you can join our church by sharing the story of your faith journey with a pastor.
3. Once requirements are fulfilled, your membership request is presented to the Church Council.
4. After Church Council approves, your membership is announced during a regular worship service.

Any Responsibilities?

1. Gifts: Everyone has one or more gifts that they can use as a part of the team. Our church can help you find the best places to plug in and use your gifts (1 Cor 12:1-27).
2. Giving: The church operations (programs, staffing and building) are entirely supported by tithes and offerings. Members make this possible by giving financially as they are able. This is a voluntary way we worship God and help take care of our community.
3. Going: Attending worship regularly (“going to church”) is foundational to having and being a community.
4. Growing: Every member is encouraged to participate in the Great Commission, bringing Jesus’ mission into the world around us (Matt 28:16-20).

Will you join?

Only you can answer this one! When you are ready, please contact a pastor to explore your membership path further.