WHAT IS MEMBERSHIP?
Membership is a formal commitment to the work and ministry God is doing through the E-Free Church. It is a commitment that states that one identifies with the church, its mission, its statement of faith, its structure and its people.
Ephesians 2:19
"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also membes of His household."
WHY SHOULD I BECOME A MEMBER?
Out of the this verse, we gather some very important keys about the Bible
and what is said about the church.
THE CHURCH IS A FAMILY
It says "God's houshold". The church is not "like" a family. The church "is" a family. It's a spiritual family. In fact, your spirtiual family is going to outlast your physical family. We are all going to be related in Heaven--together--and this family will outlast the blood family you have on earth.
GOD EXPECTS ME TO BE A MEMBER OF A FAMILY
The word "church" is used in two different ways in the Bible. First, it's used to refer to every Christina who has ever lived throughout history. That is called the universal church. Every believer in Chirst is part of the universal chruch.
The othe way the word "church" is used is to refer to a local group, a specific place. Like the church at Corinth, the church that met in Lydia's home, the church that was on the hill , or lik the church here. It is used in a local sense. It is only used four times in the Bible to refer to a general universal sense. Almost every time you see the word "church" in the Bible, it is used to refer to a specific group of believers like we are here at E-Free.
Once you become a believer, you are automatically a part of the universal church of God. But you don't become a part of a local church until you make that choice.
A CHRISTIAN WITHOUT A CHURCH FAMILY IS AN ORPHAN
The passage says you are, "fellow citizens with God's people and also members of His household." God has given us at least 30 instructions in the New Testament that you can't fullfill unless you choose to be a part of a local church
What is the difference between being a Christian and being a member of a church family? The difference is the word "commitment". I become a Christian by commiting my life to Christ. I become a member of a church by committing myself to other Christians. I say, "That's going to be my church home where I'm going to give and be given to, where I'm going to serve and be served, where I'll love and be loved."
OUR MISSION
We are committed to meeting people right where they are and helping to move them to where God wants them to be.
OUR STATEMENTS
Our statements are what we believe and hold to be true about our faith in Jesus. You will find these statements in our church constitution. Follow the link below to read our church constitution.
WHAT WE
BELIEVE
OUR MISSION
We are committed to MEETING people right where they are geographically, culturally, and spiritually. You are welcome just as you are! Then MOVING them to where God wants them to be.
OUR VISION
Our vision is to saturate all of Northern Michigan with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the teaching of word of God. That is what brings about change in someone's life.
GOD
We believe in one God, Creator of all things, holy, infinitely perfect, and eternally existing in a loving unity of three equally divine Persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Having limitless knowledge and sovereign power, God has graciously purposed from eternity to redeem a people for Himself and to make all things new for His own glory.
JESUS CHRIST
We believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, one Person in two natures. Jesus – Israel’s promised Messiah – was conceived through the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He lived a sinless life, was crucified under Pontius Pilate, arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father as our High Priest and Advocate.
HOLY SPIRIT
We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and in Him they are baptized into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells, illuminates, guides, and equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.
SALVATION
We believe that Jesus Christ, as our representative and substitute, shed His blood on the cross as the perfect, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins. His atoning death and victorious resurrection constitute the only ground for salvation. It is only through God’s saving work in Jesus Christ can we be rescued, reconciled, and renewed.
THE BIBLE
We believe that God has spoken in the scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, through the words of human authors. As the verbally inspired Word of God, the Bible is without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for salvation, and the ultimate authority in our lives. Therefore, it is to be believed in all that it teaches, obeyed in all that it requires, and trusted in all that it promises.
THE CHURCH
The true church composes all who have been justified by God’s grace through faith alone in Christ alone. They are united by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, of which He is the head. Jesus mandated two ordinances, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which tangibly express the gospel. Though they are not the means of salvation, when celebrated by the Church in genuine faith, these ordinances nourish the believer.
OUR STRUCTURE
The structure is how we lead the church. Our church can be likend to a 3-legged stool. The seat of our stool is our congregation. The legs represt our Elder Board, Staff and Leadership Team.
Congregational Authority
The membership of the church affirms and authorizes the mission, structure, and leadership of the church.
Elder Governed
This board of spirtually mature men, elected and responsible to the membership, shall oversee the spiritual direction of the church in accordance with the principles fo the Bible, guidance of the Holy Spirit, and in alignment with the doctines and mission of the church.
Staff Led
The Lead Pastor is a member of, and accountable to, the Elder board. The Lead Pastor (and his designated staff) is responsible for the implementation of the mission of the church.
Leadership Team
The Leadership team leads and directs the administation, finances, and volunteer ministries necessary to fulfill the mission and direction of the church.
You can learn more abut our structure in the church constitution.
OUR COMMITMENTS
By becoming a member at E-free, you would be commiting to:
Seek Continued Growth In Jesus Christ
Respect The Role Of Leadership In The Church
Share The Responsibilty Of The Church
Support The Testemony Of The Chruch
QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP
The profession of faith in Jesus Christ
Growing in faith in Jesus Christ
Embrace the core doctine, values, and mission of the church.
*While baptism is not a requirment for church membership, it is strongly encouraged as a step of
faith in publicly declaring personal faith in Christ.
OUR PROCESS
WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?
- Follow the link below to fill out the membership application and learn more about the process in becoming a member at E-Free Church.