MEMBERSHIP

Membership is a simple process at New Hope Southern Baptist Church.  Here are the steps to becoming a member.

There are 3 basic ways.

1) Profession of Faith and Baptism. This is when a person is making their first public profession of faith in Christ as Lord and Savior. This does not necessarily mean that you are just becoming a believer at the time, but that you are now making your decision public, requesting baptism and membership. Upon your baptism, you will officially become a member of NHSBC.

2) Transfer of Letter.  This is just a fancy way of saying that you are already a member of another church, and are simply wanting to move your membership to our church.  In this case, we will send a "Request for Letter" to your church and as soon as your letter is received, you will officially be a member of NHSBC. We understand and recognize that not all churches have “membership” and that you may just simply be joining our church without an official transfer.

3) Statement of Faith.  This option is for those who are neither making a first-time profession of faith OR coming from another church.  New members in this category are simply saying, “I’m not a new Christian, but I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I have been baptized by immersion. I don’t have a current church membership but I want to become a member of this NHSBC.”

Why is membership in a local church important?

Six Reasons to Put Down Roots
Here are six reasons, among many, to put down roots, join a local church, and be as involved as possible in the life of that church.

1. Your Own Assurance
Being accepted into membership in a Bible-believing, responsibly-led church rightly gives affirmation and reinforces confidence that your faith is real, that it’s not your own private, self-made religion, but part of “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

2. The Good of Others
Our belonging somewhere establishes a base from which we can reliably care for others. Living the Christian life in community is more than just loose associations, but committing to each other to be there for each other when life is hard, in sickness and in sorrow.

3. Your Own Good
On the flip side, it is for your own good to have others committed to genuinely caring for you in Christ. And the people who will care for you best in the long run are those who are willing to commit to it. Joining the church also formally identifies you as part of “the flock” which the church’s pastors should “shepherd” (1 Peter 5:2) and to which they should “pay careful attention” (Acts 20:28). It is for your own good in being intentionally thought of and cared for by the leadership.

4. The Good of Your Leaders
Connected, then, is the clarity it brings the leadership about who is in their “lot,” who is “in their charge” (1 Peter 5:3), who in particular are they called to serve and shepherd.

5. The Good of Unbelievers
Another good reason for joining a church is the good of those who are not there yet — even those who don’t yet know Jesus. Because we reach out and show Christ better as part of a committed, stable community. “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

6. Your Own Perseverance
Finally, accountability to others now, not to let you wander from the gospel, without pressing hard to bring you back, may one day prove priceless for your perseverance in the faith — and your eternity with Christ. It is, after all, as Jesus said, the one who endures to the end will be saved (Matthew 24:13). Church discipline is hard, but so good. The purpose is always restoration, and God often has been pleased to use this difficult means to pour out his striking grace.