Long Island Abundant Life Church長島豐盛生命教會
(Chinese)
* Acts 2:41-42
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
(Through our commitment to a local church, regularly and consistently being nurtured by the teaching of God's word,
growing and being equipped together so that we can obey the Lord's Great Commission.)
* Ephesians 3:9-10, 21
and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that
through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
21 to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
* Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together,
as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
* Acts 4:23
When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
(Note: the literal of "their friends" is "their own" - who but the fellow believers of the Lord,
having committed to a local church to have such close relationship as family members?)
The baptism procedure
0. It's for those who already clearly understand one's personal need of the Lord's forgiving and redeeming grace,
and have committed and trusted in Him, and have regularly attended the weekly Sunday services for at least 2 months;
1. New Life Class (NLC) - Must attend the whole course of it. It takes at least 3~4 months;
2. Afterward, if willing to proceed and having the NLC teacher's recommendation, download the membership covenant and the application forms; read them carefully and fill and sign before submitting them to the office admin [email protected]
3. The Board will arrangement the interview to determine if one is ready to be baptized or there are some issues need to be addressed first;
4. Usually the baptism is held on the Resurrection Sunday or around Christmas.
The membership transfer procedure
(Please let us know if you have special needs, e.g. using voice recording, etc. instead of writing)
0. Regularly attend the weekly Sunday services for at least 3 months.
1. Answer the questions listed below w. some references to read (see below).
Submit your answers 1 week before taking the membership class to the office admin [email protected]
2. Take the full membership class which will be arranged and held in 2 sessions, total 4-6 hours.
3. Afterward, if willing to proceed, download the membership covenant and the application forms;
read them carefully and fill and sign before submitting them to the office admin;
4. One of the Board member will arrange an interview with you to better know each other;
it will be shared with the Board later to make the final decision:
5. Either you'll be accepted or required to iron out some area(s) of concern before proceeding further.
Questions (see #1 above) - Not a test but to know you better so we can serve you and use the time better.
0. (1) When did you start weekly attending the Sunday services here? If not, why? (2) Who are your friends here?
1. (1) When did you believe in the Lord? (2) Have the salvation assurance? (3) What's the basis?
(4) Your salvation testimony esp. what the Lord is doing in your life recently (even it may seem "small")?
2. (1) Current relationship with the Lord? (2) Your Bible reading habit (on the scale of 1~10, 10 for daily)?
(3) Prayer life (often / once awhile / rarely)?
3. (1) The relationship w. your parents (on the scale of -5 ~ 5)? (2) If married, the relationship w. your spouse? Often pray together? (3) similarly, w. children?
4. (1) What is serving? (2) Your spiritual gifts? (3) Your past ministry serving experiences?
(4) Was it edifying or hurting (on the scale of -5 ~ 5)?
5. What is a church?
6. What should be your relationship with her? (What was it before?)
7. Why a church needs the membership?
8. What is your ideal church?
References
* Why bother with church membership? by Kevin DeYoung
* Why church membership? by Michael E. Osborne
* Is church membership really a biblical concept? by Sam Storms
* How "belonging before believing" redefines the church by Michael Lawrence
* Acts 2:41-42
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
(Through our commitment to a local church, regularly and consistently being nurtured by the teaching of God's word,
growing and being equipped together so that we can obey the Lord's Great Commission.)
* Ephesians 3:9-10, 21
and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that
through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
21 to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
* Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together,
as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
* Acts 4:23
When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.
(Note: the literal of "their friends" is "their own" - who but the fellow believers of the Lord,
having committed to a local church to have such close relationship as family members?)
The baptism procedure
0. It's for those who already clearly understand one's personal need of the Lord's forgiving and redeeming grace,
and have committed and trusted in Him, and have regularly attended the weekly Sunday services for at least 2 months;
1. New Life Class (NLC) - Must attend the whole course of it. It takes at least 3~4 months;
2. Afterward, if willing to proceed and having the NLC teacher's recommendation, download the membership covenant and the application forms; read them carefully and fill and sign before submitting them to the office admin [email protected]
3. The Board will arrangement the interview to determine if one is ready to be baptized or there are some issues need to be addressed first;
4. Usually the baptism is held on the Resurrection Sunday or around Christmas.
The membership transfer procedure
(Please let us know if you have special needs, e.g. using voice recording, etc. instead of writing)
0. Regularly attend the weekly Sunday services for at least 3 months.
1. Answer the questions listed below w. some references to read (see below).
Submit your answers 1 week before taking the membership class to the office admin [email protected]
2. Take the full membership class which will be arranged and held in 2 sessions, total 4-6 hours.
3. Afterward, if willing to proceed, download the membership covenant and the application forms;
read them carefully and fill and sign before submitting them to the office admin;
4. One of the Board member will arrange an interview with you to better know each other;
it will be shared with the Board later to make the final decision:
5. Either you'll be accepted or required to iron out some area(s) of concern before proceeding further.
Questions (see #1 above) - Not a test but to know you better so we can serve you and use the time better.
0. (1) When did you start weekly attending the Sunday services here? If not, why? (2) Who are your friends here?
1. (1) When did you believe in the Lord? (2) Have the salvation assurance? (3) What's the basis?
(4) Your salvation testimony esp. what the Lord is doing in your life recently (even it may seem "small")?
2. (1) Current relationship with the Lord? (2) Your Bible reading habit (on the scale of 1~10, 10 for daily)?
(3) Prayer life (often / once awhile / rarely)?
3. (1) The relationship w. your parents (on the scale of -5 ~ 5)? (2) If married, the relationship w. your spouse? Often pray together? (3) similarly, w. children?
4. (1) What is serving? (2) Your spiritual gifts? (3) Your past ministry serving experiences?
(4) Was it edifying or hurting (on the scale of -5 ~ 5)?
5. What is a church?
6. What should be your relationship with her? (What was it before?)
7. Why a church needs the membership?
8. What is your ideal church?
References
* Why bother with church membership? by Kevin DeYoung
* Why church membership? by Michael E. Osborne
* Is church membership really a biblical concept? by Sam Storms
* How "belonging before believing" redefines the church by Michael Lawrence
