Church Membership

 Any person may offer themselves as a candidate for membership in New Grove Baptist church.  All such persons shall be presented to the church at any regular service, as a candidate for membership in any of the following ways:

 A.            By a public profession of faith in Christ as personal Savior, and upon baptism by immersion in water; or

B.            Upon receipt of a church letter of recommendation from another church of like faith and order; or

C.            By statement, acceptable to the church, of previous membership in a church of like faith and order.

An affirmative vote of 85% of the members present and voting shall be required to elect such candidates to membership.  Should there be any dissent concerning a candidate; such dissent shall be referred to the pastor and deacons to investigate.  A recommendation to the church will be made within thirty days.

 Church Membership Commitment

 Those who choose to be members of New Grove Baptist Church are asked to commit themselves to the following:

1.  I will protect the unity of my church

. . . by acting in love toward other members,

. . . by refusing to gossip,

. . . by following the leaders.

Scripture:  Romans 14.19; 1 Peter 1.22; Ephesians 4.29; Hebrews 13.17

2.  I will share the responsibility of my church

. . . by praying for its growth,

 . . . by inviting the unchurched to attend,

 . . . by warmly welcoming those who visit.

Scripture:  1 Thessalonians 1.1,2; Luke 14.23; Romans 15.7

3.  I will serve the ministry of my church

. . . by discovering my gifts and talents,

. . . by being equipped to serve by my pastor,

 . . . by developing a servant’s heart.

Scripture:  1 Peter 4.10;  Ephesians 4.11,12;  Philippians 4.3-7

4.  I will support the testimony of my church

 . . . by attending faithfully,

 . . . by living a godly life,

 . . . by giving regularly.

Scripture:  Hebrews 10.25; Philippians 1.27; 1 Corinthians 16.2;

Leviticus 27.30.

Statement of Faith

We affirm this statement of faith along with the Baptist Faith and Message (2000).

We believe that the Bible is verbally inspired by God and is inerrant.  The Bible is the supreme and final and adequate authority in faith and life.

We believe that the only acceptable translations of the Bible are those that have made every effort to adhere as closely as possible to the original languages of the Holy Scriptures.

We believe that there is only one true and living God existing in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We believe that God the Father is the first person of the Trinity.  He is an invisible Spirit who is self-existent, and eternal.  God is present everywhere at once, He is all knowing, all-powerful, and He never changes.  He is Holy, righteous, and just.

We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, shed His blood on Calvary as a vicarious substitute, was buried, rose again bodily, and ascended to the Father according to the Scriptures.

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He possesses all the attributes of God and is co-existent with the Father and Son.

We believe that man is the direct creation of God and is not in any sense the result of evolution but is made in the image of God.

We believe that all who, in repentance and faith, receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior are born again by the Holy Spirit and thus become children of God.

We believe that the Lord, apart from the works of man, sustains salvation.  It is impossible for one born into the family of God to be lost again.

We believe that the New Testament church is a local body of baptized believers with Christ as its head and the Holy Spirit as its guide.  The ordinances of the church are baptism by immersion and the Lord's Supper.

We believe in the literal, personal, pre-tribulational return of Christ for His church and the literal, visible, personal, premillennial return of Christ to the earth.