The New Members “A true story”
On Sunday morning, March 22, 1997 a family placed membership at a church in Arkansas. That isn’t significant news at all. In fact, we probably visualize three or four people walking down the aisle at the singing of the invitation song, sitting down on the front pew, putting their name on a card, and then checking the little box in front of “To Place Membership.” They may have done that, but the significant thing is they did more. They handed the elders …no, not a letter of recommendation, but their own letter. It said, “We are asking to commit the welfare of our souls to your care. Although the weakness of the flesh often betrays us, the primary objective of our lives is salvation for ourselves, our children, and our fellow man. We therefore ask with all sincerity that you help us in every way possible to be successful in this endeavor. Besides spiritual food, encouragement, and fellowship, we fully expect that the help you give might well take the form of numerous request to serve, instruction, correction, and if necessary even discipline.
With that in mind, we ask that when, and if, either of us responds in a negative fashion to a request or fail to measure up in a given task that you not write us off, but help us grow and as soon as possible try us again. We view membership in this congregation as an obligation to be subject to it’s eldership, to be helpful and encouraging to all it’s members and to take an active part in it’s work. We therefore state our intentions to give freely of our time, our talents and our money in order to fulfill that obligation.”
Could you say this about your membership at the Lithia Springs Church of Christ?