How To Become A Member of Macedonia

Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church is a body of believers united by our desire to follow Jesus Christ and committed to fulfilling the purposes set forth in our Mission Statement. If you desire to join with us and will be supportive of the beliefs, fellowship and mission of our church, we warmly invite you to become a member.

Five Reasons for Church Membership

  1. Roots Guarantee Fruit
    Psalms 92:13 KJV says, “Planted in the house of the LORD, They will flourish in the courts of our God.” True growth and development are the result of being planted in a good local church. Individuals who belong to a local church experience the positive power that comes from being committed to a family of believers. Membership is a formal way to show your commitment to the church and to the vision God has given MMBC. (Phil 2:1-4, Rom. 15:5-6, 1 Cor. 1:10, Gal. 5:13; Eph 4:32; 5:21; Heb. 10:25; James 5:16)
  2. Experience the care of a pastor in your life.
    When a person is born again, he or she becomes a part of the family of God. Jesus the Chief Shepherd (Pastor) has assigned pastors or shepherds to local churches to watch over and take care of His sheep. Jesus said a good shepherd is responsible to know his sheep by name. Jesus tells the story of one Shepherd who left the 99 sheep (notice the sheep were counted) and he went out looking for one lost sheep. Without some type of membership, how would a Pastor know his sheep, their names, or who was missing? Jesus expects you to be counted as a member of a local “flock”. According to Eph. 4:12 Pastors or Shepherds help prepare God’s people for works of service, spiritual maturity, and equip them to walk in the richest measure of God’s presence and plan for their lives. (Eph.4:11-12; 1 Pet. 5:1-4; Acts 20:28; John 10:1-5)
  3. Membership is part of God’s original plan.
    The Bible paints a picture of God’s original plan for church membership in 1 Corinthians 12:27. It states that “ye are the Body of Christ and members in particular”. The book of Acts provides us with several different examples of what a local church should look like. This group of believers met together on a regular basis to worship, pray and receive instruction from the Word of God. The Early Church had committed members who were unified in heart and mind and as a result the church saw miracles, signs, wonders and many salvations. The Bible clearly states God’s plan for growth and encouragement and reminds us to make it a priority to stay connected with other believers. Hebrews 10:25 AMP says, “Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.” The local church was designed by God to be a place for the believer to be strengthened, empowered, encouraged, inspired and instructed to ensure victory and success in life. (Acts 1:14;2:41-42;4:4,23; 5:13-14; Heb. 10:24)
  4. God speaks to churches.
    Each believer has the responsibility to pray and study the Word of God daily and to hear and follow the Spirit of God personally. Jesus said “He that hath an ear, let hear what the Spirit saith to the churches”. Notice Jesus didn’t say, “what the Spirit saith to the isolated Christian.” Notice the word “churches” is plural, denoting local churches! When it comes to God’s plan for the earth and for His church, God is revealing that plan to those whom He has called to lead the Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit inspired the writers of the New Testament to write letters to local churches where believers gathered. Church membership helps you to stay in the flow of what the “Spirit is saying to the churches”. (Rev.2:7,11,17,29, 3:6)
  5. Church membership provides spiritual safety.
    Church members have a spiritual covering and accountability system in place. This covering provides spiritual protection and boundaries that will protect you from the plan of the enemy. Hebrews 13:17 AMP says, “Obey your spiritual leaders and submit to them [continually recognizing their authority over you], for they are constantly keeping watch over your souls and guarding your spiritual welfare, as men who will have to render an account [of their trust]". Satan’s number one strategy is to isolate Christians from one another in an attempt to destroy their faith and render them ineffective. As a member of a local church you can be confident that your Pastor will teach the Word of God, be led by the Spirit of God, and pray for you on a regular basis.

Here are the steps to becoming a member:

  1. Present yourself for membership during any Worship Service when the invitation is given at the end of the message.
    Our Pastor will invite those who desire to become members of Macedonia to come to the front of the sanctuary. You will be greeted and introduced to a friend, who will accompany you to a quieter place where you will be guided in your decision.
  2. Express your desire for membership through one of the following means:
  •       Profession of Faith

If you have never received Jesus as Savior and Lord and/or never publicly confessed Him, you will be given an opportunity to do so. After your decision has been confirmed, an appointment will be made for your baptism at Macedonia.

  •      Transfer of Membership from another Missionary Baptist Church

If you are currently a member of another Missionary Baptist Church, we will receive you as a member upon promise of a letter from that church. Macedonia will contact that church to notify them of your decision and request your letter.

  •      Statement of Faith

If you have previously made a public decision, acknowledging that you have received Christ as your Savior and Lord, we will be happy to receive you. It will be necessary for you to be baptized at Macedonia if you have never been baptized scripturally (as a believer, by immersion, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as a symbol of your salvation).

After you’ve completed these steps, we will gladly receive you as a member of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church and you will begin to fully enjoy the benefits and blessings of being a part of our family of friends.