WHAT IS THE CHURCH

The church is an organization of baptized believers in Christ. Ephesians 2:19-22, Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all building fitly framed together growth unto an holy temple in the Lord; In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Sprit.

THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH

(Evangelism, Baptism and Education)

The purpose of the church is the great commission. Matthew 28:19-20, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsover I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world.

WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND CHURCH

The church considers that each member is a soul entrusted to it for protection, development, and preparation of God’s kingdom. The church bound to furnish you the best possible public instruction in the gospel, and the best training for service: to exercise a tender, loving patient watch and care over you, and to use the utmost diligence and effort for his enlightenment, sanctification and usefulness, with the view that you attain perfection in Christ Jesus. Proverbs 3:5, 6, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge hm, and he shall direct thy paths.

ROLE OF A CHURCH MEMBER

As a Christian you have certain duties to cooperate with God and thus forward his kingdom. They are as follows:

Serving (St. John 12:26)

You have a responsibility to serve. The church carries on its work very largely because there are men and women, young people and children, who are willing to give without remuneration their time and talents in places of service.

Learning  (St. Matthew 11:29)

As a Christian you have the responsibility to learn all you can about Jesus Christ. You can cultivate your devotional life through Bible study. The more you read the Bible; you will be better equipped for service to the Lord.

Giving (Acts 20:35)

You have the responsibility also to give of your means. A Christian should give freely and cheerfully. This giving is not only your time to the Lord, but also to give a tenth of his earnings to the church. Malachi 3:10; Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessiing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

WHAT THE CHURCH OWES TO ITS MEMBERS

The church should consider that each member is a soul entrusted to it for protection, development, and preparation for the Kingdom of Heaven. The church, therefore, is in duty bound to furnish the best possible public instruction in the gospel, and the best training for service; to exercise a tender, loving, patient watch care over the members. These skills should be used in the utmost diligence and effort for his enlightenment, sanctification and usefulness, with the view that he attains perfection in Christ Jesus. If a member departs from the faith of church, or violates the New Testament standard of conduct, it is both the privilege and the duty of the church to place him under discipline and deal with him according to the laws Christ has given in the New Testament. Sufficient proof of guilt having been given, the church may admonish him, or withdraw the hand of fellowship from him.

DUTY OF MEMBERS TO THE CHURCH

Every believer in Christ is under obligation, in accordance with the Church covenant, Providence permitting, to unite with some church since it is an institution ordained by Him; the neglect of it dishonors Him. As each church has its own special field, is entitled to the membership of all believers who live within its natural boundaries unless special reasons exist for membership elsewhere.

Every member is required to fulfill, to the extent of his ability, all of the covenanted obligations he assumed on becoming a member. The church, thereby, is entitled to the service thus promised, together with every member’s good will, sympathy, influence, and such time and means as Providence may enable him to use for its advancement.

PASTOR'S DUTIES

One of the chief duties which rests upon any pastor is that of directing and supervising the public religious instruction of the congregation in the pulpit and in all other department s of his church work. He must administer the ordinances of the church and preside in all regular meetings of the church, whether for devotion or business.

It is his duty to watch over the personal experience and life of the members, to exhort, admonish, reprove, and rebuke as one who is entrusted with the care of souls and who expects to give account of his stewardship.

DEACONS

The New Testament sanctions these officers, who are elected from the church’s membership, as mutual helpers of the pastor; his assistants in carrying on the great work of the Master. They are to administer the church’s charities, caring for the poor, providing for all that pertains to the church’s welfare, "to serve tables." All matters passed upon by the deacons, however, are to be submitted to the church for final decision. They are to assist the pastor in serving the Lord’s Supper, after having made due preparation for the observance of the same.

Commonly, deacons are elected to serve for life, but in some churches deacons are elected for a definite period, and by this method a man whom the church does not find useful as a deacon may be succeeded by another at the will of the church. Deacons are ordained and should always be men of honesty, spirituality and wisdom. The ordination is much like that of the minister. The church authorizes the pastor to call a council for the purpose.

NOTE: The practice of placing deacons of a church on trial or probation for a certain period of time no longer obtains. Instead, men are only recommended for this office whose lives are examples as Christians are considered satisfactory by the church. (Acts 6: 1-7; 1 Timonth 3:3-13).

DEACONESS

The position of deaconess is highly spiritual and sacred. Only she who is committed and chosen should accept the appointment. In most cases if the husband is a deacon then the wife becomes a deaconess. The pastor may also appoint a deaconess. The responsibilities of a deaconess are to be a co-laborer with her deacon husband. This is true when a task would be more realistically done by a female Christian. She is to take care of the communion paraphernalia and prepare candidates for baptism.ROLE OF A MOTHER

The Mother Board of the church is a group of women who has accepted Christ. They are dedicated to their task of teaching younger married women to love their husband and children, to think before acting, to be aware at home, to be kind and obey their own husband in the way of the word of God is honored. Church Mothers also teach young men to be wise and show them how to dedicate their lives and listen to the sound of teaching.

The Mother Board Responsibilities are the same as the duties of the Deaconess along with follow up on newly converted members, counseling of young women who have problems within the church community, comfort those in mourning or distressed, visit the sick, deprived, and destitute and administer service as needed.