Membership
The church is both a community and an outreach
organization. In fact, the church is the only organization that exists for
her non-existing members. We attract people from all walks of life. But it
is our prayer that most of our membership will consist of a high
percentage from Yishun. Members are people who are directly connected to
the church.
Why do we need membership?
1.
Biblical
Biblically throughout the writings of the Old and New
Testament, membership is implicitly contained when a believer is linked to
a local body. It ranges from being a member of one of the 12 tribes of
Israel to the founding of the early church. Whenever Paul writes to the
believers, he addressed them of a particularly local body. In these
communities, her members are cared for. They are also challenged to become
devoted followers of Christ. Membership is biblical.
2.
B.I.N.D
The concept of Covenant is a powerful one in the
Bible. It is a word that coins God’s commitment and action with men and
the relationship between the people of faith. The church is known as a
covenantal community. Covenant comes from a old Syrian word that means
BIND. We are in covenant with God because we are in a binding relationship
with him. We are in covenant with each other, because we are bound
together through and in Christ. Formal membership is valuable to the
community especially among her leadership. As the church seeks to be
faithful in allocating tasks and limited resources to mature individuals,
they need a clear-cut commitment from them in their connection with the
church. Church membership can and should be a defining step in our
Christian discipleship journey.
3.
Benefits
Valued and recognizable membership is an important
step to enable us to clear ourselves off the vague clouds of our good
intentions and place us in clear light of defined commitments. This means
that the finite church resources could be given to defined priorities. And
as individuals we can close ranks, profess and live out what we believe
and stand for – with one another!
Positional and Participating
When we become a member of the church, we are first
‘positioned’ as part of the Body of Christ. It signifies to us of our
‘gained’ place in God’s Kingdom and that we have now received
God’s acceptance as a child of God, a follower of Christ grafted into
His election.
But we need also to be a participating member of the
church. This means that we are maturing in faith and allowing our growth
into areas of service, support and giving. The aim of the Body of Christ
is that we may all work together and lay hold of God’s unfolding graces
among us so that the whole body, everyone, may matured unto ‘fullness’
in God. Participating members are those to whom the ongoing and growing
ministry of the church may be entrusted.
The aim of the church is to make disciples. And true
disciples are indeed participating members in the local church.
How to become a member?
Search
It is important that one understands the church’s
mission before deciding if this is where you want to be. The mission
basically determines how a church functions and why do we do what we do.
The mission if YMM is God’s heartbeat to us.
You may obtain an audiotape from the office and hear
for yourself first hand what the pastor shares about our mission and our
vision. You may also attend a NEW COMERS’ MEETING that is held once
every 2 months to assist visitors to understand the heartbeat of the
church.
Support
The cell is where the church can be best understood.
In YMM, the cell is the church. Even though the church is larger than the
cell, most of the more in depth communication is done in the cell. The
cell is also the main mobilized body to serve the purposes of the church.
Joining the cell enables you to understand the outworking of a church’s
main mission. It also gives you a chance to receive support from members
of the church while you seek out the fact about membership. Church
membership is relational, between you and God and you and others who are
already in the community.
Sure
Once you are sure that you would like to be a member
of YMM, you may inform the cell leader of the cell you are in. He or she
would submit a nomination to the church and you would be required to
attend a membership class and begin building a mentor-mentee relationship
with one of the senior member of the church. This is to enable difficult
questions to be answered and for the member to start a COVENANTAL
relationship with the community you are now committing to.
The new participating member will be presented to the
community during the celebration service. With the support of the cell
group, he or she would now become a part of YMM.
FOUR RESPONSIBILITIES (adapted)
A heart that is surrendered to God is a powerful
tool in God’s hand. Personal purity is not for self-indulgence; it is
the greatest and most powerful gift we can bring to each other.
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Relational integrity – To pursue
honorable and loving relationships: in the family; among friends,
coworkers and neighbors; and in the Body of Christ.
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Organizational loyalty – To contribute
to the church time, talents and treasures, and to be responsive to the
leadership God has established.
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Interpersonal maturity – To seek to
serve more than to be served. The greatest in the Kingdom of God, as
Jesus had said is the one who has served all. The community of faith
functions best when we esteem others better than ourselves and choose
to serve more than to be served.
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