Membership

Constitution and Bylaws Regarding Membership

Active voting members include those who:

• Have completed a membership class
• Have given evidence of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
• Regularly attend and take part in the services
• Live consistent Christian lives
• Are in agreement with the church’s distinctive testimony
• Voluntarily ascribe to the church’s tenets of faith
• Are in harmony with the church’s teachings
• Regularly contribute financially to the church
• Are 18 years of age or older
• Have been reviewed by the board and received into voting membership
• Have not been moved to “inactive” due to ceasing to attend services or contribute financially, falling out of harmony with the church’s teachings, falling into sinful habits, or other disciplinary situations.

Essential Doctrine

New Life Church is a member of The General Council of the Assemblies of God, and adheres to its essential doctrine. The following is an abridged version of our essential doctrine:

1. The Scriptures Inspired – The Scriptures, both the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired by God and are the revelation of God to mankind – the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct.
2. The One True God – The one true God has revealed himself as the eternally self-existent “I AM,” the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed himself as embodying the principles of relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
3. The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ – Jesus is God, and has been revealed to mankind as God the Son.
4. The Fall of Man – Mankind was created good and in the image of God. However, mankind voluntarily chose disobedience, which brought physical death. This sinful disobedience also brought spiritual death, which is separation from God.
5. The Salvation of Man – Mankind’s only hope to be forgiven of sin and restored into relationship with God is through faith in the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross as He became a substitute for all sinners who would trust in Him.
6. The Ordinances of the Church – Baptism in water is a biblical command for everyone who has put their faith in Christ. It is a public, outward testimony of the inward work of salvation. Communion, consisting of the “elements of bread and juice from the vine”, is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:4); a memorial of His suffering and death (1 Corinthians 11:26); and a declaration of His future return (1 Corinthians 11:26); and is for those who are followers of Christ to share together.
7. The Baptism in the Holy Spirit – All believers are entitled to and should seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, according to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ. This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of salvation (Acts 8:12-17; 10:44-46; 11:14-16; 15:7-9).
8. The Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit– The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the physical sign of speaking with other tongues (unknown languages) as the Spirit of God gives them the words (Acts 2:4).
9. Sanctification – Sanctification is an act of separation from evil, and of dedication to God (Romans 12:1,2; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12).
10. The Church and Its Mission – The Church is the body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
    1. To be an agency of God for evangelizing the world (Acts 1:8; Matthew 28:19,20; Mark 16:15,16).
    2. To be a corporate body in which people may worship God (1 Corinthians 12:13).
    3. To be a channel of God’s purpose to build a body of believers being perfected in the image of His Son (Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 14:12).
    4. To be a channel of God’s purpose to build a body of believers being perfected in the image of His Son (Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 12:28; 14:12).
11. The Ministry – A God-given and scripturally ordained ministry has been provided for the purposes of leading the Church in: (1) evangelization of the world (Mark 16:15-20), (2) worship of God (John 4:23,24), (3) building a Body of believers being perfected in the image of Christ (Ephesians 4:11,16), and (4) Meeting human need with ministries of love and compassion (Psalms 112:9; Galatians 2:10; 6:10; James 1:27).
12. Divine Healing – God’s supernatural work of physical healing is an integral part of the gospel. (Isaiah 53:4,5; Matthew 8:16,17; James 5:14-16).
13. The Blessed Hope – Christ followers who have physically died will be resurrected and join with Christ and other believers who are still alive at His return. This is the “blessed hope” of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17; Romans 8:23; Titus 2:13; 1 Corinthians 15:51,52).
14. The Millennial Reign of Christ – The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of believers, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for one thousand years (Zechariah 14:5; Matthew 24:27,30; Revelation 1:7; 19:11-14; 20:1-6). This millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel (Ezekiel 37:21,22; Zephaniah 3:19,20; Romans 11:26,27) and the establishment of universal peace (Isaiah 11:6-9; Psalm 72:3-8; Micah 4:3,4).
15. The Final Judgment – There will be a final judgment in which those who have died having not surrendered by faith to Jesus Christ will be raised and judged according to their works. Those whose name is not found written in the Book of Life, together with satan and his angels, the beast and the false prophet, will be consigned to eternal punishment in the lake that burns with fire, which is the second death (Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Revelation 19:20; 20:11- 15; 21:8).
16. The New Heavens and the New Earth – “We, according to God’s promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21,22).