Membership Class

September 12th, we will be beginning our Fall Bible School programs on Sunday Mornings and Sunday nights. The one class I want to talk about is the required Faith Class, or as some are calling it, Membership Class. It will begin September 12th and end on October 17th. We are praying for a heavy turnout for the first session.

The second session begins October 24th and will also run for six weeks. I will be teaching the first session and the second session may be taught by Dale Rosburg. To make this an excellent experience for all, we need more volunteers who are gifted teachers to substitute for the current Sunday School teachers, either the first or second session, so we can get as many as possible through the class! If you would like to help, please see David Heizenrader.

One of the things I have heard about this class is the following; “I can see baptism, it’s in the Bible, but why a class? Jesus did not require a class before allowing someone to join the church.” You know, that’s a good point! But here is the reality-since Jesus birthed the church on the day of Pentecost, man has made a royal mess of it. According to several internet resources there are between 20,000 and 40,000 different denominations today! Can you say confusion? Can you say chaos?

The point of the class is not to make everyone agree. The leaders desire a Church that is united, not uniformity of thought and gifts. The point of the class is not to point out how we are right and everyone else is wrong. We seek to be Christians only, but not the only Christians.

The point is to lessen the confusion and chaos man has created. The point is to make clear what Elbert Christian Church’s God-given vision is and for those who feel called to join that vision to join in. Through the class, we hope to share with all those fellowshipping at the church what we believe-so there will be less surprises and pain down the road over doctrinal issues!

Elbert Christian Church is not perfect-because there are sinners like me who call it home. But I believe with all my heart that God is doing a mighty work here. How can I say that? Look at our numerical growth. Over the last two or three years, we have grown at least 25%. Look at those individuals whose lives have been changed by the church. Look at individuals that are being changed by God’s love. I could go on and on about the evidence that God is active at ECC.

But the truth is, Satan is our enemy who seeks to kill, destroy, and disrupt the work of God at ECC! God’s Word is our weapon. Proverbs 29:18 KJV says: “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

Through the class we simply seek to share the vision of His word that He has given to our church body; so that we can keep the law to the best of our understanding and be happy in the will of God! And also to make clear the direction we feel God is calling us; so all may freely and clearly decide if they are called in the same direction.

Be God’s
Roger Miller