What a great Sunday to have been in church this past week! There was one big service combining elements from our usual 9AM & 11AM formats. The service felt packed and there was an electric feel in the room. It was a combination of God’s presence and a full house. The communion count was 530 people, which is about 50 more than a usual Sunday. A large attendance alone does not create the experience that many of us felt. The Holy Spirit answered our prayer and blessed us with his palpable presence! I am giving The Lord thanks for manifesting his presence among his people. I hope you felt him too.

I shared from the pulpit a little bit of where we have been as a church body, where we are presently and where we are headed. Click here to listen to the sermon. The focus was about active membership in the church. The vision is that “every member has a ministry.” I don’t believe that pastors are the only ones who can or should speak in terms of calling. God calls each person to a life of service to him and to others. Do you know what the specific work is that God has given to you? What is your ministry?

Many churches are currently abandoning the term “membership” and replacing it with the word “partnership.” For too many Christians membership has only been about privileges like a country club offers its members. By using the word partnership, these insightful churches communicate their expectation of each person having much greater stake in the organization. A partner takes ownership of successes and struggles. A partner stays late to see things through. A partner puts his or her name on the work. A partner feels a greater satisfaction when success occurs.

I am eager to see our church embrace a more biblical view of membership. The biggest topic our leadership teams are working on is developing strategies to help each member step into ministry. The Network Class is now being offered 3-4 times a year and will help you identify your spiritual gifts, personal style and ministry passion. God equips each person with a unique combination of natural and spiritual gifts as well as life experience. These are to be used for building up his body. One image of the church commonly found in the New Testament is that of a body with many parts and Christ as the head. The body has a diversity of parts. The hand and lungs, for example, have very different functions, but both are needed for the whole body to thrive. Finding your ministry requires knowing yourself. The next Network Class will be held on Saturday, February 21 from 8A-1P.

We must also know the Lord personally. We cannot give what we do not have. The Foundations Course is being taught 3-4 times a year and focuses on encountering the Trinity by deepening our knowledge and experience of God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Foundations was created for members of Grace Anglican Church who want to grow in knowing, belonging, and becoming more like Christ. The Foundations Course began this past Wednesday and there is still time for you to join by attending the class this Sunday, January 18 from 9:30AM-10:45AM in the Barn.

The final step in finding your ministry is exploring options. We have categorized all of the church ministries into Worship, Belonging, Mercy and Mission. There is a staff member assigned to leadership in each of these areas. The leaders are Jonathan Vinke, Elizabeth Mackenzie, Bob Simpson and Dan Wolf, respectively. 

Now is a great time to think and pray about your membership status and enrolling in the Network Class or the Foundations Course. I tell every Newcomer’s Class that, “To be a member of our church, simply start behaving like one.” If you feel called to live out the Christian faith as part of this particular church, then we look forward to your engagement and involvement. You can email any staff member by using their firstname@graceanglican.church. I am excited about God’s presence at Grace Anglican Church and pray that you will take a step closer this year.

Values and Beliefs about Membership at Grace Anglican

Membership means that you belong. You are known, loved, and valued by the community and yet also contribute to making visitors, new members and longtime members feel valued and loved.

Membership means that you are a disciple. As a member, you will be challenged to continually grow closer to Christ. Members seek to be transformed by Christ in every aspect of their life, including faith, family, finances, fun, friends, work, etc.

Membership means that you are on a mission. God is on a mission, so you are a partner with God on his mission to our community and our world. As a member, you are actively involved in God’s work on a local level and/or on a global level.

Membership means you are an integral part to the whole body. Every member has an important role in the ministry and mission of the church that matches his or her gifts and passions.

Membership means you engage in worship. As a member, you seek a deeper understanding and experience of Anglican worship and pursue continual growth spiritually. Through worship, community, and prayer, we find wholeness and healing in every area of our lives.