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Partnership
We all know what it means to be part of a family. For some of us, the family we belong to has been split or badly damaged. But even if our family is in bad shape, we rarely doubt that we belong to it. We are part of our families because... we just are - we were born there! We belong there.Our church is a family. God is our Father. We are all brothers and sisters. We belong to each other.
But unlike our earthly families, we have some choice about our membership in God's family. We can be part of the family of God that meets at the uni, or the one that calls itself St Bloggs, or whatever. We can join the family that meets under the name of Crossroads Christian Church.
We should be committed to whichever family we choose to join. The people we meet with aren't simply fellow members in a voluntary club - they are our family. We have a responsibility to them. They have a responsibility to us.
Where do I start?
In a church like ours it is sometimes easy to feel that the rest of the family hardly knows of your existence. Especially when you first visit us, it can be a little daunting. Everyone seems to know everyone else - except you.Worse still, as a newcomer to the family it's hard to know whether you're "in" or not. What do I have to do to become part of the family? Is there a list of requirements? Do I have to come for a certain period? Do I have to join a small discussion group or do a course?
You'll be glad to know that becoming part of our family is quite straight forward.
What's involved?
The quick answer is simple - just get involved. Join with us as we seek to build his church in numbers and maturity. If you're a Christian and involved, then we already consider you a part of the family.
But you can take it a step further and become an official partner of the church. Becoming a partner helps you know where you stand, and it helps the rest of us know too. We can properly welcome you and include you in our fellowship.
But most of all becoming part of our family means becoming part of a team of people with a purpose. God calls us not only to care for and encourage each other, but to reach out to the lost world around us. We all have different gifts and abilities, but we can all contribute to the great purpose of God in our world - to save people and make them more liike Jesus Christ.
Partnership also qualifies you to participate in some of the formal decisions we make as a church, such as the appointment of elders, deciding on budgets, and more.
The way forward
Partnership of our church involves declaring your trust in Jesus as Lord and Saviour and your desire to share with us in the task of presenting Christ to everyone and everyone mature in Christ.
The head of our family is the Lord Jesus himself and so it is only right that we ask our partners to indicate that they are in relationship with him.
For more information contact Dave.