We are so thankful for our church and the wonderful examples our church leaders are to us. As a ministry of Faith Church, we work together to further the message of the Gospel and serve others faithfully. Being a part of such a diverse group of people who are all striving towards one goal is an amazing encouragement in the midst of our dark world.
Faith Church seeks to hold its members accountable to grow and live for Christ in their everyday lives. Believers are to help each other by encouraging, comforting, challenging, and gently correcting each other as needed. Every member of the body of Christ is vital to the mission of sharing the good news of Salvation, and we are to help each other continue to work toward that goal wholeheartedly!
When an individual chooses to join Faith Church, they sign a covenant – an agreement to live for Christ and submit to the authority of the church, as the Bible indicates. We at Vision of Hope are an integral part of the church so we also have the same goals in mind as we minister to the hurting young ladies who enter our program. We seek to love them, serve them, and walk alongside them toward the common goal of glorifying God.
For the next few weeks, we will be walking step-by-step through the Faith Church covenant, and sharing how Vision of Hope seeks to help our ladies live by these biblical principles as well. So, as we dive into this covenant, we hope you are encouraged and challenged along with us to live as radical followers of Christ! Let’s get to it!
Having accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior, publicly confessed my faith, and having been baptized by immersion in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I do now, in the presence of God and this assembly, solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with the believers of Faith Church, as one body in Christ.
I purpose, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together with the other believers of Faith Church in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of the church in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to attend its services regularly; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline, and doctrines; to give it a sacred preeminence over all institutions of human origin; to give faithfully of time and talent in service; and to contribute regularly, as God has prospered me, to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the help of those in need, and the spread of the gospel.
These first few promises are crucial to consider not just as a church member, but as a follower of Christ. Let’s start with the purpose to walk together as believers. Philippians 2:1-2 says, “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” As believers, we are united with all other believers into the body of Christ. No matter the personality differences, preferences, background differences, differences of gifts, talents, or passions, or any other difference, we are all one body and are to walk together to support and love each other. The beauty of the diversity in the body of Christ is what makes the church whole. Where would the musician be without the childcare worker? Where would the ABF teacher be without the church usher or greeter? We all need each other’s gifts and abilities, and we all contribute much to Christ’s body. The ladies who come to Vision of Hope are all here for one purpose – to find freedom through Christ from their life-dominating problems – and each lady is unique in personality. One thing our residents learn is how to love others who are different and broken, because the rest of us are different and broken too! But we are all here with the same purpose of life: to glorify God, and to love others. (2 Cor. 5:9, Matt. 22:36-39) We can strive toward that goal together, even when it’s hard, and we strive to walk alongside out ladies and help them to learn to not only live with others, but to love others and walk alongside them as well.
What a blessing it is to be a part of the body of Christ! Stay tuned, as we continue to discuss the biblical aspects of the Faith Church membership covenant, and how we seek to implement those principles at VOH.
