What does Membership mean?
“Membership” is the door into our community.
We are a praying fellowship, first and foremost. Members pledge themselves to join us in prayer. This is the first and fundamental meaning of membership. Prayer, in fact, is the only obligation required of our members.
But prayer is no small thing. When Jesus saw the needy crowds that surrounded him on every side, he did not organize a task force or study group to analyze the situation. He did not launch a funding campaign. He did not hire a marketer or authorize a direct mail program soliciting tithes and offerings. He urged his disciples to pray. (See the story in Matthew 9:35-38.)
One of the early lights in our community said simply, “Prayer is our working method” (Ernest Weinhardt). We encourage our members to pray.
Yet pray-ers often become involved in other ways, as well. Sometimes they will hear the voice of Jesus to go — as the disciples did in the verse following the passage referenced above. (See Matthew 10:1-15.) Sometimes they will be moved to give. We hope that all of our praying members will evaluate their lives and daily involvements in the light of our Lord’s gracious and compelling commission — to make disciples of all nations and peoples, everywhere. (See Matthew 28:18-20.)