Why Join A Church?

There are good reasons to consider placing formal membership with a local congregation of Christian believers.

From the beginning, believers in the New Testament clearly identified themselves with a specific local body of Christians. Granted, there were not as many churches in one city as there are now, but they clearly identified with a fellowship that was their spiritual home.

Membership communicates that you are a stake holder in the life and ministry of your local church. By joining a church you say, "I am not just attending a worship service here, but I am ready and willing to invest myself in accomplishing the vision and mission of this church." It's an important spiritual step that prompts you to drive a stake in the ground and say, "This is my spiritual home."

By placing membership, you are aligning yourself with the goals and values of Parkside Christian Church. You are declaring your affirmation of our godly leadership, and you are placing yourself under the care and oversight of that leadership. 

How is Membership Defined?

Let's make an important clarification. We become ”members” of the body of Christ (the church world-wide) at the moment of our conversion. The Bible is full of references to that once-and-for-all union with Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12-13; Ephesians 2:13-22; 4:3-6; Colossians 1:13-22). Our baptism into Jesus Christ unites us with believers everywhere. That “membership” is eternal and unchanging no matter where you worship locally.

Local membership comes about when we meet the membership expectations of a specific congregation. 

How Do I Join Parkside?

Follow these steps to become a participating member of Parkside Christian Church.

Affirm your relationship with Jesus Christ. The Bible's teachings concerning submission to Christ are simple and clear. See the "Becoming a Christian" page for an explanation of what the Bible teaches in this regard. 

In our practice, the physical initiation into a relationship with Christ is water baptism by immersion. If you have questions about your previous baptismal experience, or if you have never been baptized, we welcome a conversation. Just call the church office and any of our staff would be glad to set up an appointment to speak with you.

Attend Starting Point, a teaching session in which you can learn about the vision and values that are the template for all we do at Parkside Christian Church. Starting Point is offered frequently throughout the year.

Complete our New Member Profile and review it together with a staff person or group leader from Parkside. We are glad to give you a copy of this document.

As we welcome you into formal membership, we will explore with you how to develop your relationship with Christ and your involvement with your new church home.