Affirming Our Commitment to One Another

Membership Matters

Let love be without hypocrisy—by abhorring what is evil, clinging to what is good, being devoted to one another in brotherly love, giving preference to one another in honor, not lagging behind in diligence, being fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, persevering in affliction, being devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, pursuing hospitality. —Romans 12:9–13

God is continually at work building His church, adding to the body those whom He calls through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Membership at Grace Church reflects a public affirmation of commitment to Christ and to one another within this local body. As members, we are reminded that belonging to the church carries both joy and responsibility, as we seek to love, serve, and grow together according to God’s design. This is what being a member here is all about—committing, with the Holy Spirit’s help:

• To diligently exercise self-control so that your lifestyle exhibits both true Christian love and personal holiness.
• To faithfully assemble with this body of believers in unity and use your spiritual gifts to serve and edify one another.
• To consistently contribute, as a good steward of God’s blessings, your time, talents, and resources, so that our local and worldwide ministry of spreading the gospel may continue.
• To humbly teach biblical truth to your family and acquaintances, as God gives you opportunity, with a desire to see them come to trust Jesus Christ and be saved.
• To willingly give and receive admonition and instruction with meekness and in love.
• To consistently pray for the ministry here in this church—your brothers and sisters in Christ, the elders, pastors, deacons, and for the lost who need the Savior.

When believers join our church, they know what their responsibility is and also what they’re getting from the believers who are already here. The existing members recognize their commitment and regularly commit, with God’s help, to love, encourage, teach, admonish, comfort, and exhort those whom God brings to our church in membership, and they commit to that responsibility with a genuine desire to see new members continue to grow in the knowledge of Christ and His Word. Membership truly aids our devotion to one another in brotherly love and helps us serve the Lord with gladness.

If you desire this kind of commitment in your life or have questions about membership, please stop by our Member Center after either morning service.

Steps to Becoming a Member

1. Register at the Member Center

After each Sunday morning service, the Member Center is staffed with volunteers eager to answer questions about membership and baptism, provide you with a membership application, and help you begin the registration process for membership classes. 

2. Begin Membership Application

Fill out all parts of the application for membership—this includes answering questions about your spiritual background and testimony, and reading a few documents to help you understand what we teach and how our church operates.

3. Attend Membership Classes

A complete class cycle is offered at 11 am over the first three Sundays of every month (excluding July and December).

4. Attend Pastoral Interview & Schedule Baptism

After completing your application, return it to the Member Center on Sunday morning, at the end of the Worship or Fellowship Group service. Then contact your Fellowship Group pastor or elder to schedule your membership interview.

5. Right Hand of Fellowship (RHOF)

When you complete the membership process, you will be welcomed as a member at the next “Right Hand of Fellowship,” which occurs monthly at the end of the evening service.

If you have any questions about the membership process, stop by the Member Center after a Sunday morning service or contact the Membership Department at 818-909-5644 or membership@gracechurch.org.

For more on what we believe about church membership, read The Distinctive of Church Membership.