Joining the Church

I get asked a lot of questions about joining the church. We don't use any high-pressure tactics, which is good, but that does leave an "information gap" sometimes.

Q. Do I have to join the church?

A. At WCCC, we understand that if you are a "Christ-follower", then you are a member of Christ's Church. So technically, by being a Christian you belong to His Church, even if you were trapped on a deserted island for the rest of your life.

But an essential part of God's plan for your growth is getting plugged-in to a congregation of believers. God never meant for you to fly solo. The best way to grow and serve is to be a part of a church family.

Q. What does the process involve?

A. Assuming that you are already a Christian, not much. We don't have a lot of hoops for you to jump through and it's pretty informal. If you're not sure whether or not you're a Christian, ask to talk to us. It's what we do.

If you are an immersed believer, you're probably ready to join immediately, so we would like to sit down and talk to you. After that, we'll have you come up front during a service and we'll ask you to acknowledge Christ as your Savior publicly. That's about it.

Q. Why do I have to come up front?

A. The primary reason is that our Elders want an opportunity for the congregation to put a face with the name. Remember, church membership is about being connected to a church family, in fellowship and in service. We want to know who you are!

The Profession of Faith (the part where I ask you to acknowledge your faith in Christ publicly) may not be important for the reasons you'd assume. We are encouraged when someone professes their faith in church, but it is far more important that every believer is also professing their faith out in the world. Remember, we are God's ambassadors in the world, not his secret agents. So getting up in front of the congregation is good "practice" for the real world.

Q. Why do you want to talk to me first?

A. First, we are a church that encourages questions and has Biblical answers. People have such diverse church backgrounds and experiences that it's almost always helpful to sit down with the preacher and get on the same page.

Second, we want to help you get involved. If you're not certain what your gifts are, this is an opportunity to discover where you might fit in.

Third, we live in a broken world and many of us have broken pasts. If you have special needs, the church wants to help and we want to be your advocate as you start on the road to spiritual health.