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Membership Manual Membership Manual

ECC Membership Manual V1.1, 2012

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Table of Contents

GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER ......................................................... 2

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................ 3

OUR HERITAGE ............................................................................. 4

OUR VISION AND VALUES ............................................................. 7

OUR BELIEFS ................................................................................. 9

OUR MANAGEMENT AND GOVERNANCE PHILOSOPHY .............. 11

YOUR GROWTH .......................................................................... 12

YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS ............................................................... 13

APPLYING FOR CHURCH MEMBERSHIP ....................................... 15


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Draw a picture of something about yourself (e.g. cars, sewing, family, photography), and when everyone is finished, explain it to the rest of the class.


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Introduction

Why Membership?

You don’t need to be a member to get involved in the church. But we still encourage membership because the Bible says, “Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” (Romans 12:4-8) Practically speaking, membership is a step in your spiritual growth. As you intend on take on greater responsibility and participation in the church and missions, you would benefit by first knowing about the church’s beliefs, background, purpose, and vision. Membership is also a requirement for those seeking to become a deacon, elder, and other leadership positions in the church. It is also a requirement for those seeking to vote in congregational meetings.

Who Can Become a Member? ECC receives into membership anyone who is born again through faith in Jesus Christ and professes Him before the world; who has reached sixteen years of age; who has a good reputation as to life and character; and who accepts the Statement of Faith of ECC.

Are You Born Again? A member of the church must first belong to Christ. As we go through this list make sure that it describes you.

I am a ______________. Romans 3:23

Even through my best efforts, I only deserve to die; therefore, I need a ______________.

Romans 6:23

Out of love, Jesus ____________ in my place. Romans 5:8

I am assured of my salvation, not because I am good, but because I ____________ that Jesus is Lord, the creator, and that He rose from the dead as proof that all His promises are true. Romans 10:9

If you have never prayed a prayer like the one below, there is no time like the present!

Dear God, thank you for creating me. I confess that I have rejected your rightful authority as my Creator by not acknowledging you and by not living in your ways. In rejecting your authority I have sinned against you and have hurt myself and others. I ask you to forgive me for my sin. Thank you that I can avoid your judgment through the death of your Son on the cross. I humbly accept this gift from you. I also reach out to you to accept the gift of the Holy Spirit to fill my life and enable me to live as a follower of Jesus Christ. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.


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Our Heritage

The word “church” that peppers our New Testament comes from the Greek word ekklesia. In ancient Greek society a town crier would call people together for a meeting, and this gathering was called the ekklesia (ek=out, kaleo=to call; put them together and get “the called out ones”). New Testament writers referred to the ekklesia as a group of people who joined together by virtue of their common faith in Jesus Christ (for

example, see I Corinthians 1:2).

The Church in the Bible

Jesus establishes His church when people believe that Jesus is the ____________, i.e. the Messiah. Matthew 16:18

The church is the _______________of the Holy Spirit, where He dwells when believers gather. I Corinthians 3:16-17

The church is made up of all ____________ of believers. Galatians 3:28

All believers, even new ones, are members of God’s ______________. Ephesians 2:19-22

The church is a ____________ community, specially chosen for the task of worshipping and praising Jesus Christ.. I Peter 2:9

The Church in History

...the teaching of the Apostles...received without addition or subtraction; the reading of the Scriptures without falsification; and their consistent and careful exposition, avoiding danger and blasphemy; and the special gift of love, which is more precious than knowledge, more glorious than prophecy, and which surpasses all other spiritual gifts. ~ Irenaeus (2nd century)

The Church is one, and by her fertility has extended by degrees into many lands. In the same way the sun has many rays, but its light is one... ~ Cyprian (3rd century)

Now, anywhere you hear or see such a word preached, believed, confessed, and acted upon, do not doubt that the true ecclesia sancta catholica, a “holy Christian people” must be there...~ Martin Luther (16th century)

If it has the ministry of the Word and honors it, if it has the administration of the sacraments, it deserves without doubt to be held and considered a church. ~ John Calvin (16th century)

It is the fellowship and congregation of all saints which is Christ’s bride and spouse which He washes with His blood and finally presents to the Father without blemish or any spot. ~ Helvetic Confession (16th century)

The Christian Church is the congregation of the brethren in which Jesus Christ acts presently as the Lord in Word and sacrament through the Holy Spirit. ~ Barmen Declaration (20th century)


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The Church’s Family Tree

ECC is a non-denominational church. That is, we are autonomous and are not governed by any external organization. We are not opposed to denominations, however, and we trace our heritage to all denominations that worship the triune God, and profess Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.


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Our Local History In April 1988, about 70 people from the Kowloon Tong Alliance Church began an English-speaking worship service at the YMCA at Salisbury Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. During its early days the church was led by a temporary convening committee whose functions included the planning of worship services, strategic planning, determining the philosophy and structure of leadership, recruiting of pastors, finding a new location for worship and other meetings, overseeing the youth ministry, Sunday Schools and handling church finances. The name Evangelical Community Church was chosen to reflect the interdenominational character of the fellowship as well as the shared vision to evangelize the English-speaking community in Hong Kong. A Statement of Purpose was also formulated shortly afterwards. The preaching and teaching for Sunday worship services were shared by various attending members and some invited speakers. The founding members of the church believed that the formation of the church provided a unique opportunity for those attending to examine afresh the New Testament teachings on church government and believers’ involvement and service. They believed that the church ought to be one which involves the active participation of its members and provides an environment for corporate worship of Jesus Christ, mutual encouragement and accountability, care and concern, growth in Christ and training for service. From April 1988 to January 1989, the church met at the YMCA. Attendance increased from the initial 70 to about 200. Although the service was not led by professional ministry workers, there was a sense of belonging and ownership with an atmosphere of excitement, enthusiasm and fellowship. Due to the redevelopment of the YMCA, the church services were moved to the Baptist College in Kowloon Tong in February 1989 and met in the late afternoon. Concurrent with the move, the Harvesters’ Youth Clubs began meeting at the Breakthrough Center auditorium in Jordan. The church continued to grow with average attendance approaching 300. The church opened an administrative office in Mong Kok for the two pastors and a secretary. In October 1991, we began another morning service in the newly renovated YMCA at Salisbury Road. By 1994, one single service would not suffice and we began a second morning service in May. In September 1999, a group of 200 were sent out to begin the ECC Island congregation meeting at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. In April 2002, we adopted a “sister church” model to allow the Kowloon and Island congregations the freedom and autonomy to respond to their unique needs by having a separate elder board, financial and legal structure. A joint elder board was also maintained to facilitate discussion of shared or “bridge” ministries. Both congregations continued to grow and evolve. In spring 2007, after many years of prayerful discussions, under the recommendations of the joint elder board, the membership approved the Island congregation to become Island ECC, a separate and independent church to take effect in September 2007. The Kowloon congregation retains the name of ECC and continued to uphold the core values of Worship, Nurture, Community and Outreach in reaching more people with the Gospel and making more disciples for our Lord Jesus Christ. In 2011, the church recognized its strong mission emphasis since its birth, and adopted its overall vision of “cultivating ambassadors.” With that vision, ECC seeks to equip every member to be effective witnesses and disciple-makers in Hong Kong, and the world abroad, unto God’s glory.


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Our Reason for Existence:

Cultivating Ambassadors ECC’s Vision: We are a __________________ community that nurtures and trains

Hong Kong people to reach others with the ____________, in order to witness the

explosive, _______________________ movements of God here and in specific

epicenters around the ___________.

ECC’s Four Essentials:

In order to effectively cultivate ambassadors, we long for revival, as evidenced in four areas. The modern church desperately needs the awakening, sanctifying, and equipping power of the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, we will be pitifully weak and ineffective in our walk, worship, and witness. For this reason, we fervently pray and cry out for the power and presence of God to work mightily to develop ECC in the following four critical areas of ministry:

___________________: We search the Scriptures.

ECC belongs to that body of Christian churches called “evangelical,” where the Bible is our infallible and inerrant authority for faith and life. The Bible is more than just a “how to” book, but whose central theme is the gospel, God’s plan to redeem and save mankind through Jesus Christ. Our aim is to nurture people so that they are Biblically and theologically literate, not only formally through the written and spoken Word of God, as we gather for Sunday worship, but informally as we scatter to our homes and work during the week, meeting in smaller groups for discussion and prayer.

___________________: Worship is a verb.

Worship services are not spectator events, where the worship team is the performer, and the congregation is the audience. Rather, the congregation must be the performer and God the audience. That is why worship leaders prompt the congregation to follow the Spirit’s leading to sing, clap, bow down, raise hands, meditate, and actively listen, in response to the power and presence of God.

God created us also to worship every day. As one historic creed puts it, ‘The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever.' So we value creative expressions of devotion not only on Sunday, in which we also hear the Word of God and participate in the Lord's Supper, but also Monday through Saturday, in which we work, as the apostle Paul writes, “Take your everyday, ordinary life-your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life and place it before God as an offering.” Romans 12:1, The Message


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___________________: We embrace hybrid cultures.

We’re full of people who are a mixture of two or more cultures, because of this age of global mobility and access. But what brings us together is not our assembly into one room, but the Holy Spirit, for true community is not a human accomplishment. Because God is personal, so also should our community be. Thus we value authentic community and strive to be more than an audience on Sunday morning, but a community of the people of God sharing our lives together socially and in meeting each other's material needs as they arise. Community is also expressed in our Care Groups, which meet during the week, in which the gifts of God are discovered, where we receive prayer and where we are used for the service of one another and for the needs of the world here in Hong Kong and beyond.

___________________: Our primary strategy is to plant and nurture missional churches.

We are passionate about missions. Since Hong Kong is “Asia’s World City,” we take the strategic nature of this unique city as a gift and a responsibility for cultivating ambassadors for Christ. To this end, we promote the planting and nurturing of churches, as the most effective and Biblical method of evangelism and discipleship. We also partner with like-minded Christians in mainland China and around the world who are seeking God's ‘kingdom come.’ We express God’s love in all its forms, through word and deed, proclamation and demonstration, evangelism and social involvement, because God loves and saves the whole person. Evangelism has social consequences and social involvement has evangelistic consequences as we express the grace of God in Jesus through what we say and do. Since the early church ‘enjoyed the favor of all the people,’ we desire that our mission would enjoy such favor. The result we seek is the transformation of communities, cities, and nations, for Christ, for the glory of God.

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.” 2 Corinthians 5:20


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Our Beliefs

The beliefs of ECC are called “Evangelical.” That is, we are associated with those branches of Protestant Christianity that hold to Scripture as the only authority for faith and life, that salvation is through faith not by works, and that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation. Our other beliefs that meet the standards of the historic Christian faith include the following: Concerning God There is one God, who is infinitely perfect, existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, who are equal in power and glory and executing distinct and harmonious offices in the great work of creation and redemption. Gen. 1:26-27; 3:22; Matt 3:17; 28:19; Luke 10:35; 2 Cor 13:14 Concerning Jesus Christ Jesus Christ is true God and true man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, being God manifest in the flesh. He lived a life of absolute sinlessness. He died upon the cross, the Just for the unjust, as a substitutionary sacrifice, and all who believe in Him are justified on the ground of His shed blood. He was buried and rose again from the dead on the third day and ascended bodily into heaven. He accomplished a decisive victory over sin for His people and established His Kingdom among men. He is now at the right hand of God the Father. As our High Priest, He is interceding for us. As our Prophet, He is now speaking to men through the Word. As our King, He is continuing to establish His Kingdom in us and in the world. The Lord Jesus Christ will return in glory and triumph for the final judgment and the full realization of His Kingdom. Phil 2:5-11; 1 Tim 3:16; Heb 1:5-13; John 1:1 Concerning the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is a divine person, sent to seal, indwell, guide, teach, empower the believer, and convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. John 16:5-16; 1 Cor 12; Eph. 4:11-13. Concerning the Scriptures The Old and New Testaments, inerrant as originally given, were verbally inspired by God, written by men as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit, and are a complete revelation of His will for men. They are the only and infallible authority of Christian faith and practice. 2 Peter 1:21, 2 Tim 3:16 Concerning Man Man was originally created in the image and likeness of God as a rational, moral and spiritual being. He fell through disobedience. This corrupted him spiritually, intellectually, and physically, resulting in both spiritual and physical death. All men are born with a sinful nature, are separated from the life of God, and can be saved only through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. The punishment of those who do not know God and do not believe and obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is everlasting destruction in hell and separation from the presence of God. Those who believe in Jesus Christ have eternal life and will live forever in the presence of God. John 6:44; 15:5; Rom. 8:7; 1 Cor. 2:14; 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil 2:13


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Concerning Salvation Salvation has been provided by grace through Jesus Christ for all who believe. Those who repent and believe in Him are born again of the Holy Spirit, receive the gift of eternal life, and becoming the children of God. Eph. 2:8, Rom. 3:28 Concerning Sanctification It is the will of God that all believers should be filled with the Holy Spirit and be sanctified, thereby receiving power for holy living and effective service. They should be separated from sin, the world and the works of the devil, and be fully dedicated to the will of God. This is progressive experience wrought in the life of the believer. Eph. 4:11-13 Concerning the Church The Church consists of all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is the Head of the Body, the Church. The local church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together for worship, fellowship and service. Matt 16:18 Concerning the Last Days In the Last Days when the great work of redemption has been completed, Christ will visibly and bodily return to this earth in glory and triumph to judge the living and the dead. The dead will be resurrected, the believing to everlasting life and the unbelieving to eternal condemnation. The new heaven and the new earth will appear and the Kingdom of God will be fully realized. This is the believer’s blessed hope and is vital truth which is an incentive to holy living and faithful service. Matt. 24, Rev. 19-21


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Our Management and Governance Philosophy An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless – not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. (Titus 1:6-9) Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. (1 Tim. 3:8-10) To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. (1 Peter 5:1-4) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up… (Ephesians 4:11,12) ECC is an elder-led church. Some churches have a more hierarchical, military philosophy. Other churches have a congregation-led philosophy. As an elder-led church, however, most matters are settled by the elder board and its delegated groups. A few matters such as the passing of the annual budget, the election of elders, and the appointment of pastors, must be approved by the congregation at what is called a General Meeting. The GM’s that are held annually are called Annual General Meetings. Special GM’s that are called for a specific decision such as the hiring of a new pastor are called Extraordinary General Meetings. Because such weighty decisions require the input and wisdom of an entire congregation, all official members of the church are requested to participate and vote. In fact, a General Meeting cannot be convened, unless at least one-third of the official membership is present.

ECC Elders and Pastors

Committees Staff Care Groups Service Teams


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Your Growth

7 Habits of Spiritual Hygiene


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Your Spiritual Gifts

We serve by using our spiritual gifts. A spiritual gift is an ability given to you by God’s Holy Spirit. Every true believer has one or more spiritual gifts. God calls Christians to use these gifts when they serve Him.

We serve God by using these spiritual gifts in helping others. 1 Corinthians 12:7 says that gifts are given "for the common good." 1 Peter 4:10 says we ought to "employ our gifts for one another." When we serve others in this way, we are serving God.

A spiritual gift is not the same as a natural talent. Although they are both given by God, and although both can be used to the glory of God, they are not the same. Natural talents are abilities that both unbelievers and believers have, while spiritual gifts are abilities that only believers have. For example, suppose one became a Christian, and had the ability to play the piano. But after becoming a Christian, his ability greatly improves, he develops a great desire to improve his skills, he uses his skills to draw people to Christ as he plays, he composes new music that reflects his new love for Christ, and he worships God by playing spiritual songs on the piano. He could never have played in this way before he became a Christian.

If you are a genuine Christian, you can find out what your spiritual gifts are. First, when you become a member, you will be given a login name and password for access to the “members” section of the ECC website. Second, click on “spiritual gifts,” and then click on the “calculate” button at the bottom of the inventory, to find out what your spiritual gifts may be. Third, use your gifts, whatever you think they may be. Fourth, listen to others and try to remember what other people have said about your abilities. Note especially those comments from those who felt blessed, or encouraged, or have spiritually grown through your using your gifts. Sometimes the lack of comments may mean that you don’t have a gift in a specific area.

Important Bible passages on spiritual gifts: Romans 12:3-8, 1 Cor. 12:1, 4-11, 27-31, 1 Peter 4:10-11, Eph. 4:7-8, 11-13.

A______________ (1 Cor. 12:28, Rom. 12:8): the ability to organize and guide human activities in such a way that Christ’s program is carried out, e.g. a director or coordinator for a Christian gospel concert.

C______________ (Ex. 35:31): the ability to forward God’s kingdom through creative skills such as music, drama, graphic arts, writing, painting, sculpting, etc., e.g. a musician on the Praise Team, or one who designs and sews colorful banners for the worship center.

D______________ (1 Cor. 12:10, 14:9): the ability to distinguish between truth and error, or to know when a person or act is of God, or Satan, e.g. one who was able to tell that a preacher was in grave error before anyone else was able to detect it.

E______________ (Rom. 12:8): the ability to give words of comfort and counsel to others in such a way that they feel helped and healed, e.g. one whom people love to call on when they are in the hospital.

E______________ (Eph. 4:11): the ability to present the gospel to unbelievers in such a clear and meaningful way that people receive Christ.


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F______________ (1 Cor. 12:9): the ability to discern with extraordinary confidence the will and purpose of God for his work.

G______________ (Rom. 12:8): the ability to sacrificially contribute money and possessions towards the work of the Lord, e.g. one who gives 30% of his income to the church, Christian ministries, and the needy.

H______________y (Rom. 12:13): the ability to welcome and graciously serve guests or strangers, e.g. one who invites newcomers to his home to make them feel welcome.

I______________ (Col. 1:9-10): the ability to pray for long periods of time on a regular basis and see frequent answers to their prayers, to a degree much greater than that which is expected of the average Christian, e.g. one who enjoys praying in 24-hour prayer vigils.

L______________ (Rom. 12:8): the ability to envision God’s will and purpose, and to rally people into a team that enthusiastically works towards that vision, e.g. a church planter.

M______________ (Rom 12:8): the ability to show genuine compassion and help those who are suffering or distressed, e.g. an S.O.S. Squad member.

P______________ (1 Cor. 12:10,29): the ability proclaim God’s truth for today’s world so that believers are built up, and unbelievers convinced, e.g. a preacher.

S______________ (Rom. 12:7): the ability to help others in practical ways, e.g. one who fixes automobiles for the needy elderly.

S______________ (Eph. 4:11): the ability to care for the spiritual needs of a group of people on a long-term basis, e.g. a pastor, or Bible study leader who stays with a group for 2 years.

T______________ (1 Cor. 12:28; Rom. 12:7; Eph. 4:11): the ability to impress God’s ways and God’s truth upon new believers, by his/her speaking skills and by lifestyle.

M______________ (1 Cor. 12): the ability to serve as an intermediary whom God uses to perform powerful acts that alter the ordinary course of nature.

H______________ (1 Cor 12): the ability to serve as an intermediary whom God uses to cure illness.

T______________ (1 Cor. 12:10): the ability to speak to God in a language that they have never learned.

I______________ (1 Cor. 12): the ability to make known in the vernacular the message of one who speaks in tongues.


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Applying for Church Membership

Attend a Membership Class. Fill out and return the attached Membership Application form to [email protected]. Interview with a church elder or staff. Following the successful review of your application, you

will be recommended for membership to the Board of Elders. Approval by the Board of Elders. Official welcome for new members at one of the worship services. Please complete the spiritual gifts inventory at the ECC website (www.ecchk.org)

Should you have any questions, please contact the church office at 2723-4777 or email to [email protected].

mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


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Evangelical Community Church (ECC)

Membership Application (Please complete this form and submit to [email protected])

NAME: ,,,

PPPlllaaaccceee yyyooouuurrr

PPPHHHOOOTTTOOO

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(Last) (First)

PHONES:

(Home) (Mobile)

EMAIL:

HOME ADDRESS:

I profess to have received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, have a personal relationship with Him, and have read carefully and agreed with the Statements of Faith and Purpose of ECC. The following is my faith journey, including the people and events that brought me to faith in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. (Write below or attach a separate sheet if needed.)

APPLICANT SIGNATURE: DATE:


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I understand and will commit to the responsibilities and rights of membership of ECC. I now feel led by the Holy Spirit to unite with the ECC family. In doing so, I commit myself to God and to the other members to do the following:

1. I WILL PROTECT THE UNITY OF MY CHURCH

By acting in love towards other members

By refusing to gossip

By following the leaders

By participating in the General Meetings 2. I WILL SHARE THE GROWTH AND OUTREACH OF MY CHURCH

By praying for its growth

By inviting the unchurched to attend

By warmly welcoming those who visit

By reaching those who don’t know Jesus 3. I WILL STRIVE TO PRACTICE THE 7 HABITS OF SPIRITUAL HYGIENE

By reading the Bible and praying daily

By reading the Bible and praying with my family daily

By worshipping with other members weekly

By praying with my spouse weekly

By tithing

By belonging to a care group

By discovering my gifts and talents, and finding ways to serve voluntarily

1. Have you been baptized? If so, when and where?

2. Are you currently a member in another church? If so, which church?

3. Which Care Group do you presently attend or plan to attend?

4. In which area(s) would you like to serve?

Children Men

Youth Women

Adult Education Missions & Outreach

Care Group Filipino

Worship Team

Other:

Pastoral and Elders’ Approval

PASTOR/ELDERS’ SIGNATURES:

DATE:

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