MEMBERSHIP

 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.
Ephesian 2:19 
More Than Just a Sunday Gathering

MEMBERSHIP MATTERS

Why should I become a member? 
At Cornerstone, membership is more than a formality—it’s a commitment to grow together in faith, serve others with love, and walk in step with a family of believers. Whether you’re new to Christianity or simply new to our church, we invite you to explore what it means to belong here. We believe that church membership is a joyful step of obedience and partnership in the Gospel. It’s a chance to say, “This is my church family.” We think church membership is a really big deal. 

When you become a member of Cornerstone, you are saying YES to: 
  • Belonging – Becoming part of a spiritual family that supports and encourages you
  • Growing – Deepening your relationship with Christ and others 
  • Serving – Using your gifts to make a difference in the church and community 
  • Participating – Having a voice in key decisions that shape our church 
Membership brings clarity, connection, and commitment as we follow Jesus together. The local church isn’t like Netflix or a country club - membership isn't about 'the perks'. By identifying ourselves with a particular church, we let the pastor and other members of that local church know that we are their responsibility. We assure the church of our commitment to Christ in serving, giving, encouraging, and praying for one another.
How do I Join?
Is membership required to attend or serve?
There are lots of opportunities to worship, participate in Bible study groups, and serve in areas of ministry without becoming a member. However, there are some areas of ministry and leadership that are reserved for members only. One example would be working within our Children’s or Youth Ministries. For safety reasons, we require someone to be a member for at least 6 months before they would be allow to serve in these areas. So while membership is not required for everything, it is a great next step for those who want to be fully committed to our church family.
Members vs. Guests
We make a distinction between members and guests. Being a guest is an important season. Like the name suggests, it's a season where we welcome you into our home and we get to know each other. However, without eventually making a commitment to a local church through membership, guests become consumers that, to a certain extent, remain separated from our church family, and separated from the maturity, protection, accountability, and care that comes with being an active part of the church.

HOW DO I JOIN?

We encourage prospective members to discuss joining the church with the pastor first as well as participate in our recommended Discover Cornerstone Class that is offered several times a year. 

You can join Cornerstone in one of three ways: 
  • By Profession of Faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, followed by baptism by immersion.
  • By Transfer of Letter from a “similar” church. By this, we mean you have a membership at a church that recognizes similar doctrines as Cornerstone, particularly in regard to salvation. This would also mean that you have already been baptized by immersion following your profession of faith. 
  • By Statement of Faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, stating that you have previously trusted Him as Savior and that you have been baptized by immersion as a believer, but you do not have a church membership to transfer. 
During our Sunday worship service, we receive candidates for membership during the "Time of Invitation" that follows the pastor's sermon where you come to the front to see the pastor to present yourself for membership. All candidates for membership will complete a blue Membership Card indicating their decision (by baptism, by transfer, by statement). All requests for membership will be shared with the congregation at the end of the worship service, and all candidate names will be presented to the church for a vote of affirmation.
Still have questions??
God loves you and we really care about you and we would love to share with you more about following Christ or becoming a member of Cornerstone Baptist Church. Please give us a call at 704.278.0407 or email Pastor Michael Rakes.
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