Membership
A note from Pastor Brent
It continues to be a great joy of mine to serve as the Lead Pastor of this wonderful church. God has blessed the ministries of Arbor Road for many decades, and we trust Him for continued blessings as we all follow Him closely.
Each one of us has a very special part to play here at Arbor Road. God has given each of us unique gifts, and He expects us to use them for His glory. We are very excited that you have decided to put your efforts into helping Arbor Road make an indelible impact on our surrounding community and throughout the world!
I have always held a very high view of church membership. In the world, there are a variety of types of memberships—fitness clubs, country clubs, libraries, political organizations, parachurch ministries … even Costco! Of all the types of memberships out there, church membership has a decidedly unique aspect to it.
Most memberships exist specifically to benefit us in some way, shape or form. Local church membership, on the other hand, is actually a commitment by us to serve others, and most especially, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the most meaningful type of membership! We trust that you will be exceedingly blessed to be a member of our church body. It is a real treat to have you join us through your commitment to membership!
We trust that you will read through this membership information and prayerfully consider the commitment that is before you. God bless you as you seek to stay sharp for our Lord.
I’ll look forward to seeing you around the campus!
In Christ,
Pastor Brent Eldridge
Membership
It is our desire that each member of Arbor Road Church would wholeheartedly embrace our purpose and strategies. Our purpose statement helps us to focus our efforts, so that we maximize our impact through the avenues that the Lord has afforded us.
Our Purpose Statement
To Know God and Make Him Known
Jesus said in John 17:3, “Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the Only True God, and Jesus Christ, who You have sent.” This passage is not simply speaking about “intellectual ascent,” however. “Knowing” in this passage speaks of a very deep and intimate knowledge. Knowing God like that is our chief purpose at Arbor Road Church.
Jesus gave us all a great commission just prior to His ascension into Heaven. In Matthew 28:19-20 He said, “Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.” Entering into this amazing commission is something we expect of everyone who becomes a member at Arbor Road Church. We “make Him known” to those around us day to day.
Personal Commitments
Our personal commitments consist of the “means” to accomplishing our purpose. We have outlined seven “personal commitments” that speak into our responsibilities in the areas of belief, character and action. Each of us has a personal responsibility to live our lives in ways that please God and reflect His glory.
Here are the seven commitments we desire for every person who calls Arbor Road Church “home” to enter into:
- A commitment to Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior (John 5:24)
- A commitment to Generosity through contributing our resources to the ministries of Arbor Road (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)
- A commitment to Humility, by putting others first (Philippians 2:3-5)
- A commitment to Encouragement through sharing life together
(Hebrews 10:24-25) - A commitment to Evangelism, through sharing our faith
(Luke 19:10; 2 Corinthians 5:20) - A commitment to Discipleship, through living out God’s Word
(John 15:5-8) - A commitment to Service, by using our gifts and abilities (Romans 12:1)
What we believe
Our teaching and ministries are based on these core beliefs.
We believe that the Bible is the Word of God, fully inspired and without error in the original manuscripts, written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and that it has supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Pet. 1:20-21
We believe that there is one living and true God – eternally existing in three persons, that these are equal in every divine perfection, and that they execute distinct but harmonious offices in the work of creation, providence, and redemption.
Is. 6:3; Is. 63:7-14; Matt. 3:16-17
We believe in God, the Father – an infinite, personal spirit, perfect in holiness, wisdom, power, and love. We believe that He concerns Himself mercifully in the affairs of men, that He hears and answers prayer, and that He saves from sin and death all who come to Him through Jesus Christ.
Ps. 145:8-9; 1 Cor. 8:6; Eph. 4:6; John 1:12-13; Rom. 8:15
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten son, conceived by the Holy Spirit. We believe in His virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, and teachings. We believe in His substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, ascension into heaven, perpetual intercession for His people, and personal visible return to earth.
Matt. 1:18-25; Phil. 2:6-8; Heb. 4:15; 1 Pet. 2:22-24; Ac. 1:9-12
We believe in the Holy Spirit – who came forth from the Father and Son to convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment, and to regenerate, sanctify, and empower all who believe in Jesus Christ. We believe that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer in Christ and that He is an abiding helper, teacher, and guide.
Matt. 28:19; Jn. 3:3-8; Tit. 3:5; Rom. 8:26-27; 1 Jn. 2:27; 1 Cor. 12:1-31; Jn. 15:26-27; 16:8-11
We believe that all men are sinners by nature and by choice and are, therefore, under condemnation. We believe that those who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are regenerated by the Holy Spirit.
Rom. 3:23; 6:23; 5:6-8; 10:9; 1 Cor. 2:14-16; 2 Cor. 5:17; Phil. 3:12-14
We believe in the universal church – a living spiritual body of which Christ is the head and all regenerated persons are members. We believe in the local church, consisting of a company of believers in Jesus Christ, baptized on a credible profession of faith, and associated for worship, work, and fellowship. We believe that God has laid upon the members of the local church the primary task for giving the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost world.
1 Cor. 10:31; Eph. 1:3-14; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; Eph. 4:1-16; Ac. 1:8; Matt. 28:18-20
We believe in the personal and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to earth and the establishment of his kingdom. We believe in the resurrection of the body, the final judgment, the eternal felicity of the righteous, and the endless suffering of the wicked.
Jn. 14:1-3; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Lk. 16:22-31; 1 Cor. 15:35-49; Rev. 20:1-15; Rev. 21-22
We believe that a Christian should live for the glory of God and the well-being of his fellow men, that his conduct should be blameless before the world, that he should be a faithful steward of his possessions, and that he should seek to realize for himself and others the full stature of maturity in Christ.
Phil. 3:12-14; Matt. 5:16; 2 Cor. 5:20-21
I want to become a member
Steps to becoming a member at Arbor Road Church:
- We invite you to watch a concise video about ARC’s history!
- Read through the material we’ve provided about our ministry and doctrine.
- Fill out the “application,” which basically entails writing out your personal testimony telling us about when you became a Christian. One of our Pastors will follow up with you to let you know we’ve received it and answer any questions you might have.
- Your testimony will be brought to our Elders on the night they review all applications and welcome new members to our church.
- After the Elders hear your testimony and vote to accept your membership status, we will follow up again to welcome you as an official member of Arbor Road Church!
