How do I become a member?

When can I apply for membership?

What if I decide not to be a member?

How do I become a member?
The membership process has four parts taken one after another. Each, in its turn is an important component of discerning God’s leading and confirmation.

Part 1: Membership Class:
The first thing to know about membership class is that it is open to anyone wanting to know more about the life and mission of New Hope Fellowship. It does not commit you to becoming a member. If you are thinking about becoming a member or just interested in learning more about New Hope you are more than welcome to attend the classes. The purpose of these classes is to give a through acquaintance of our vision practically, and its Biblical/ theological impulses. The bulk of the material will be engaging the content of the member manual. However, we will invite question and answer discussions.
This first iteration of classes will take place on both Friday and Sunday evenings for four sessions starting Jan 25. (Information on times, places, and childcare is available at signup.) The class will be taught on Friday and the same class reduplicated on Sunday. There is no difference between the content of the classes or its constituents. You should chose whichever time best fits your schedule and that of your family’s. Unlike care groups, there is no benefit to being consistent to one or the other, provided you attend all four sessions. The reasoning to have the same class twice a week, one class during the week and one on weekends, was for the purpose of backup classes. If it is unavoidable that one week you will not be able to make either class there will be audio recordings provided. However, if your scheduling will cause you to miss more than that we advise you to join the next round of classes.

Part 2: Application:
At the end of the membership class applications will be made available to those who desire to continue the process. The application will contain questions ranging over three different areas 1) Personal faith in Christ, 2) Understanding of New Hope Vision 3) Where you see yourself in relation to the vision. This application will entail mostly essay rather than asking for detailed information. The purpose of the application is not to test for knowledge of facts or how effectively you can express them. We are simply trying to gain an understanding of how we can help you know fully our common vision before you join it. The application is not the bar for acceptance into membership. It is only one part of a greater process which we’ll walk through together as leadership and congregation. The application supplies a good background to make the best use of our time for the following part.

Part 3: Membership Interview:
After the application is completed you can give the application to either Elder or Pastor (i.e. Chae or Edward). They will be kept in complete confidence. As applications are received, they will all be reviewed by the leadership (again i.e. Chae and Edward). After review you will be contacted to set up a membership interview, either in person or over the phone. This conversation serves as an extension of the application. It is another way to better understand where you are at with God and church and to help you know more about New Hope.  Further questions can be discussed and any misunderstandings clarified. This conversation can be as brief as necessary or as long as desired. In either case we want it to be both personal and prayerful.

Part 4: Membership Covenant:
Upon completion of these steps, you will be taken through a brief covenanting confirmation whereby you will be accorded formal membership into New Hope Fellowship. To God be glory!

When can I apply for membership?
Once you are ready to apply for membership we encourage you not to put it off. However, if you are unable to apply for membership at this time, there will be another class held later on in the year. Membership classes will typically be held annually or as necessary.

What if I decide not to be a member?
We have emphasized previously, the need for all believers to belong to the membership of a local body. Therefore, we joyfully encourage any Christian who joins us regularly to pursue membership. However, there are different reasons why someone may decide not to pursue membership. There may be questions concerning commitment to Christ or commitment to this specific body of New Hope. We would rather have someone make a careful decision to wait on membership than to casually initiate the process. This is something that requires your prayerful consideration and thoughtful engagement.
Please be assured, not being a member will not keep anyone from receiving the ministry of Christ to this fellowship and through it. We desire everyone who comes here, regardless of duration or degree of involvement, to have all that God wants for them. Whether someone commits to membership is not a prerequisite for our commitment to God’s care for them. Participation in worship service, care groups, ministry teams, and other aspects of our community are open to all. Membership is not an exclusive “inner ring” of privileged status. It is an earnest investment of oneself to the formation of the life of God among us. Members take joyful responsibility to support the growth and particular shape of New Hope Fellowship. Everyone is invited from there to take what God gives freely to all of blessing and grace.