membership
what is Mission Membership
A “mission member” is a disciple of Jesus who has made a commitment to covenant with Aletheia Church, who is commissioned, empowered, and sent out on mission to see a greater worship of Jesus for the glory of God and the good of others. Membership at Aletheia is viewed through the priority of discipleship and a primary way to experience discipleship at our church.
Individuals interested in mission membership will have the opportunity to attend a tri-annual membership interest meeting. Those who wish to engage further with the mission membership process will then be invited to a more formalized mission membership process & cohort. At the end of this period, as each one has been given the opportunity to get to know Aletheia and to be known, they will be now be able to enter into a covenant membership relationship with Aletheia.
Mission Members commit to living and participating as disciples by giving their resources, abilities, time, and energy to this local church body. This covenant affirms unity and solidarity with what Aletheia believers to be true about the Bible, the gospel, and how disciples are to specifically function within God’s Church.
Although we believe that membership is an overflow and natural outworking of discipleship at Aletheia, those who choose not to pursue mission membership are still welcomed to connect to the church in every way possible. The ultimate goal is still discipleship for every individual connected to Aletheia Church.
Why is Membership important?
Membership is a high priority at Aletheia Church, as we believe it is the greatest means for discipleship as seen in the New Testament. The Bible uses the term members when describing the church within the analogy of it being the “body of Christ” (1 Cor 12). As each local church is organized underneath Jesus Christ as the head of the body, each individual Christian (member) plays a significant role in the building up of the church itself (Eph 4). Membership is also practically helpful in a few ways. First, it clearly defines the relationship between believers here at our church as brothers and sisters in Christ. Secondly, it allows the pastors and elders of our church to know who they are spiritually responsible for (Heb 13:17), whom they are to prioritize in their counseling and care (Gal. 6:10), and whom they are to equip for the work of ministry (Eph 4:12). Finally, it is our expectation that Aletheia’s members are sharing the burden of advancing the vision through sacrificial investment of their resources, abilities, time, and energy (R.A.T.E.) to the glory of God and the good of our community.