How to Become a Member
We welcome all whom the Lord would lead in our direction for service. Our members are expected to attend Sunday School and church services regularly, be involved in the ministry of the church and support the church with their prayers, gifts and Tithes. If you have additional questions about the components of membership, please feel free to call on our ministerial staff for clarification or you may email your questions to “Pastor Green” or our “Outreach Director, Ms. Jessica Green” by clicking on the name.
For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us…" (Romans 12:4-6a).
If you are coming to join the Timothy Baptist family by Letter, Statement or from another Denomination, You will meet with members of the Diaconate, New Members Ministry and the Church clerk to obtain all the needed information. At that time you will be given your Sunday School class and teacher's name and made aware of the ministry opportunities at Timothy. Following the completion of these steps, you will receive offertory and tithing envelopes. You will be asked to identify your personal spiritual gifts, put them to work in one of the church’s ministries, and actively enact your stewardship for Christ.
Timothy Baptist Church is committed to winning souls for Christ and asks you to join with us in this exciting opportunity for spiritual growth! We are a vibrant and changing congregation in the historic “Fort Hill” area of Roxbury, Massachusetts that has historically been and that continues to be on a path toward building God’s kingdom here on earth. The first step of membership in the body of Christian believers begins with accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. Full membership requires completion of the following steps:
By Profession of Faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord- --(a candidate for baptism), “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23
When a person accepts Jesus as Savior and Lord, he/she is invited to make that decision public and become a part of this fellowship of believers. The person is encouraged to talk with the pastor and make the decision public by coming forward during the time of commitment at the end of each service. This is a public expression of a very personal experience
By Transfer of Letter from a Church of Like Faith and Order
When a person who is from another denomination feels led to become a part of this fellowship of faith, that person is invited to come forward during the commitment time and unite with the church. This person should have been immersed (baptized) in a church that practices Believer's Baptism.
By Transfer from another Denomination which does not immerse-
Some denominations practice a form of baptism different from immersion (i.e. sprinkling). In order for everyone to have a shared experience of baptism, we invite the person to be immersed into this fellowship of faith. This is in no way a repudiation of any past experience with Christ, nor is it to suggest in any way that the person has not been a Christian. This is not intended to say that our way of baptism is the "right," but that this is the shared baptismal experience of Baptists. The unity we have as a people of faith is in belief, doctrine and mode of baptism
By Statement:
Some have been Baptist in the past and have been immersed. These persons may have gone to other denominations or may not be able to remember where their membership is at present. These persons are invited to join by statement of an experience with Christ and having experienced Believer's Baptism
1. Publicly join with our congregation Sunday morning services (11:00 a.m.), or Wednesday night prayer meeting and Bible Study (7 p.m.). This public acknowledgment may be confirmed through Baptism, Christian Experience or by Letter of transfer from a sister congregation.
2. Completion of a series of four New Members Classes.
3. Baptism by full immersion (if you have not already been baptized) Baptism is held on the “First Sunday” of each month after the 11:00 morning service... Receipt of the “Right Hand of Fellowship”. The “Right Hand of Fellowship” is given immediately after baptism.