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How to Become a Member of First Presbyterian Church

Becoming a Member
The purpose of our membership process is to help every individual who desires to be a member of First Presbyterian Church have a firm faith commitment to Jesus Christ, to grow in their relationship with Jesus, to develop meaningful relationships with other members, and to find a fulfilling place of service and ministry.

Those seeking membership will be asked to take the following three steps:

Step One - Enrollment of Interest
After each Sunday morning worship service, elders will be available in the Fellowship Hall at the information center to meet with those interested in membership. The elders will be there to explain the three steps and help you begin the process. Come, let us answer your questions and extend to you a warm welcome to our church.

Step Two – Orientation Class
First Presbyterian Church is a large church and we take seriously the assimilation of our new members into the life of our congregation. The Orientation Class is an opportunity for those interested in joining to learn what we believe is the essence of the Christian faith, to understand our purpose statement and who we are as a church and what is expected of our members. This class is held approximately once a month. Attending Orientation does not obligate anyone to join, but all who enter membership do so through this class unless there are special circumstances.

See the orientation schedule for dates and details.

You may join our fellowship in any of three ways:

1. Profession of Faith – for those making a first time declaration of their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior (if never baptized, you will be baptized).

2. Reaffirmation of Faith – for those who have made a previous commitment to Jesus and have been baptized but do not have a current church membership to transfer.

3. Letter of Transfer – for those who are currently an active member in another church and wish to transfer their membership.

Step Three – Public Reception in Worship
All new members will be introduced and presented to the congregation at a Sunday morning worship service following the Orientation Class. As a group they will be asked to affirm their faith in Jesus Christ and commitment to membership in First Presbyterian Church. If any have not been baptized, we will schedule your baptism in a special service.

First Friends
Big churches have much to offer; great preaching, wonderful music, a wide variety of Sunday School classes and dozens of opportunities to serve. But to a new member, the church is a large building filled with strangers.

Here is where First Friends comes in. Our goal is to welcome each new member personally and lead him or her into fellowship in the FPC family. Each new member is assigned a “First Friend” who invites him to go to Sunday School, introduces him to the class as a new church member, and stays in touch until the new member is firmly attached either to the class or to one of the many volunteer activities offered by the church. Shortly after they join, new members, along with their First Friends, are honored at a festive dinner in the home of the Rick Faulks.

Every month 15-20 people join FPC. They tell us they came because they saw us on TV, just dropped in one Sunday and liked what they say and heard, or live in the neighborhood. They often comment on the warmth and friendliness of our congregation but still need the helping hand of a First Friend to guide them deeper into the fellowship of the FPC family.

First Friends Dinner
Members who joined in October and January were honored at a festive First Friends’ dinner in the home of Rick and Candace Faulk on Sunday, February 28. New members and their First Friends had a wonderful time enjoying good Mexican food, good conversation and good fellowship. The Faulks share their gift of hospitality several times each year giving new members the opportunity to meet some of our pastors and learn more about their new church family.

From a member:
I was first drawn to First Presbyterian Church by the preaching of Dr. Dave McKechnie. After attending off and on for approximately six months, I decided to join the church. As a pre-requisite to membership, it was necessary to attend an orientation class where I met two wonderful people, Jerry & Norma Scates. They were there to get to know me and encouraged me to attend their Sunday School Class, (the Fellowship Class) and to become involved in the church. They made sure that I was comfortable not only at Sunday School, but in church itself. The day I joined the church, I was invited to a social at the home of the Faulks’ who were most gracious hosts. The Scates were also there and both they and the Faulks introduced me to a number of people and made me very comfortable.

As to getting involved in the church, that was easy, partly because of whom I am and who I want to be, but also because of the continued encouragement of people like the Scates and the existing involvement of so many people at First Presbyterian. The Scates were always there for me, and if I missed church or Sunday school, they were the first to call. It soon became apparent to me that although First Presbyterian is a large church, through its many classes and activities, it is like a collection of small churches where everyone can become involved for the advancement for God’s Kingdom and for their own personal benefit. After a year and a quarter at First Presbyterian, I am deeply involved with its church life and continue to become more involved. First Friends was certainly a major impetus for this involvement.