Church membership is for people who love Jesus, love the church, and want to help the church bring the love of Jesus to the world. We believe at Ninth and O that it is very important for Christians to be committed members of a local church.
The information below is designed to answer questions for those interested in joining our church community by becoming a covenant member.
The process for becoming a member at Ninth and O is simple! It’s a two-step process, and the order in which the steps are taken does not matter.
Step One
One step is to attend the First Step class. The First Step class provides us the opportunity to articulate to prospective members what we believe and value as a congregation, as well as our church’s vision for the future. We also use this time to communicate what we believe healthy church membership looks like, and we walk through our church membership covenant.
The First Step class is offered on Sundays from 9:00–11:45 AM and attendance is limited. Pre-registration is required. A light breakfast and childcare will be provided. For more information and to register, contact Tommy Sims.
First Step for Kids!
Has your child committed his or her life to Christ? Is he or she ready for baptism? Was your child baptized at a previous church and would like to become a member of Ninth & O Baptist Church? Sign up for our Kids First Step Class! This class meets at the same time as the adult First Step in room 104 with Pastor Ryan Morris. Breakfast will be provided. Kids from kindergarten through fifth grade are invited to participate. Pre-registration is required.
2023 Classes
- March 19
- May 21
- September 17
- October 22
Step Two
A second step is to express your desire to become a member. Most people do this by coming forward during the time of commitment portion of a worship service and speaking with one of our decision encouragers. Or, if you prefer, you can schedule a meeting with any one of our pastors. When speaking with a decision encourager or pastor, you will communicate how you intend to join the church – whether by baptism, by transfer of letter from another Baptist church, by statement of faith, or by watchcare which allows for dual-church membership. If you have questions regarding the different ways in which to join and which option is right for you, please do not hesitate to speak to a pastor. When you meet with a decision encourager or pastor, you will also be asked to share the story of when you became a Christian and how faith in Christ has changed your life.
By completing steps one and two, and affirming our church membership covenant, you are a member of Ninth and O.
Our Membership Covenant
Our church membership covenant is a promise by which we obligate ourselves to one another – Ninth and O to the member and the member to Ninth and O. It sets forth expectations and provided accountability for both parties. With that said, we understand that ultimately this covenant is a promise made to God as a commitment to His glory and His bride, the church. The details of the covenant are covered in the Discover Ninth and O class.
The Ninth and O Baptist Church Membership Covenant
Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of our lives, and having been baptized upon our profession of faith, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, we do now faithfully and joyfully enter into covenant with one another as one body in Christ.
Ninth and O’s Covenant to You
We covenant that your pastors and deacons will meet the criteria assigned to them in the Scriptures [1 Timothy 3:1-13; 5:17-22; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-4].
We covenant to seek God’s will for our church community to the best of our ability as we study the Scriptures and follow the Spirit, being prayerful in all we do, recognizing that Jesus is the head of our church [Acts 20:28; Colossians 1:18, Ephesians 1:22; 1 Peter 5:1-5].
We covenant to care for you and seek your growth as a disciple of Christ, in part by equipping you for service and helping you identify how God has uniquely designed you to serve in community and on mission [Ephesians 2:20; 4:11-16].
We covenant to pray for you regularly, particularly when you are sick, and to help you in times of need as we become aware of them [Acts 2:42-47; 4:32-35; James 2:14-17; 5:14].
We covenant to provide teaching, preaching, and counsel from the Scriptures, and to develop a culture of training the church community to understand Scripture and think theologically.
We covenant to protect our church by lovingly addressing sin issues [Mt. 18:15-20; 1 Cor. 5; Gal. 6:11; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5: 1-5].
We covenant to worship God in Spirit and truth, exalting Jesus as the Savior of the world. We will guard the overall philosophy of worshiping God as the natural priority of all we do [John 4:24; 4:42; Rom. 12:1-2].
We covenant to prayerfully and wisely steward all financial gifts and time that church members give as acts of worship.
We covenant to approach family ministry holistically, to support marriages and to train parents as they raise their children and teenagers. We will support parents in their responsibility of training their children to learn the Scriptures and teachings of Jesus [Deuteronomy 6:1-9].
We covenant to continually view the church itself as a mission, encouraging our members to remain focused on their being sent into the world to make disciples of all nations. We will support, train, equip, and encourage every member to live as a missionary in their everyday context [Matthew 28:19-20; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21].
Your Covenant to Ninth and O
I covenant to follow and submit to the Scriptures as the final authority in all areas of my life allowing God’s Word to guide my thoughts, change my actions, and help me to discern what is right and resist what is wrong [2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12].
I covenant to take responsibility for my own theological growth and to maintain a close relationship with the Lord Jesus through regular Bible reading, prayer, fellowship, and participation in the regular activities of the church [Psalms 105:1-2; 119:97; Acts 2:42-47; 17:11; Hebrews 5:12-14; 10:23-25; 2 Peter 1:3; 3:18].
I covenant, by God’s grace, to walk in holiness as an act of worship to Jesus Christ, who has saved me from my sin that I could live a new life. I will also seek to avoid anything that brings unnecessary harm to the church or jeopardizes my own or another’s faith. [Job 31:1; Proverbs 5; Romans 8:13; 13:12-14; 14:21; 1 Cor. 6:9-7:16; 8:7; 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 5:19-21; Col. 3:5; Heb. 13:4; 1 Peter. 2:11; 1 Jn. 1:6-10].
I covenant to walk with my brothers and sisters in love, unity, and the bond of peace. I will support my pastors and fellow members through prayer, kind words, and good deeds. I will also refuse to participate in gossip or slander [Matthew 6:9-15; Mark 11:25; John 13:34; 17:22-23; 2 Corinthians 12:20; Ephesians 4:1-3; 4:31-32; James 1:27; 2:14-17; 5:13-17; 1 Peter 4:7].
I covenant to steward my resources with an understanding that they are a gift from God. This stewardship includes regular financial giving to the church and the using of spiritual gifts to serve the church. [Proverbs 3:9-10; John 13:34; 17:22-23; Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12-13; 2 Corinthians 8-9; 12:7-31; Galatians 5:22-26; Ephesians 4:1-16; 5:15-18; Hebrews 10:25; 1 Peter 4:10-11].
I covenant to be a missionary. I will live my life in such a way that represents Jesus to the world in a way He would be pleased with, remaining pure and holy but not disconnected from the culture around me. I will regularly and intentionally cultivate relationships with and actively pray for people who do not yet know Jesus as Lord and Savior. I will also seek out opportunities to connect and invite my non-Christian friends and family into my Christian community [Matthew 5:13-16; 9:9; 28:18-20; John 4:28-29; 17:15; 20:21; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 2:15; Colossians 4:2-6].
I covenant, if the unfortunate need should ever arise, to submit to righteous discipline when approached biblically by brothers and sisters in Christ [Psalms 141:5; Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Corinthians 5:1-5; 2 Corinthians 2:5-8; Galatians 6:1-5; 1 Timothy 5:20; 2 Timothy 2:25; Titus 1:19; 3:10-11; Hebrews 12:5-11; Revelation 2:5-7; 14-25].
I have read, understood, and agree with the core beliefs and church membership covenant of Ninth and O Baptist Church. I wholeheartedly affirm my commitment to this church and submit to the authority that the local church has been given in Scripture.