How to Join

Joining a church is an important commitment. By this act we become members of one another and together members of the body of Christ. Membership is a joyful and yet always challenging gift.

Whenever someone joins our church, together we repeat a promise: "We affirm you in your Christian decision and celebrate your place in the family of God. We accept our responsibility to help you grow into the fullness of Christ. We offer ourselves to be your family, to surround you with God's kind of love."

We have said these words many times over the years, and the more we say them, the more we are grateful because we realize that they are impossible to fulfill without the grace of God.

According to our By-Laws (Article I) there are two ways to join, either as a full member or an associate member. The pastoral staff will be glad to talk with you at any time about membership. We also usually offer additional readings because being a church member often requires the development of new habits, practices and expectations. In the meantime, we encourage you to read about these options.

Section 1. Full Membership

Any person may, upon request at a worship service, become a member of this church

(1) by profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, to be followed by baptism; or

(2) by transfer of letter from another Baptist church; or

(3) by statement of former membership in a Baptist church; or

(4) by statement of membershiup in a Christian church of another denomination and baptismal experience according to the practices of that church. Upon request, this church will inform another church the circumstaces under which the transferring person was accepted into membership.

Section 2. Associate Membership

Any person may, upon request at a worship service, become an associate member of this church. This category of membership is for a person who wishes to maintain ties or affiliation with another Christian congregation, but wishes to serve with the members of Northside Baptist Church. Associate members are entitled to the same privileges as full members except they may not serve as deacons or messengers to the Metro Baptist Association, the Mississippi Baptist Convention, or the Southern Baptist Convention.