Membership

Church Membership is essentially a commitment between a local church family and an individual Christian. At the heart of this mutual commitment is the desire on the part of the church to provide an atmosphere of spiritual growth; and an equally strong desire on the part of an individual to grow. The New Testament clearly teaches the importance of this mutual commitment. Membership is not just for the sake of the church. It also facilitates individual spiritual growth.

Why Membership?

1. A Biblical Reason: Christ is committed to the church and its members. ". . . Christ loved the church, and He gave His life for it" (Ephesians 5:25). Membership reciprocates Christ's commitment to His followers.
2. A Personal Reason: The New Testament places a major emphasis on the need for Christians to be
accountable to each other for spiritual growth. You cannot be accountable when you're not committed to any specific church family.
3. A Cultural Reason: Membership swims against the current of Canada's "consumer religion." We live in an age where commitment is waning in every area of life. Membership is an antidote to our society. It is an unselfish decision that says commitment always builds character.
4. A Practical Reason: We are all parts of one body and have an important role to play in keeping the body healthy and alive. Every team has a roster. Every school has an enrollment. Every business has a payroll. Every army has an enlistment. Membership defines who can be counted on.

Life Directions

At the heart of membership are four Life-directions of a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ. Membership is a mutual commitment to the pursuit of these expressions of devotion to God. Here is a brief description of the Life-directions of a Christ-follower:
Faith—Sincerely embraces a personal relationship with Christ and desires others to do the same.
Relationships—Intentionally develops healthy relationships with others and seeks to be used by God in those relationships.
Growth—Wholeheartedly permits God to shape his/her life and takes deliberate steps to conform to His will.
Stewardship—Faithfully stewards all his/her God-given time, talents, & treasures, and ministers out of a servant's heart.

When people become members at Cochrane Alliance Church, they are expressing their commitment to orientate their lives around these four Life-directions. Likewise, Cochrane Alliance Church is committed to providing the atmosphere and support needed for this pursuit.

The Church’s Commitment to Members

Our congregation makes the following commitment each time we receive new members into Cochrane Alliance:
We at Cochrane Alliance promise to do all we can, with God's enabling, to provide an environment where pursuit of the four Life-directions are nurtured.

The Member’s Commitment

A candidate for membership is asked to make the following public commitment:

As follower of Jesus Christ, I want to formally identify myself with Cochrane Alliance Church. To that end, I desire to pursue Christ-like maturity within the four life-directions of faith, relationships, growth and stewardship.

With God's help, and in partnership with the Cochrane Alliance Church family, I commit myself to pursue the development of these four life-directions.

When Could I Become a Member?

We believe that church membership is a natural step to take for any follower of Jesus Christ. We encourage anyone who has taken the step of believer's baptism to consider becoming a member. Membership is a great next step in your spiritual journey.

How Can I Become a Member?

If you want to become a member of Cochrane Alliance Church, the first thing you need to do is express your desire to one of the pastors. 

You will then be asked to attend a Membership Class. This is a one-night, 1 ½ hour class for people who are new to Cochrane Alliance. The class covers our church's vision and beliefs, and gives greater detail in respect to what membership is all about.

Following the class, you will be visited by an Elder and his wife for a casual interview. This is to help the church get better acquainted with you.

Following the interview, you will be recommended for membership then formally received into membership at a public worship service.

We invite you to make a commitment to your own spiritual growth by becoming a member of our church. If you have any questions about membership, please contact the church office.