Assemblies of God Membership 101: What Does It Mean to Belong?

Part 1 of 5: Understanding the Heart of Church Membership

Hey there! If you've been wondering what it really means to become a member of an Assemblies of God church, especially here at First Assembly Memphis, you're in exactly the right place. I'm so glad you're asking this question because it shows you're thinking about taking a deeper step in your faith journey.

Let me start by saying this: you are never forgotten, never alone, and deeply loved by God. Whether you're brand new to church, returning after time away, or simply curious about what membership involves, there's room for you here. Layne McDonald and our entire team at First Assembly Memphis believe in creating a shame-free, love-filled environment where everyone can find their place in God's family.

What Does Membership Actually Mean?

Here's the beautiful truth: membership in an Assemblies of God church isn't about earning your way into some exclusive club. It's about saying "yes" to being part of a spiritual family that walks together through life's ups and downs.

Think of it like this, you can attend family gatherings, enjoy the meals, and feel welcomed, but there's something special about being an official part of the family. That's what membership offers. It's your way of saying, "These are my people, this is my spiritual home, and I want to be all-in with what God is doing here."

At its heart, Assemblies of God membership represents a mutual commitment. You're committing to the church family, and the church family is committing to you. It's about belonging, growing, and serving together as we follow Jesus.

The Gentle Path Forward

Now, let's talk about what this journey looks like practically. And please hear this: there's absolutely no pressure here. Every step is designed to be at your pace, with plenty of support along the way.

Your Personal Faith Story

The foundation of membership begins with your personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This isn't about having all the answers or being perfect, it's about having experienced God's love and deciding you want to follow Him. Maybe that happened decades ago, maybe it was last week, or maybe you're still figuring it out. All of that is completely okay.

What matters is that you can share your story of faith, however simple or complex it might be. Our pastoral team, including Layne McDonald, loves hearing these stories because every single one is unique and beautiful.

Understanding What We Believe

As part of the membership process, you'll have the opportunity to learn about the core beliefs that guide our church family. The Assemblies of God has what we call "Statement of Fundamental Truths", these are the biblical principles that shape how we understand God, salvation, and living as Christians.

Don't worry, this isn't like cramming for a test! It's more like getting to know the values of your new spiritual family. You'll discover things like our belief in the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), salvation through Jesus Christ, the authority of Scripture, and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We'll explore these together in a relaxed, conversational way.

The Beautiful Symbolism of Baptism

If you haven't been baptized yet, that's a wonderful step you'll have the opportunity to take. In Assemblies of God churches, we practice baptism by immersion, being fully placed under water as a symbol of dying to your old life and rising again as a new creation in Christ.

But here's what's amazing: even if you were baptized in another church or denomination, we honor that! This isn't about redoing something, it's about celebrating the spiritual milestone you've already experienced.

Becoming Part of the Community

One of the most natural requirements for membership is simply being part of our community. We typically encourage people to attend regularly for a few months before applying for membership. Why? Because we want you to be sure this feels like home!

During this time, you'll get to know people, experience our style of worship, hear our heart for ministry, and see if First Assembly Memphis feels like the right fit for your spiritual journey. There's no rush, no pressure, just an invitation to belong.

The First Assembly Memphis Difference

What makes First Assembly Memphis special isn't just our beautiful facility at 8650 Walnut Grove Road in Cordova. It's our heart for "Loving God & Loving People." When you walk through our doors, you'll experience a community that celebrates diversity, affirms inclusion, and creates space for everyone to find their place in God's worldwide family.

Layne McDonald often reminds our team that our job isn't to make carbon copies of ourselves, but to help each person discover how God uniquely designed them to serve and grow. Whether you're an introvert who loves working behind the scenes or an extrovert who thrives in front of people, whether you're tech-savvy or prefer hands-on service, there's a place for you here.

We support unchurched individuals who are taking their first steps toward faith, homebound members who connect with us online, and global seekers from around the world who find community through our digital platforms. Our membership includes people from all walks of life, all backgrounds, and all stages of their faith journey.

Financial Partnership (But Not What You Think!)

Let's address the elephant in the room, yes, part of membership involves financial partnership through tithing and offerings. But please hear this clearly: membership at First Assembly Memphis is always free and opt-in only. We never ask for money as a requirement to belong to our family.

Tithing: giving a tenth of your income: is a biblical principle we believe in, but it's about the heart, not a membership fee. It's about partnering with God in what He's doing through our church. Some people are able to tithe immediately, others work toward it gradually, and some are in seasons where they can't contribute financially at all. All of these situations are completely understood and accepted.

What we care about most is your heart, not your wallet.

What's Coming Next in This Series

Over the next four parts of this series, we're going to dive deeper into some amazing topics:

• Part 2: We'll explore the difference between water baptism and baptism in the Holy Spirit: two beautiful but distinct experiences in the Christian faith

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• Part 3: We'll discover the different gifts of the Holy Spirit and how they operate in our church community

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• Part 4: We'll talk about finding connection when you feel alone and how to build meaningful relationships in church

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• Part 5: We'll cover practical steps for letting leadership know about your passions and talents, and how to get the best possible start in your journey at First Assembly Memphis

Your Next Step

If any of this resonates with you, I want to encourage you to take a simple next step: just show up. Come to a Sunday service, join us for a midweek event, or even reach out to our team with questions. You can visit our website at www.famemphis.org to see what's happening or give us a call.

Remember, you're never forgotten, never alone, and deeply loved by God. Our doors: and our hearts: are always open to you.

Whether you're ready to start the membership process tomorrow or you're just beginning to consider it, you're welcome here. Layne McDonald and our entire First Assembly Memphis family are excited about the possibility of walking this journey with you.

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Ready to take the next step or have questions about membership? We'd love to connect with you!

First Assembly Memphis 8650 Walnut Grove Road Cordova, Tennessee 38018 Phone: 901-843-8600 Email: info@famemphis.net Website: www.famemphis.org