In 2015, New Hope Church implemented a new way for people to connect with the church and God. It's our version of church membership, and it's called partnership. Instead of the privileges normally associated with membership, the partnership is about responsibilities. While we invite everyone to take on these responsibilities, Partners are asked to make a commitment to fulfilling these responsibilities by completing the steps below. The partnership will be renewed on an annual basis.
According to Scripture, participation and involvement in a local church is expected of a believer. At New Hope Church, we view our members as Partners. Partnership implies participation and involvement. New Hope is not a club, rather we are a family on mission. As a result, joining our church family is a decision that should not be taken lightly. When you join a church, a mutual pledge of accountability and spiritual support is made between the church and the new partner. Given the importance of this decision, we require completion of the Discovering Partnership Class prior to becoming a Partner.
So why partnership and not membership? We all know people who are members of gyms and never go, but when you are a Partner in an enterprise, you are extremely committed and involved. Even the Bible points to the principle of partnership in the local church.
“Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.”
BECOME A PARTNER
There are three steps in becoming a Partner at New Hope Church:
1. Baptism
Baptism is intended only for those who have made a decision to follow Jesus. If you have not been baptized following salvation, we ask you to take this step before becoming a Partner. Click below for more information.
2. Watch the Class
We offer the in-person partnership classes thoughout the year, as well as a pre-recorded video, where you’ll learn the vision and values of New Hope in the comfort of your own setting. We’ll explain the five core values, heart attitudes, and theological distinctive our church lives by.
You can sign up to attend the next Partnership class (if scheduled) or request the video by clicking the appropriate button below. You can also browse our Discovering Partnerhsip booklet.
3. Sign the Agreement
The final step in becoming a Partner is to sign the Partnership Agreement. Once you watch the video or attend the class, you will be provided with a link to sign the partnership agreement. Once you fulfill the requirements of partnership and sign the agreement, you are considered a Partner.