What's Next for You at North?

Friends,

If you’re reading this, you are more than likely interested in what is going on at North Church. Your interest might be because you’re a member or are considering membership at the church and want to stay engaged. For others, your interest is because of your investment in North in your actions and how you serve the body of Christ at North Church. Still others might be feeling a pull to some larger level of service, but aren’t sure what that means. This message is definitely for you!

Non-members and members alike: I’m calling you to action! Action not to just spin your wheels, but to put your hand up to lead God’s people at North Church in a greater way.

Serving in a Ministry

There is a clear call in Scripture for all who follow Jesus Christ to serve within the body (1 Cor 12, Rom 12:3-8, Eph 4:1-16). If you are not yet serving North Church with the gifts the Lord gave you, or you don’t know where your gifts lie, choose a place to serve and let the Lord guide you in your service. E-mail Deacons Thomas and Eryn Beechem (connect@northchurchabq.com), or talk to them at the Connect Desk on a Sunday and they will help you get plugged in to serving at the church.

Membership

If you are not a member of the church and you consider North Church home, you are being called in this message to step into membership and take ownership of being a part of this body. Membership isn’t a special club or means you have some secret “in”, but is an outward demonstration of something you may already be doing: committing to the church and the people in it.

The first step to becoming a member is to go through the Disciple Start class. The next session begins this coming Sunday, February 2nd at 12:30 pm at the church building and continues the following three Sundays. Disciple Start is where you can learn about your identity in Christ and the mission and values of North Church.

You can sign up for the class here: https://northchurchabq.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/108/responses/new
   
Deacons

If you are already serving the church, love to meet felt needs of the body, and be face-to-face in the trenches of life, I ask you to prayerfully consider becoming a deacon at North Church.

Deacons are the Chief Servants (1 Tim 3:8-11) amongst us. They are the ones at the edge of the fray when needs arise and the church requires support and service. They are a group of people, male and female, who are faithful members of the church and love caring for needs through face-to-face interaction or behind-the-scenes, so the church can function effectively and lovingly. If you just read this last paragraph and feel a stirring of the Spirit, I call you to put your hand up for the deacon process.
 
Prerequisites for Deacons are that they are members of the church, are actively serving, and must love and be committed to North Church. If that is you, email Pastor Jay Kennedy (j.kennedy@northchurchabq.com) for more information about entering into a process for assessment to become a deacon (1 Tim 3:8-11).
 
Eldership

If, when you look out at the church body, you feel a deep love for the people around you, whether you know them or not, and feel a burden to see them: protected from harm -- both spiritually and physically, nurtured in their life in Christ, nourished by the Word of God, and you want them to, above all things, treasure the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you might be called to the office of Elder.
 
If this is you, I call you to action to step up in your leadership of God’s people at North Church. Wherever you are serving, put your hand up to lead and grow in that area of ministry and reach.
 
Prerequisites for Elders are that they are members of the church and are godly, humble, Jesus-loving men who are committed to Jesus’ Church, and specifically North Church as their local body. If this is you, reach out to an elder and make your desire known (1 Tim 3:1), you will enter into a time of testing and development as your character, calling, and the fruit of your life is tested against the Scriptural qualifications for eldership (1 Tim 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9).
 
Friends, I call each of you to action to serve the body with your gifts as a way that you worship Jesus, for the flourishing of North Church, and for your joy. For some of you that action will include service in the office of member, Deacon, or Elder.

We desire to be a church, that above all things, treasures the gospel of Jesus Christ together. How is God leading you to serve, love, and lead in his church?

In Christ,
Pastor Ryan