New Member's Class

Committed to the Bible

We believe in the Biblical Jesus. Through Him and Him alone we are given eternal life because of His voluntary death on the cross for our sins.

We believe in the Triune God. Father-Son-Holy Spirit.

We believe the Bible is God Breathed.

We believe in the priesthood of believers.

We believe in Christian Freedom

We believe in Social Justice

We believe/Affirm Women in Leadership

We practice 2 or 3 Sacraments

Baptism- (Full Immersion/Regenerate)-

Communion-

(Marriage)-

(Marriage)-

We model after the life of Christ in Ministry

Committed to the Local Church

Committed to the Local Church

Local Church: An exemplary community of faith, a home for individuals to express, and mature in, their relationship to God and one another

ABCUSA- Around 5000 Churches Nationwide.

3 Key Focuses

Autonomy and interdependence

Each church is its own entity

Each church depends on Others

Inclusiveness and church growth

American Baptists have made a point of inclusivity. In some churches that looks like a welcoming and affirming LGBTQ congregation. In others it looks like a place where we allow the spirit to work on you and we don’t actually care what you are dealing with in your life. In others they would say there is a limit to the amount of sin they are willing to include.

Regional and National Support

Even though we are Autonomous, we are supported by an Association, Region, and National Denominational Structure.

Committed to Missions

Evangelism-

IM-

Evangelism-

Leader Development-

Ministries of Healing- Disaster Relief- Emergency Mobilization-Chaplaincy

Ministries that Seek Justice- Human Trafficking - Feeding the hungry- Clothing the Naked- Teen Pregnancy programs- Homeless Shelters

Ministries to Families, Children, and Youth- Support for Youth and Children’s programming- Camping Ministries Local/National- AB GIRLS

Committed to Service of Local Churches

ABCUSA Office of the General Secretary- Lee Spitzer- Serve the ministers and the Theological Stance of the Church

ABHMS- Jeffery Haggary- Serves the local church in leadership development, Domestic Mobilization for disaster relief, refugee ministries, publishing, women’s and men’s ministries, Ministrelife, and Building Services.

ABRM- ABCIN/KY- Soozi Whitten-Ford -Region- Mark Thompson- Personal support for the local pastor/ I know these people personally and fairly well

IM- Sharon Koh - Mobilizing and Support of Overseas Missions

MMBB- Louis P. Barbarain - Financial support of Pastors and Local Church

Committed to Evangelism