THE GOFAMINT MEMBERSHIP COVENANT

Having accepted Jesus Christ into my life as my personal Lord and Saviour, upon  which I have been baptized by immersion and in agreement with GOFAMINT in her  vision, statement of purpose and structure, I now feel led by the Holy Spirit to join the  GOFAMINT church family. By doing so, I commit myself to God and to other  members of this body to do the following:

 1.   COVENANT OF SERVICE  I will serve the ministry of my church:

…by attending all meetings that concern me.

… by discovering my gifts and talents and using them to promote the church.

… by being equipped to serve my pastors and fellow  brethren.

… by developing a servant’s heart to serve as our Master Jesus did.

As each of you has received a gift (a particular spiritual talent, a gracious divine  endowment), employ it for one another as (befits) good trustees of God’s many-sided  grace-faithful steward of the extremely diverse (powers and gifts granted to Christians  by unmerited favour; (I Pet. 4:10).  It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be  evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works  of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. (Eph. 4:11-22). Do nothing out  of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than  yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of  others. But made himself nothing taking the very nature of a servant, being made in  human likeness (Phil. 2:3-4,7).

 2.  COVENANT OF DEFENCE  I will defend the unity of my church:

… by acting in love towards other members.

… by avoiding all forms of backbiting and tale-bearing.

… by following the foot-steps of our leaders.

… by paying obedience to all instruction of the leaders  So let us then definitely aim for and eagerly pursue what mates for harmony and for  mutual up building (edification and development) of one another.

(Rm. 14:19). Love  must be sincere, hate what is evil and cling to what is good. Be devoted to one  another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves. (Rm. 12:9-10). Let  no foul or polluting language, nor evil word, nor unwholesome or worthless talk (ever)  come out of your mouth; but only such (speech) as is good and beneficial to the  spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a  blessing and give (God’s favour) to those who hear it. (Eph. 4:29). Obey your leaders  and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an  account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be no  advantage to you. (Heb. 13:17).

3.    COVENANT OF COMMITMENT I will be a partaker of and share in the burden and responsibility of my church:

…by paying my tithes regularly.

…by praying for the growth of the church.

…by inviting the unsaved to attend our fellowship.

…by paying my vows/pledges when due.

…by giving good offerings during church service.

 To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:  Grace and peace to you.  We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. (I Thess. 1:1-2).  Then the master told his servant “Go out to the roads and country lanes and make  them come in, so that my house will be full.” (Lk. 14:23).  Accept one another, then just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God  (Rm. 15:7).

 4.  COVENANT OF FAITHFULNESS  I will support the testimony of my church:

…by attending faithfully our church meetings.

…by living a godly life that can challenge the sinners.

 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us  encourage one another and all the more as you see the day approaching. (Heb.  10:25).  Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.  Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence. I will know  that you stand firm in one Spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.  (Phil. 1:27).

   5.  COVENANT OF RESPONSIBILITY  I will behave responsibly:

…by witnessing the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to others.

…by giving to the Lord’s work, the ministers of God and the needy.

 Each one of you, on the first day of each week, should set aside a specific sum of  money in proportion to what you have earned and use it for the offering. (I Cor.  16:2LB).  A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees,  belongs to the LORD: it is holy to the LORD (Lev. 27:30).

Let us not become weary in  doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those  who belong to the family of believers. (Gal. 6:9-10). He who is kind to the poor lends  to the LORD, and He will reward him of what He has done. (Prov. 19:17).