NEHBC's year runs from July to June so we have eight months (2/3 of year) under our belt. YTD, 68 individuals have become members. Another 55 have requested membership. 123 new members or pending members in eight months is exciting, to be sure.
But here is the number that kills me: 32 individuals have left our membership.
18 were due to death or relocation to another city and couldn't be helped.
Of the remaining 14: 1 left because she wants to go to church with her grandchildren. 1 left because I do not hold to reformed theology. 2 left due to unbiblical divorce; we made numerous attempts to disciple/reconcile them. 5 left due to spiritual drift; we made numerous attempts to bring them back. 3 left because they were offended; we made numerous attempts to reconcile with all 3. 1 left to go to a church closer to their home. All 14 departures hurt me. I love my sheep so much.
What excites me is that I have this info to share. The very fact I know this data is evidence meaningful membership matters. It enables us to ensure our sheep are all accounted for. When you join NEHBC, we take our commitment to you seriously. You are one of us; an NEHBCer. We pray for you, serve you, disciple you, minister to you, challenge you, and hold you accountable. We love you. We love you enough that if we notice a spiritual shift in you, we will talk to you about it. We would even discipline you in accordance with the Scriptures, in order to train you for righteousness, if it ever got to that point. We proactively deal with any wolf in sheep's clothing that gets in our sheep pen so that you won't get attacked. You will find our pastors/shepherds are earnest in what we do. You are not a number to us, you are a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Meaningful membership is a cornerstone of a healthy local church.
If the Lord has given you the sense that NEHBC is the local community of Christians with whom He wants you to identify, you should start the membership process. The process is designed to help you and us know if NEHBC is the church for you: it will either show all of us that the Lord is calling you to NEHBC or He isn't. I sincerely hope He is. I hope you join us as we join Jesus Christ in what He is achieving for the Kingdom of God through NEHBC. Glory to God.
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