Resources
Resources for the Church
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” – 2 Peter 3:18
God’s people are to be a growing people. With our Lord’s admonition in mind, we seek to provide resources for our church to grow deep and wide in the grace and knowledge of Christ and His Word.
The elders at Christ Covenant Church desire to keep with the long-standing Christian tradition of household visitation (Acts 5:42, 20:20). This is an opportunity for at least one of the elders to interact personally with your family (usually at your home) to assist your growth in the Lord and our ability to pray for you. By means of visitation, we who are entrusted with the care of souls, can check the spiritual pulse and welfare of the body. It is also a special opportunity for husbands and fathers to reflect on the condition of their marriage and children.
The elders of Christ Covenant Church rejoice that you are preparing to be baptized. Below are some instructions to make sure you are ready to go for Sunday.
We typically conduct baptisms right after the Scripture Reading portion of the worship service. Pastor Ventura will invite those who are being baptized to come forward to the baptismal waters, and your family (or close friends) are welcome to stand with you. When everyone is gathered and in place, Pastor Ventura will say a few words about the meaning of baptism, and then he will administer the vows. You can read a sample of this service by clicking the button below.
If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Ventura.
Education Fund
In order to assist the members of Christ Covenant Church with the Christian education of their children, the elders have established a Christian Education Fund. This fund provides need-based scholarships to students who are homeschooled or attend Christ the King Academy.
Step 1. Review our Bylaws and Doctrinal Statement. Note any questions you have for the elders.
Step 2. Fill out the Membership Application Form.
Step 3. Meet with the elders for a membership interview.
*If you are transferring your membership from another church, you should request a “Letter of Transfer” from your previous church.
Membership is reckoned by a household of one or more people in the same family. A household is eligible for membership when the head of that household has been lawfully baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19) and does not contradict his profession through his manner of life (Matt. 7:22-23). Membership begins when the covenant membership vows have been taken (Philemon 2; Heb. 13:7, 17). The Elders oversee a membership list, which must include names, baptisms, and communicant status.
- “Do you acknowledge yourself to be a sinner in need of salvation by Christ, and do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, receiving and resting upon Him alone as He is offered in the gospel?”
- “Have you been baptized in accordance with His Word?”
*Or, for credo-baptist households, “Have all who profess faith in your household been baptized in the Triune name?” - “Do you swear in the name of God, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, to live in a way that becomes followers of Christ?”
- “Do you swear in the name of God to support the ministry of this church in its worship and work, submitting to its government and discipline, while pursuing its purity and peace?”
When the vows are presented to the head of a household, he will also be asked if he speaks on behalf of his household. When these vows are taken, the congregation will respond with “Amen” when they are asked:
“As members of this congregation of Christ, do you receive [this Christian/these Christians] into the covenant fellowship of this local church?”
In special cases, as circumstances warrant, individuals may come under our pastoral care without coming into membership.
As children of member households become more independent, it is the practice of the elders to invite them to reaffirm their membership as their own household. The elders will usually begin this conversation with children of member households after they turn twenty-one.
Benevolence Request Form
Please note that we are only able to offer assistance to our local community.
Below are a few things that you should know before we begin the process of evaluating your situation.
How To Get Started
- Fill out the form at the link below.
- The form will take about 10 minutes to fill out.
- This will give us a snapshot of who you are, what your need is, and various other life details. It will also help us make efficient use of your time when we meet.
Scheduling a Meeting
- Once we receive and review your form we will be in touch, usually within 1-2 business days.
The Meeting
- Please be on time to your appointment and allow for a 20-45 minute meeting.
- Please bring any paperwork relevant to your request. (For example: bills, notices, employment offers, etc.)
It is important that you understand our mission in meeting with you. We differ from many other community assistance services in that we believe financial needs are a symptom of our much greater spiritual needs. Any advice and assistance we provide is intended to benefit you spiritually as well as physically.
You will meet with a team of at least two of our church leaders/volunteers. We want to hear about your immediate needs. However, we will discuss the background of your current need and your own decisions that influenced that need. We will pray for you, give honest advice and direction, and hopefully be helpful. Helpful doesn’t always equate to financial assistance, but we genuinely do want to assist practically, if possible.
The Bible expressly commissions us to place the emphasis of our charity upon widows and orphans (James 1:27). So, unless there are particularly extraordinary circumstances we do not often help able-bodied men with financial assistance. Instead, we encourage them to take responsibility for their circumstances as well as offer to help such men by providing ongoing mentorship, financial planning, and job search assistance.