How do I become a member of the Church of God (7th Day)?
Key Verse:  Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.  [Acts 2:41]

Membership in the Church of God (7th Day) has three requirements.  You must desire turn your life over to God, study the teachings of the church and the requirements of membership, and finally you must be baptized into the church.

God First

The foundation of Christianity is our love for God.  Therefore, the first step in becoming a member of the Church of God (7th Day) is to put God first in your  life.  Jesus' own words attest to this.

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.  [Mark 12:30]

Loving God is the beginning of a relationship with him that will bring tremedous benefits into our lives.  God is the creator of this world and has intimate understanding of how it works.  God guides us and shows us the way to living happier, more fulfilled lives.  God has also set in motion a plan for our eternal salvation, a plan that caused God much pain.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  [John 3:16]

God loved us so much, that he was willing to sacrifice his only begotten son for us.  When we love God, he returns our love.  Our relationship with God, built on His love for us and our love for Him, requires that we trust Him and make Him the guiding force in our lives.

Church Teachings

Once you have made the decision to put God first in your life and join the Church of God (7th Day), the next logical step is to understand what you are getting yourself into.  It would be foolish to join any organization that you knew little about, much less a church that has such a profound impact on your relationship with God.  Therefore, the next step is to study the teachings of the Church of God (7th Day) and also to learn what will be required of you as a member of the church. 

Study is an important part of a believer's life, especially when making fundamental decisions about the path you will follow.  Timothy makes mention of this in his second epistle.

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  [2 Timothy 2:15]

Once you have decided that you want to become a member of the Church of God (7th Day), it is strongly encouraged that you sit down with a minister of the church to discuss church teachings and requirements.  We have many congregations around the world, several of which are listed on our Local Churches page.  You can also read about the teachings of our church throughout this website.

An additional note on this step, their is no minimum or maximum amount of time required to learn about the church.  It might happen in one day, or it could take several months.  The important thing is to understand who we are as members of the Church of God (7th Day), what we believe, and what will be required of you as a member.

Baptism

Once you have turned you life over to God and learned about the church, you are ready to become a member.  You become a member of the Church of God (7th Day) through being baptized by a minister of the church.  Baptism is a critical and fundamental step.  It signifies the death of our carnal nature and our rebirth as a follower of Jesus Christ.  It allows us to partake in the plan of eternal salvation set in motion by Jesus Christ.  Finally, it is a public statement to the church and the world that the believer is turning away from fleshly lusts and dedicating his/her life to God.

Additional information on baptism can be found on the Baptism page of this website.