Charter Service
From March Newsletter
by Pastor Justin Soto
A New Testament church is established when an existing baptist church sends out or births a new church in a new area. River City Baptist Church officially began on October 9, 2011 being sent out from Faith Baptist Church of Wildomar, CA under the leadership of Pastor Bruce Goddard. Churches, according to God’s Word, are to be independent, autonomous (self operating), indigenous (from the local area), and self governing. A brand new church should be all of the above or be working on all of the above from its first Sunday in existence.
With all this being said, River City Baptist Church is planning on having a Charter Service in the near future. (I’m considering several dates and will announce the date soon) What will our Charter Service entail? Our Charter Service will be a great day of officially recognizing our founding membership, and adopting our Statement of Faith and Constitution. Those who desire and meet the requirements will have the opportunity to sign a portion of our charter known as the covenant which will be framed and kept for years, yea decades to come.
Who can sign on the original charter membership? Since a church is organized by members, only people who fit the Biblical prerequisite for church membership are able to sign the charter. Church membership is for those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Saviour, have followed the Lord in believer’s baptism (by immersion after salvation), and are in agreement with the Statement of Faith and Church Constitution. Those who have been saved and baptized and are current members of another church of like faith could join by transferring membership. Those who have been saved and baptized but have not joined a church or whose membership is no longer valid (most church’s will make your membership invalid after six months of being absent) may join by what’s called ‘Christian Experience.‘ This will be done by simply signing the charter and detailing your salvation and baptism experience. Those who’ve been saved and/or baptized at River City Baptist may join simply by signing up as a member.
Each morning and evening service at RCBC is closed with an invitation that includes an opportunity for salvation. Of course, the opportunity is given by Christ Jesus through His death, burial and Resurrection! Do you know Christ as your personal Saviour, have you accepted His free gift of eternal life? If not, then church membership is of absolutely no importance to you. In fact, many people will spend an eternity separated from God because their trust for salvation was in church membership and not the finished work of Jesus. CHRIST AND CHRIST ALONE SAVES! If you have never been saved, please let’s get this settled. If you have been saved and not followed the Lord in baptism, this is something that Christ would have you to do. It is also necessary for church membership, and of course our signing of our Church’s charter. I’ve included a tract on baptism as well with this newsletter to help you understand baptism. I would love to answer any questions that you may have in regards to salvation or baptism. We do have Constitutions and Statements of Faith available for you to review; these will be available at any of our services.
In addition to signing the Covenant as members, there will be a place to sign as friends of River City Baptist Church. There may be some who can not join as a member, but would like to pledge their support. For example, someone who will only be with our church for a short time and currently has a membership in a different church. A person like this may want to sign as a friend. Or, out of town-guests on the day of our Charter Service may want to sign under the friend section as a way to show support.
In closing, may I do my best to convey to you how wonderful it is to be a member of a New Testament baptist church! To think that the church has been purchased by the blood of our Saviour and that He has chosen, in addition to the family, the church as the vehicle to Christian growth and world-wide evangelism. Should you have any questions at all about what’s contained in this article, please call me on my mobile phone - 530.632.2969.
Included with April Newsletter
April 4, 2012
Re: Charter Service
Dear Church Family:
It was approximately one year ago that God confirmed in my heart what I had been anticipating for a few months prior - that I was to start a brand new church in Natomas. Once that confirmation came it was full steam ahead as the events that led to the starting of our church seemed to not only quickly fly by, but also be miraculously put into place.
Since we started on October 9, 2011, I have wanted to communicate that we are not going to just give this thing a ‘try’ and hope for the best; rather, this was something that we were absolutely committed to seeing come to pass. At the writing of this letter, our church has just completed six months of existence and God’s hand of leading is evident, and His blessings are tangible.
Another way for us to continue with the establishment of River City Baptist Church is for us to have our Charter Service, which was covered in the last Newsletter. (Check the church’s website if you missed all that info.)
Our Charter Service will be April 15, 2012. The following are just a few of the details of this most important day:
~ Our Sunday school and morning service will be a normal schedule.
~ After our morning service, we’ll take time for all who have been saved, baptized, are in agreement with our Statement of Faith, and who so desire, to sign our Church Charter. (Children and teens who have been saved and baptized, and whose parents are signing the charter, may also sign.) For those who, for whatever reason, do not wish to sign the Charter at this time are more than welcome to be a part of this special day, as you are certainly an important part of River City Baptist Church. We want everyone to be present on our Charter Service.
~ Pastor Bruce Goddard, my pastor and the pastor of our sending church, will be our guest preacher on Sunday evening at 5 p.m. After Sunday evening church we’re going to enjoy a BBQ together. The church will provide burgers and buns and everybody should potluck side dishes and desserts.
~ We’ll keep the ‘Charter’ open for one month for those who are still prayerfully considering signing the charter or for those who will be unable to attend on April 15th.
If you have any questions at all about our Charter Service, please call me at 530.632.2969
Thank so much and it certainly is a privilege to be your pastor.
Sincerely serving,
Pastor Justin Soto
by Pastor Justin Soto
A New Testament church is established when an existing baptist church sends out or births a new church in a new area. River City Baptist Church officially began on October 9, 2011 being sent out from Faith Baptist Church of Wildomar, CA under the leadership of Pastor Bruce Goddard. Churches, according to God’s Word, are to be independent, autonomous (self operating), indigenous (from the local area), and self governing. A brand new church should be all of the above or be working on all of the above from its first Sunday in existence.
With all this being said, River City Baptist Church is planning on having a Charter Service in the near future. (I’m considering several dates and will announce the date soon) What will our Charter Service entail? Our Charter Service will be a great day of officially recognizing our founding membership, and adopting our Statement of Faith and Constitution. Those who desire and meet the requirements will have the opportunity to sign a portion of our charter known as the covenant which will be framed and kept for years, yea decades to come.
Who can sign on the original charter membership? Since a church is organized by members, only people who fit the Biblical prerequisite for church membership are able to sign the charter. Church membership is for those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Saviour, have followed the Lord in believer’s baptism (by immersion after salvation), and are in agreement with the Statement of Faith and Church Constitution. Those who have been saved and baptized and are current members of another church of like faith could join by transferring membership. Those who have been saved and baptized but have not joined a church or whose membership is no longer valid (most church’s will make your membership invalid after six months of being absent) may join by what’s called ‘Christian Experience.‘ This will be done by simply signing the charter and detailing your salvation and baptism experience. Those who’ve been saved and/or baptized at River City Baptist may join simply by signing up as a member.
Each morning and evening service at RCBC is closed with an invitation that includes an opportunity for salvation. Of course, the opportunity is given by Christ Jesus through His death, burial and Resurrection! Do you know Christ as your personal Saviour, have you accepted His free gift of eternal life? If not, then church membership is of absolutely no importance to you. In fact, many people will spend an eternity separated from God because their trust for salvation was in church membership and not the finished work of Jesus. CHRIST AND CHRIST ALONE SAVES! If you have never been saved, please let’s get this settled. If you have been saved and not followed the Lord in baptism, this is something that Christ would have you to do. It is also necessary for church membership, and of course our signing of our Church’s charter. I’ve included a tract on baptism as well with this newsletter to help you understand baptism. I would love to answer any questions that you may have in regards to salvation or baptism. We do have Constitutions and Statements of Faith available for you to review; these will be available at any of our services.
In addition to signing the Covenant as members, there will be a place to sign as friends of River City Baptist Church. There may be some who can not join as a member, but would like to pledge their support. For example, someone who will only be with our church for a short time and currently has a membership in a different church. A person like this may want to sign as a friend. Or, out of town-guests on the day of our Charter Service may want to sign under the friend section as a way to show support.
In closing, may I do my best to convey to you how wonderful it is to be a member of a New Testament baptist church! To think that the church has been purchased by the blood of our Saviour and that He has chosen, in addition to the family, the church as the vehicle to Christian growth and world-wide evangelism. Should you have any questions at all about what’s contained in this article, please call me on my mobile phone - 530.632.2969.
Included with April Newsletter
April 4, 2012
Re: Charter Service
Dear Church Family:
It was approximately one year ago that God confirmed in my heart what I had been anticipating for a few months prior - that I was to start a brand new church in Natomas. Once that confirmation came it was full steam ahead as the events that led to the starting of our church seemed to not only quickly fly by, but also be miraculously put into place.
Since we started on October 9, 2011, I have wanted to communicate that we are not going to just give this thing a ‘try’ and hope for the best; rather, this was something that we were absolutely committed to seeing come to pass. At the writing of this letter, our church has just completed six months of existence and God’s hand of leading is evident, and His blessings are tangible.
Another way for us to continue with the establishment of River City Baptist Church is for us to have our Charter Service, which was covered in the last Newsletter. (Check the church’s website if you missed all that info.)
Our Charter Service will be April 15, 2012. The following are just a few of the details of this most important day:
~ Our Sunday school and morning service will be a normal schedule.
~ After our morning service, we’ll take time for all who have been saved, baptized, are in agreement with our Statement of Faith, and who so desire, to sign our Church Charter. (Children and teens who have been saved and baptized, and whose parents are signing the charter, may also sign.) For those who, for whatever reason, do not wish to sign the Charter at this time are more than welcome to be a part of this special day, as you are certainly an important part of River City Baptist Church. We want everyone to be present on our Charter Service.
~ Pastor Bruce Goddard, my pastor and the pastor of our sending church, will be our guest preacher on Sunday evening at 5 p.m. After Sunday evening church we’re going to enjoy a BBQ together. The church will provide burgers and buns and everybody should potluck side dishes and desserts.
~ We’ll keep the ‘Charter’ open for one month for those who are still prayerfully considering signing the charter or for those who will be unable to attend on April 15th.
If you have any questions at all about our Charter Service, please call me at 530.632.2969
Thank so much and it certainly is a privilege to be your pastor.
Sincerely serving,
Pastor Justin Soto
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