Charity No. 251549
PARTNERSHIP INFORMATION
• C l e m a t i s Wa y, C o l c h e s t e r, E s s e x , C O 4 3 P Y • t e l e p h o n e : 0 1 2 0 6 5 3 2 9 9 0 • e m a i l i n f o @ e l i m c o l c h e s t e r. o r g • •
w w w. e l i m c o l c h e s t e r. o r g •
Index
Foreword............................................. Page 2 What is a partner?................................ Page 3 Partnership is important......................... Page 3 The Preconditions................................. Page 3 Partnership in the Gospel....................... Page 4 Partnership in Caring............................. Page 4 Partnership In Prayer............................. Page 4 Partnership In Sharing........................... Page 5 Fundamental Truths.............................. Page 6 Statement on Baptism........................... Page 8 Word Concerning Infant Baptism............. Page 8 Our Vision Statement............................ Page 9 Our Mission Statement.......................... Page 9 How to become a partner....................... Page 10
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Foreword
Dear Friend I should like to take this opportunity to welcome you to Colchester's Elim Christian Centre, part of the family of Elim Pentecostal Churches. This booklet has been prepared to explain about our Partnership programme and to enable you to have all the current information about the Church that you will need. The booklet will also give you a valuable insight into what the church stands for, its mission and how you can be a part of what God is doing through the ministry and vision of this Fellowship. Partnership is a tremendously important Biblical concept and we believe that through working together we can achieve far more for the Kingdom of God. We would encourage you to become involved and serve in whatever area the Lord leads you to share in this local body. There are Leaders who will count it a privilege to help you find the right place of service. The Pastor and Leaders of the Church are dedicated to serve you and we seek to ensure that our partnership with you in the Gospel is effective and that God is glorified through our working together. Keith Ponsford
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What is a partner?
Chambers Dictionary states: • A Partner is a sharer. • A Partner is an associate • A Partner is one who engages with another in business. • A Partner is one who plays on the same side as another. The Apostle Paul says in Philippians: “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my request with joy, for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” (Philippians 1. 3-5). Partnership is important. • It releases power to get the job done. • We realise that the Great Commission, i.e. reaching the unreached, cannot be accomplished alone. •One partner contributes strengths to the partnership, which the others do not have. Paul, who saw himself as a partner in ministry, stressed the importance of different gifts. (Romans 12: 5-6). The Preconditions When we talk of Partnership in the context of the local Church we would expect the following preconditions. That you are: •Born Again •Baptised in water. •Baptised in the Holy Spirit, or positively seeking this Baptism. •Living a Godly life according to the Bible.
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What is a partner? Partnership in the Gospel
The Church Leadership would emphasise the following aspects of partnership. Partnership in Caring. The Leaders are instructed to watch and take care of the flock that is under their care (Acts 20:28). “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood." We believe that Partners also have a responsibility to God for each other. The words "one another" appears over 70 times in the New Testament in references to care, love, wait for, help, etc. The Church will encourage this form of care and mutual encouragement through small group ministry. Partners will also receive encouragement to find their gifting and to function in it. To this end they will meet with a Church leader at least once a year for the purpose of ascertaining: • their personal family welfare; • their spiritual and physical state; • and to hear any comments they wish to make to benefit the ongoing development of the Church.
Partnership In Prayer. There is a need for us to join together in individual and corporate prayer for the Church, our Community and individual needs. The Leaders and deacons covenant to pray on a regular basis for each Partner and family. The Partner covenants that they will pray for the Leadership of the Church on a regular basis, in particular for God's wisdom and Divine strategy, so that we shall be successful in our witness in the local Community and beyond.
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What is a partner?
We believe that prayer is not only man speaking to God but, perhaps more importantly, God speaking to man. Therefore, we feel it is vital for Partners, not only to develop a fulfilled personal prayer life, but to join the leaders for times of waiting upon the Lord, (cf Acts 1:4; 2:1; 3:1; 4:31; 13:2). Partnership In Sharing. The whole ministry of sharing is to give of oneself in the areas of love, time, talents and finances. Partners see that it is their responsibility to support the work of the ministry through their sacrificial giving in each of these areas. In this way the Church is enabled to preach the gospel with adequate resources and without hindrance. The Church, the Body of Christ is composed of many members, each with their own unique gifting, temperament, personality and calling. Each Partner should seek to identify, develop and use these spiritual gifts and abilities for the glory of God and to cooperate with the leadership of the Church in being established in the right sphere of service. We encourage Partners to give at least one tenth of their income in line with the Biblical principle of giving for the support of the ministry. Moreover, Partners should increasingly seek to submit their personal resources to the Lordship of Christ and give out of a heart of cheerfulness and generosity, knowing that we can never out give God who promises to enrich us in every way with all liberality (2 Cor 9:1115). On a practical note to encourage good stewardship, Partners who are taxpayers are encouraged to gift aid their regular weekly / monthly giving.
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Fundamental Truths
THE BIBLE: We believe the Bible, as originally given, to be without error, the fully inspired and infallible Word of God and the supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and conduct. THE TRINITY: We believe that the Godhead exists co-equally and coeternally in three persons Father, Son and Holy Spirit and that these three are one God, sovereign in creation, providence and redemption. THE SAVIOUR: We believe in the true and proper deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His real and complete humanity, in His sinless life, in His authoritative teaching, in His substitutionary and atoning sacrifice through His blood shed, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, in His heavenly intercession and His second advent to receive His Church. THE HOLY SPIRIT: We believe in the deity of the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son and the necessity of His work in conviction of sin, repentance, regeneration and sanctification, and that the believer is also promised an enduement of power as the gift of Christ through the baptism in the Holy Spirit with signs following. Through this enduement the believer is empowered for fuller participation in the ministry of the Church, its worship, evangelism and service. MANKIND: We believe in the universal sinfulness of all men since the Fall, rendering man subject to God’s wrath and condemnation. SALVATION: We believe in the necessity for salvation of repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by which the sinner is pardoned and accepted as righteous in God’s sight. This justification is imputed by the grace of God because of the atoning work of Christ, is received by faith alone and is evidenced by the Fruit of the Spirit and a holy life.
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Fundamental Truths
THE CHURCH: We believe in the spiritual unity and the priesthood of all believers in Christ and that these comprise the universal Church, the Body of Christ. THE MINISTRY: We believe in the ministries that Christ has set in His Church, namely, apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers and in the present operation of the manifold Gifts of the Holy Spirit according to the New Testament. THE ORDINANCES: We believe in the baptism of believers in water in obedience to the command of Christ and the commemoration of Christ’s death by the observance of the Lord’s Supper until His return. THE COMMISSION: We believe that the Gospel embraces the needs of the whole man and that the Church is therefore commissioned to preach the gospel to the world and to fulfil a ministry of healing and deliverance to the spiritual and physical needs of mankind. THE COMING KING: We believe in the personal, physical and visible return of the Lord Jesus Christ to reign in power and glory. THE FUTURE STATE: We believe in the resurrection of the dead and in the final judgement of the world, the eternal conscious bliss of the righteous and the eternal conscious punishment of the wicked.
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Statement on Baptism
The congregation of Elim Colchester understands the Scripture to teach that only professing believers qualify for baptism. Scriptural teaching on baptism may be summarised as follows: 1. Baptism is an act of obedience to the command of Christ, fulfilled by individuals who have subjected themselves to His sovereignty. 2. Baptism symbolises the spiritual cleansing through divine forgiveness and newness of life experienced by believers by virtue of their identification with Christ in His death and resurrection. 3. Baptism provides an opportunity for believers to make a formal profession of their faith before the church. 4. As a Biblical rite of initiation into the Body of Christ, baptism of believers may be considered a prerequisite for joining the membership of the church. Although the old covenant practice of infant circumcision is sometimes presented as a rationale for infant baptism, the Biblical definition of the functions of circumcision and of baptism shows that those two institutions fulfilled different purposes in their respective covenants. The equation is never made in the Bible between the circumcision of male infants in the old covenant and the baptism of born-again believers, much less of infants, in the new covenant. However, Elim Colchester provides the opportunity for Christian parents to present their children for the ceremony of Dedication, whereby God's blessing is formally invoked upon the children, and the parents publicly commit themselves to raise the children in accordance with the teachings of Scripture. A word concerning infant baptism. If the purpose of baptism is to publicly identify a believer in Jesus Christ, the questions may well be asked by some, "What was the significance of my baptism as a baby?" In the Bible, we find parents bringing their children to Jesus. He held them and prayed for them and told us to welcome them, but he did not baptise them, and he did not tell anyone else to baptise them. Baptism is for those who have made a personal decision to trust Christ alone for their salvation. If you were baptised as a child, it was the intent of your parents that you would one day be a follower of Christ. Your baptism as an adult can be viewed as the fulfillment of your parents' wishes. It in no way repudiates the baptism you received as a child.
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Our Vision
"Vision" has the dictionary meaning of a vivid concept or mental picture, i.e. that which is seen or conveyed supernatural!) and having the nature of revelation. Spiritual vision is not a vague mystical experience that cannot be rooted in reality. It is the power of God being made real in our actions. This is the expression of the will of God for our lives. Spiritual vision is that which grips the heart of a man or woman. God has given to our Pastor, Keith, and the church leaders such a vision for this Church and the area in which we live. We recognise the importance of spiritual vision and the responsibility we have to make it clear. All participating in the outworking of the vision will need to understand it in order to be fully involved in helping to bring the vision into reality. Mission Statement: “To introduce people to Jesus Christ; to equip them with a faith that works in real life; and to GO into the world as disciples and apostles.” Core Values: •Glorifying God through worship •Equipping ourselves for ministry •Serving others in the name of Jesus We exist to: •Create a climate of worship that enables people to say “yes” to the love of God. •Cultivate a community that nurtures spiritual growth in the lives of believers •Commission every believer to serve the world through their unique talents and gifts. •Communicate the gospel to everyone we can! How are we going to achieve this vision? Our vision can be best expressed in terms of the three main areas of the Church's activity:
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Our Vision
Reach. Sharing our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in every conceivable way with people of all backgrounds cultures, races, colours, creeds, circumstances and viewpoints, with the aim of seeing them become a disciple of the Lord Jesus. Teach. Equipping every person who attends the Church for Christian living and service. Send. To express the love of God through our lives and actions in the community in which we live and work.
How to become a partner. Having read this booklet if you feel that you can align yourself to our mission and core values we would invite you to consider becoming a partner in the work of Elim Colchester. Please contact: Pastor Keith - pastorkeith@elimcolchester.org Or Philip - philip@elimcolchester.org and they will invite you to the next induction group meeting at the conclusion of which you will be invited to complete a commitment form to become a partner of the Elim Christian Centre Colchester.
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• C l e m a t i s Wa y, C o l c h e s t e r, E s s e x , C O 4 3 P Y • telephone: 01206 532990 • e m a i l i n f o @ e l i m c o l c h e s t e r. o r g • •
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