WE ARE ONE BODY, MEMBERS ONE OF ANOTHER
On Sunday, we welcomed one new member into our family!
Church membership is not “membership in a club.” It’s “membership in a body.” One body composed of many members all vitally connected and working together for the good of the whole. In this way, becoming a church member is an expression of commitment to the people around you. A grace-empowered pledge to fulfill the “one anothers” of Scripture with the brothers and sister of a particular local church.
As members of Cross of Grace Santa Ana, we have the privilege of living out the Christian life with one another. We celebrate and grieve with one another. We build deep relationship with one another. We join arms to advance the joy of Jesus in a particular neighborhood with one another. We help one another pursue holiness. We remind one another of the sweetness of the gospel.
In light of this, we praise God for Gabriel Takaya! Be encouraged by what she had to share with us in her new member testimony:
I grew up attending a Catholic church for the first 15ish years of my life. As I got older, my family started hopping around to different churches while still attending the Catholic church about half of the time, so I did not have a consistent community. I didn’t understand how crucial church membership was, so I spent most of my teenage years making excuses to not attend church, especially once I got to college. I attended a church on-and-off for my first 1.5 years of college, and once I made the decision to give my life to Christ earlier this year, I wanted to pursue membership there. However, there were some logistical issues and changes that took place while I waited several months to even start the membership process. During this period of waiting was when the Lord led me to Cross of Grace.
I visited this church for the first time at the very beginning of May. I didn’t come in with many expectations or hopes, but I immediately felt the Lord calling me here during that first visit. Even after hearing just one sermon, I could tell that honoring and accurately understanding the Word as God intends is at the heart of this church. Also, seeing the way you passionately, honestly, and unapologetically worship the Lord together showed me how much you all truly love the Lord. After attending service more, going to other church events, and meeting with people on my own, I have been able to get to know so many of you more closely, and I feel so blessed each day. I can see the fruit of every individual’s faith in the way you pour into one another, and in the way you’ve poured into me since the very first day I visited. Many of you have been so intentional about reaching out to invite me to things, asking me questions about my walk with Christ, opening your hearts to share things with me, and showing me so much love and care despite barely knowing me. I am so grateful for you all and how welcoming you’ve been, but above all I praise God for bringing me here when I needed it the most.
As I step into membership, I cannot wait to walk more closely with other brothers and sisters, get involved with evangelizing opportunities, grow in my knowledge and understanding of the Word, and serve this church in whatever ways I can. Ephesians 3:20-21 says: “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Praise God for His goodness and His work here at Cross of Grace!
We thank God for adding new laborers to the harvest before us. We’re excited for Gabriel to join us as we spread the joy of Jesus in Downtown Santa Ana!
