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Membership at Yates | A Covenant Worth Living

First, We Say Yes to Jesus

Membership at Yates begins with something deeper than joining a church. It begins with a personal “yes” to Jesus. We trust his grace, receive his forgiveness, and commit to follow him. Baptism becomes our visible response to that grace. Membership is how we live it out in community.

We’re becoming a growing community alive with Christ, energized to share God’s transforming love. Your “yes” to Jesus is the heartbeat of that vision.

Scripture That Grounds Us

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12)

“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them … and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19–20)

What Do You Mean by Covenant?

When you join most organizations, you sign a form or pay dues. Clubs, teams, and civic groups often work from contracts or agreements. The church is different. Christians use the language of covenant because our belonging is rooted in God’s promises and our response to them.

A covenant is not a transaction. It is a shared commitment to walk with God and with one another in love, prayer, forgiveness, and service. Baptists especially lean on this language because we believe the church is not held together by paperwork but by the Spirit of God who makes us one body in Christ.

“We agree, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the further enrichment of this church in knowledge, holiness, faith, and unity; to sustain its worship, study, witness, and fellowship; and to be faithful stewards of our time, abilities, influence, and resources.”

— Yates Baptist Church Covenant

Download the Yates Covenant (PDF)

How to Become a Member

Worship with us — online or in person.
Respond during worship — come forward during the final hymn, or if that feels difficult, let an usher know or contact us directly.
Share your next step
- Profession of faith and baptism — your public “yes” to Jesus.
- Transfer of membership — if you come from another Baptist church.
- Statement of faith and baptism — if you’ve been baptized but no letter is available.
Meet with a pastor — a conversation together helps us hear your story and answer questions.

If walking forward feels hard, tell a greeter, a deacon, or contact us. We’ll meet you where you are.

What Happens After You Join

Baptism — if you haven’t been baptized as a believer, we’ll schedule this important step and invite you to use our Preparing for Baptism devotional resource as a guide.
Deacon Mentor — each new member is paired with a deacon mentor for one year. Your mentor will bring a New Member Packet, meet with you at least twice, and walk alongside you as you settle into life here.
New Member Packet — a simple guide to Yates’ ministries, groups, and opportunities.
Realm Access — membership also gives you access to Realm, our online hub for groups, events, giving, and directory.

Questions You Might Be Asking

Do I have to be baptized at Yates?: Baptism is a gift we celebrate. If you have been baptized as a follower of Jesus, we honor that. If you have not, we will walk with you toward that step. We also provide a short devotional resource to help you prepare, reflect, and pray.
What if I’m new to faith?: You’re welcome here. Faith grows over time. Our ministry of formation offers small groups, Bible studies, and learning communities that walk together in honesty and hope. You’ll have companions to pray with, ask questions with, and learn from.
Can I take time before joining?: Yes. Many people spend a season worshiping here before taking the step of membership. During that time you can volunteer, serve, join fellowship events, and be cared for by this community.

Ready When You Are

If you sense a nudge to belong, we are ready to walk with you.

I’m Ready to Join Contact Us