Westlynn Baptist Church is a Christian denomination that believes the whole Bible is true and is God's inspired and authoritative word. At Westlynn we agree with The Baptist Faith & Message 2000. Menu The Scriptures God Man Salvation God's Grace The Church Baptism The Lord’s Day The Kingdom Last Things Evangelism Education Stewardship Cooperation Social Order Peace & War Religious Liberty The Family What We Believe Statement of Faith Baptist Faith & Message 2000 The Scriptures Salvation Menu God God's Grace Man The Church Baptism Last Things Stewardship Peace & War The Lord's Day Evangelism Cooperation Religious Liberty The Kingdom Education Social Order The Family The Scriptures The Scriptures . The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God’s revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation. Exodus 24:4 ; Deuteronomy 4:1-2 ; 17:19 ; Joshua 8:34 ; Psalms 19:7-10 ; 119:11 ,89 ,105 ,140 ; Isaiah 34:16 ; 40:8 ; Jeremiah 15:16 ; 36:1-32 ; Matthew 5:17-18 ; 22:29 ; Luke 21:33 ; 24:44-46 ; John 5:39 ; 16:13-15 ; 17:17 ; Acts 2:16ff .; 17:11 ; Romans 15:4 ; 16:25-26 ; 2 Timothy 3:15-17 ; Hebrews 1:1-2 ; 4:12 ; 1 Peter 1:25 ; 2 Peter 1:19-21 . God God . There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all powerful and all knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being. A. God the Father God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men. Genesis 1:1 ; 2:7 ; Exodus 3:14 ; 6:2-3 ; 15:11ff .; 20:1ff .; Leviticus 22:2 ; Deuteronomy 6:4 ; 32:6 ; 1 Chronicles 29:10 ; Psalm 19:1-3 ; Isaiah 43:3 ,15 ; 64:8 ; Jeremiah 10:10 ; 17:13 ; Matthew 6:9ff .; 7:11 ; 23:9 ; 28:19 ; Mark 1:9-11 ; John 4:24 ; 5:26 ; 14:6-13 ; 17:1-8 ; Acts 1:7 ; Romans 8:14-15 ; 1 Corinthians 8:6 ; Galatians 4:6 ; Ephesians 4:6 ; Colossians 1:15 ; 1 Timothy 1:17 ; Hebrews 11:6 ; 12:9 ; 1 Peter 1:17 ; 1 John 5:7 . B. God the Son Christ is the eternal Son of God. In His incarnation as Jesus Christ He was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. Jesus perfectly revealed and did the will of God, taking upon Himself human nature with its demands and necessities and identifying Himself completely with mankind yet without sin. He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord. Genesis 18:1ff .; Psalms 2:7ff .; 110:1ff .; Isaiah 7:14 ; Isaiah 53:1-12 ; Matthew 1:18-23 ; 3:17 ; 8:29 ; 11:27 ; 14:33 ; 16:16 ,27 ; 17:5 ; 27 ; 28:1-6 ,19 ; Mark 1:1 ; 3:11 ; Luke 1:35 ; 4:41 ; 22:70 ; 24:46 ; John 1:1-18 ,29 ; 10:30 ,38 ; 11:25-27 ; 12:44-50 ; 14:7-11 ; 16:15-16 ,28 ; 17:1-5 , 21-22 ; 20:1-20 ,28 ; Acts 1:9 ; 2:22-24 ; 7:55-56 ; 9:4-5 ,20 ; Romans 1:3-4 ; 3:23-26 ; 5:6-21 ; 8:1-3 ,34 ; 10:4 ; 1 Corinthians 1:30 ; 2:2 ; 8:6 ; 15:1-8 ,24-28 ; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21 ; 8:9 ; Galatians 4:4-5 ; Ephesians 1:20 ; 3:11 ; 4:7-10 ; Philippians 2:5-11 ; Colossians 1:13-22 ; 2:9 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 ; 1 Timothy 2:5-6 ; 3:16 ; Titus 2:13-14 ; Hebrews 1:1-3 ; 4:14-15 ; 7:14-28 ; 9:12-15 ,24-28 ; 12:2 ; 13:8 ; 1 Peter 2:21-25 ; 3:22 ; 1 John 1:7-9 ; 3:2 ; 4:14-15 ; 5:9 ; 2 John 7-9 ; Revelation 1:13-16 ; 5:9-14 ; 12:10-11 ; 13:8 ; 19:16 . C. God the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, fully divine. He inspired holy men of old to write the Scriptures. Through illumination He enables men to understand truth. He exalts Christ. He convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He calls men to the Saviour, and effects regeneration. At the moment of regeneration He baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He cultivates Christian character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which they serve God through His church. He seals the believer unto the day of final redemption. His presence in the Christian is the guarantee that God will bring the believer into the fullness of the stature of Christ. He enlightens and empowers the believer and the church in worship, evangelism, and service. Genesis 1:2 ; Judges 14:6 ; Job 26:13 ; Psalms 51:11 ; 139:7ff .; Isaiah 61:1-3 ; Joel 2:28-32 ; Matthew 1:18 ; 3:16 ; 4:1 ; 12:28-32 ; 28:19 ; Mark 1:10 ,12 ; Luke 1:35 ; 4:1 ,18-19 ; 11:13 ; 12:12 ; 24:49 ; John 4:24 ; 14:16-17 ,26 ; 15:26 ; 16:7-14 ; Acts 1:8 ; 2:1-4 ,38 ; 4:31 ; 5:3 ; 6:3 ; 7:55 ; 8:17 ,39 ; 10:44 ; 13:2 ; 15:28 ; 16:6 ; 19:1-6 ; Romans 8:9-11 ,14-16 ,26-27 ; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14 ; 3:16 ; 12:3-11 ,13 ; Galatians 4:6 ; Ephesians 1:13-14 ; 4:30 ; 5:18 ; 1 Thessalonians 5:19 ; 1 Timothy 3:16 ; 4:1 ; 2 Timothy 1:14 ; 3:16 ; Hebrews 9:8 ,14 ; 2 Peter 1:21 ; 1 John 4:13 ; 5:6-7 ; Revelation 1:10 ; 22:17 . Man Man . Man is the special creation of God, made in His own image. He created them male and female as the crowning work of His creation. The gift of gender is thus part of the goodness of God’s creation. In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original innocence whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin. Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God. The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore, every person of every race possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love. Genesis 1:26-30 ; 2:5 ,7 ,18-22 ; 3 ; 9:6 ; Psalms 1 ; 8:3-6 ; 32:1-5 ; 51:5 ; Isaiah 6:5 ; Jeremiah 17:5 ; Matthew 16:26 ; Acts 17:26-31 ; Romans 1:19-32 ; 3:10-18 ,23 ; 5:6 ,12 ,19 ; 6:6 ; 7:14-25 ; 8:14-18 ,29 ; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31 ; 15:19 ,21-22 ; Ephesians 2:1-22 ; Colossians 1:21-22 ; 3:9-11 . Salvation Salvation . Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer. In its broadest sense salvation includes regeneration, justification, sanctification, and glorification. There is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. A. Regeneration , or the new birth, is a work of God’s grace whereby believers become new creatures in Christ Jesus. It is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Repentance and faith are inseparable experiences of grace. Repentance is a genuine turning from sin toward God. Faith is the acceptance of Jesus Christ and commitment of the entire personality to Him as Lord and Saviour. B. Justification is God’s gracious and full acquittal upon principles of His righteousness of all sinners who repent and believe in Christ. Justification brings the believer unto a relationship of peace and favour with God. C. Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God’s purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person’s life. D. Glorification is the culmination of salvation and is the final blessed and abiding state of the redeemed. Genesis 3:15 ; Exodus 3:14-17 ; 6:2-8 ; Matthew 1:21 ; 4:17 ; 16:21-26 ; 27:22-28:6 ; Luke 1:68-69 ; 2:28-32 ; John 1:11-14 ,29 ; 3:3-21 ,36 ; 5:24 ; 10:9 ,28-29 ; 15:1-16 ; 17:17 ; Acts 2:21 ; 4:12 ; 15:11 ; 16:30-31 ; 17:30-31 ; 20:32 ; Romans 1:16-18 ; 2:4 ; 3:23-25 ; 4:3ff .; 5:8-10 ; 6:1-23 ; 8:1-18 ,29-39 ; 10:9-10 ,13 ; 13:11-14 ; 1 Corinthians 1:18 ,30 ; 6:19-20 ; 15:10 ; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 ; Galatians 2:20 ; 3:13 ; 5:22-25 ; 6:15 ; Ephesians 1:7 ; 2:8-22 ; 4:11-16 ; Philippians 2:12-13 ; Colossians 1:9-22 ; 3:1ff .; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 ; 2 Timothy 1:12 ; Titus 2:11-14 ; Hebrews 2:1-3 ; 5:8-9 ; 9:24-28 ; 11:1-12:8 ,14 ; James 2:14-26 ; 1 Peter 1:2-23 ; 1 John 1:6-2:11 ; Revelation 3:20 ; 21:1-22:5 . God's Grace God's Purpose of Grace . Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility. All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. Genesis 12:1-3 ; Exodus 19:5-8 ; 1 Samuel 8:4-7 ,19-22 ; Isaiah 5:1-7 ; Jeremiah 31:31ff .; Matthew 16:18-19 ; 21:28-45 ; 24:22 ,31 ; 25:34 ; Luke 1:68-79 ; 2:29-32 ; 19:41-44 ; 24:44-48 ; John 1:12-14 ; 3:16 ; 5:24 ; 6:44-45 ,65 ; 10:27-29 ; 15:16 ; 17:6 ,12 ,17-18 ; Acts 20:32 ; Romans 5:9-10 ; 8:28-39 ; 10:12-15 ; 11:5-7 ,26-36 ; 1 Corinthians 1:1-2 ; 15:24-28 ; Ephesians 1:4-23 ; 2:1-10 ; 3:1-11 ; Colossians 1:12-14 ; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 ; 2 Timothy 1:12 ; 2:10 ,19 ; Hebrews 11:39–12:2 ; James 1:12 ; 1 Peter 1:2-5 ,13 ; 2:4-10 ; 1 John 1:7-9 ; 2:19 ; 3:2 . The Church The Church . A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the two ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. Each congregation operates under the Lordship of Christ through democratic processes. In such a congregation each member is responsible and accountable to Christ as Lord. Its two scriptural offices are that of pastor/elder/overseer and deacon. While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor/elder/overseer is limited to men as qualified by Scripture. The New Testament speaks also of the church as the Body of Christ which includes all of the redeemed of all the ages, believers from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation. Matthew 16:15-19 ; 18:15-20 ; Acts 2:41-42 ,47 ; 5:11-14 ; 6:3-6 ; 13:1-3 ; 14:23 ,27 ; 15:1-30 ; 16:5 ; 20:28 ; Romans 1:7 ; 1 Corinthians 1:2 ; 3:16 ; 5:4-5 ; 7:17 ; 9:13-14 ; 12 ; Ephesians 1:22-23 ; 2:19-22 ; 3:8-11 ,21 ; 5:22-32 ; Philippians 1:1 ; Colossians 1:18 ; 1 Timothy 2:9-14 ; 3:1-15 ; 4:14 ; Hebrews 11:39-40 ; 1 Peter 5:1-4 ; Revelation 2-3 ; 21:2-3 . **Note: This article was amended June 14, 2023, by action of the 2023 Southern Baptist Convention** Baptism and the Lord's Supper . Baptism Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming. Matthew 3:13-17 ; 26:26-30 ; 28:19-20 ; Mark 1:9-11 ; 14:22-26 ; Luke 3:21-22 ; 22:19-20 ; John 3:23 ; Acts 2:41-42 ; 8:35-39 ; 16:30-33 ; 20:7 ; Romans 6:3-5 ; 1 Corinthians 10:16 ,21 ; 11:23-29 ; Colossians 2:12 . The Lord's Day . The first day of the week is the Lord’s Day. It is a Christian institution for regular observance. It commemorates the resurrection of Christ from the dead and should include exercises of worship and spiritual devotion, both public and private. Activities on the Lord’s Day should be commensurate with the Christian’s conscience under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Exodus 20:8-11 ; Matthew 12:1-12 ; 28:1ff .; Mark 2:27-28 ; 16:1-7 ; Luke 24:1-3 ,33-36 ; John 4:21-24 ; 20:1 ,19-28 ; Acts 20:7 ; Romans 14:5-10 ; I Corinthians 16:1-2 ; Colossians 2:16 ; 3:16 ; Revelation 1:10 . The Lord’s Day The Kingdom The Kingdom . The Kingdom of God includes both His general sovereignty over the universe and His particular kingship over men who willfully acknowledge Him as King. Particularly the Kingdom is the realm of salvation into which men enter by trustful, childlike commitment to Jesus Christ. Christians ought to pray and to labor that the Kingdom may come and God’s will be done on earth. The full consummation of the Kingdom awaits the return of Jesus Christ and the end of this age. Genesis 1:1 ; Isaiah 9:6-7 ; Jeremiah 23:5-6 ; Matthew 3:2 ; 4:8-10 ,23 ; 12:25-28 ; 13:1-52 ; 25:31-46 ; 26:29 ; Mark 1:14-15 ; 9:1 ; Luke 4:43 ; 8:1 ; 9:2 ; 12:31-32 ; 17:20-21 ; 23:42 ; John 3:3 ; 18:36 ; Acts 1:6-7 ; 17:22-31 ; Romans 5:17 ; 8:19 ; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 ; Colossians 1:13 ; Hebrews 11:10 ,16 ; 12:28 ; 1 Peter 2:4-10 ; 4:13 ; Revelation 1:6 ,9 ; 5:10 ; 11:15 ; 21-22 . Last Things Last Things . God, in His own time and in His own way, will bring the world to its appropriate end. According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead will be raised; and Christ will judge all men in righteousness. The unrighteous will be consigned to Hell, the place of everlasting punishment. The righteous in their resurrected and glorified bodies will receive their reward and will dwell forever in Heaven with the Lord. Isaiah 2:4 ; 11:9 ; Matthew 16:27 ; 18:8-9 ; 19:28 ; 24:27 ,30 ,36 ,44 ; 25:31-46 ; 26:64 ; Mark 8:38 ; 9:43-48 ; Luke 12:40 ,48 ; 16:19-26 ; 17:22-37 ; 21:27-28 ; John 14:1-3 ; Acts 1:11 ; 17:31 ; Romans 14:10 ; 1 Corinthians 4:5 ; 15:24-28 ,35-58 ; 2 Corinthians 5:10 ; Philippians 3:20-21 ; Colossians 1:5 ; 3:4 ; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 ; 5:1ff .; 2 Thessalonians 1:7ff .; 2 ; 1 Timothy 6:14 ; 2 Timothy 4:1 ,8 ; Titus 2:13 ; Hebrews 9:27-28 ; James 5:8 ; 2 Peter 3:7ff .; 1 John 2:28 ; 3:2 ; Jude 14 ; Revelation 1:18 ; 3:11 ; 20:1-22:13 . Evangelism and Missions . It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. The new birth of man’s spirit by God’s Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others. Missionary effort on the part of all rests thus upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life, and is expressly and repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ has commanded the preaching of the gospel to all nations. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by verbal witness undergirded by a Christian lifestyle, and by other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ. Genesis 12:1-3 ; Exodus 19:5-6 ; Isaiah 6:1-8 ; Matthew 9:37-38 ; 10:5-15 ; 13:18-30 , 37-43 ; 16:19 ; 22:9-10 ; 24:14 ; 28:18-20 ; Luke 10:1-18 ; 24:46-53 ; John 14:11-12 ; 15:7-8 ,16 ; 17:15 ; 20:21 ; Acts 1:8 ; 2 ; 8:26-40 ; 10:42-48 ; 13:2-3 ; Romans 10:13-15 ; Ephesians 3:1-11 ; 1 Thessalonians 1:8 ; 2 Timothy 4:5 ; Hebrews 2:1-3 ; 11:39-12:2 ; 1 Peter 2:4-10 ; Revelation 22:17 . Evangelism Education Education . Christianity is the faith of enlightenment and intelligence. In Jesus Christ abide all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. All sound learning is, therefore, a part of our Christian heritage. The new birth opens all human faculties and creates a thirst for knowledge. Moreover, the cause of education in the Kingdom of Christ is co-ordinate with the causes of missions and general benevolence, and should receive along with these the liberal support of the churches. An adequate system of Christian education is necessary to a complete spiritual program for Christ’s people. In Christian education there should be a proper balance between academic freedom and academic responsibility. Freedom in any orderly relationship of human life is always limited and never absolute. The freedom of a teacher in a Christian school, college, or seminary is limited by the pre-eminence of Jesus Christ, by the authoritative nature of the Scriptures, and by the distinct purpose for which the school exists. Deuteronomy 4:1 ,5 ,9 ,14 ; 6:1-10 ; 31:12-13 ; Nehemiah 8:1-8 ; Job 28:28 ; Psalms 19:7ff .; 119:11 ; Proverbs 3:13ff .; 4:1-10 ; 8:1-7 ,11 ; 15:14 ; Ecclesiastes 7:19 ; Matthew 5:2 ; 7:24ff .; 28:19-20 ; Luke 2:40 ; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 ; Ephesians 4:11-16 ; Philippians 4:8 ; Colossians 2:3 ,8-9 ; 1 Timothy 1:3-7 ; 2 Timothy 2:15 ; 3:14-17 ; Hebrews 5:12-6:3 ; James 1:5 ; 3:17 . Stewardship Stewardship . God is the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; all that we have and are we owe to Him. Christians have a spiritual debtorship to the whole world, a holy trusteeship in the gospel, and a binding stewardship in their possessions. They are therefore under obligation to serve Him with their time, talents, and material possessions; and should recognize all these as entrusted to them to use for the glory of God and for helping others. According to the Scriptures, Christians should contribute of their means cheerfully, regularly, systematically, proportionately, and liberally for the advancement of the Redeemer’s cause on earth. Genesis 14:20 ; Leviticus 27:30-32 ; Deuteronomy 8:18 ; Malachi 3:8-12 ; Matthew 6:1-4 ,19-21 ; 19:21 ; 23:23 ; 25:14-29 ; Luke 12:16-21 ,42 ; 16:1-13 ; Acts 2:44-47 ; 5:1-11 ; 17:24-25 ; 20:35 ; Romans 6:6-22 ; 12:1-2 ; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 ; 6:19-20 ; 12 ; 16:1-4 ; 2 Corinthians 8-9 ; 12:15 ; Philippians 4:10-19 ; 1 Peter 1:18-19 . Cooperation . Christ’s people should, as occasion requires, organize such associations and conventions as may best secure cooperation for the great objects of the Kingdom of God. Such organizations have no authority over one another or over the churches. They are voluntary and advisory bodies designed to elicit, combine, and direct the energies of our people in the most effective manner. Members of New Testament churches should cooperate with one another in carrying forward the missionary, educational, and benevolent ministries for the extension of Christ’s Kingdom. Christian unity in the New Testament sense is spiritual harmony and voluntary cooperation for common ends by various groups of Christ’s people. Cooperation is desirable between the various Christian denominations, when the end to be attained is itself justified, and when such cooperation involves no violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and His Word as revealed in the New Testament. Exodus 17:12 ; 18:17ff .; Judges 7:21 ; Ezra 1:3-4 ; 2:68-69 ; 5:14-15 ; Nehemiah 4 ; 8:1-5 ; Matthew 10:5-15 ; 20:1-16 ; 22:1-10 ; 28:19-20 ; Mark 2:3 ; Luke 10:1ff .; Acts 1:13-14 ; 2:1ff .; 4:31-37 ; 13:2-3 ; 15:1-35 ; 1 Corinthians 1:10-17 ; 3:5-15 ; 12 ; 2 Corinthians 8-9 ; Galatians 1:6-10 ; Ephesians 4:1-16 ; Philippians 1:15-18 . Cooperation Social Order The Christian and the Social Order . All Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our own lives and in human society. Means and methods used for the improvement of society and the establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. In the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed, selfishness, and vice, and all forms of sexual immorality, including adultery, homosexuality, and pornography. We should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the abused, the aged, the helpless, and the sick. We should speak on behalf of the unborn and contend for the sanctity of all human life from conception to natural death. Every Christian should seek to bring industry, government, and society as a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love. In order to promote these ends Christians should be ready to work with all men of good will in any good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth. Exodus 20:3-17 ; Leviticus 6:2-5 ; Deuteronomy 10:12 ; 27:17 ; Psalm 101:5 ; Micah 6:8 ; Zechariah 8:16 ; Matthew 5:13-16 ,43-48 ; 22:36-40 ; 25:35 ; Mark 1:29-34 ; 2:3ff .; 10:21 ; Luke 4:18-21 ; 10:27-37 ; 20:25 ; John 15:12 ; 17:15 ; Romans 12–14 ; 1Corinthians 5:9-10 ; 6:1-7 ; 7:20-24 ; 10:23-11:1 ; Galatians 3:26-28 ; Ephesians 6:5-9 ; Colossians 3:12-17 ; 1 Thessalonians 3:12 ; Philemon ; James 1:27 ; 2:8 . Peace and War . It is the duty of Christians to seek peace with all men on principles of righteousness. In accordance with the spirit and teachings of Christ they should do all in their power to put an end to war. The true remedy for the war spirit is the gospel of our Lord. The supreme need of the world is the acceptance of His teachings in all the affairs of men and nations, and the practical application of His law of love. Christian people throughout the world should pray for the reign of the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 2:4 ; Matthew 5:9 ,38-48 ; 6:33 ; 26:52 ; Luke 22:36 ,38 ; Romans 12:18-19 ; 13:1-7 ; 14:19 ; Hebrews 12:14 ; James 4:1-2 . Peace & War Religious Liberty Religious Liberty . God alone is Lord of the conscience, and He has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are contrary to His Word or not contained in it. Church and state should be separate. The state owes to every church protection and full freedom in the pursuit of its spiritual ends. In providing for such freedom no ecclesiastical group or denomination should be favored by the state more than others. Civil government being ordained of God, it is the duty of Christians to render loyal obedience thereto in all things not contrary to the revealed will of God. The church should not resort to the civil power to carry on its work. The gospel of Christ contemplates spiritual means alone for the pursuit of its ends. The state has no right to impose penalties for religious opinions of any kind. The state has no right to impose taxes for the support of any form of religion. A free church in a free state is the Christian ideal, and this implies the right of free and unhindered access to God on the part of all men, and the right to form and propagate opinions in the sphere of religion without interference by the civil power. Genesis 1:27 ; 2:7 ; Matthew 6:6-7 ,24 ; 16:26 ; 22:21 ; John 8:36 ; Acts 4:19-20 ; Romans 6:1-2 ; 13:1-7 ; Galatians 5:1 ,13 ; Philippians 3:20 ; 1 Timothy 2:1-2 ; James 4:12 ; 1 Peter 2:12-17 ; 3:11-17 ; 4:12-19 . The Family The Family . God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption. Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God’s unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race. The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God’s image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation. Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God’s pattern for marriage. Parents are to teach their children spiritual and moral values and to lead them, through consistent lifestyle example and loving discipline, to make choices based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents. Genesis 1:26-28 ; 2:15-25 ; 3:1-20 ; Exodus 20:12 ; Deuteronomy 6:4-9 ; Joshua 24:15 ; 1 Samuel 1:26-28 ; Psalms 51:5 ; 78:1-8 ; Psalms 127 ; Psalms 128 ; 139:13-16 ; Proverbs 1:8 ; 5:15-20 ; 6:20-22 ; 12:4 ; 13:24 ; 14:1 ; 17:6 ; 18:22 ; 22:6 ,15 ; 23:13-14 ; 24:3 ; 29:15 ,17 ; 31:10-31 ; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ; 9:9 ; Malachi 2:14-16 ; Matthew 5:31-32 ; 18:2-5 ; 19:3-9 ; Mark 10:6-12 ; Romans 1:18-32 ; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16 ; Ephesians 5:21-33 ; 6:1-4 ; Colossians 3:18-21 ; 1 Timothy 5:8 ,14 ; 2 Timothy 1:3-5 ; Titus 2:3-5 ; Hebrews 13:4 ; 1 Peter 3:1-7 .

The team at Westlynn Baptist Church is filled by those who are in submission to God as taught in the New Testament: the local church is a plurality of biblically qualified male elders who serve as the spiritual shepherds or pastors of the flock. Our Team " Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth ." —2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV) We believe the New Testament teaches that God’s pattern for the governance of the local church is a plurality of biblically qualified male elders who serve as the spiritual shepherds or pastors of the flock. The term “pastor,” “elder” and “overseer” are used interchangeably in the New Testament to describe the leaders of God’s church. Paul instructed Titus to appoint not just one elder but multiple elders in every town (Titus 1:5). Paul and Barnabas at the conclusion of their first missionary journey appointed multiple elders—not just one—in all the churches that they planted (Acts 14:23). Elders must be qualified according the qualifications listed in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 and have a significant role to play in terms of caring for God’s people. Whether this is in being responsible for finances (Acts 11:30), engaging in theological discussion (Acts 15:2,4,6,22-23), ensuring that God’s Word is properly applied (Acts 16:4), or praying for the sick (James 5:16), they are responsible to God who appointed them to watch over His sheep (Acts 20:28). Pastors-Elders . Samuel Chua Lead Pastor Samuel Chua Email Sam Chua (MDiv, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) serves as the lead pastor. Sam was born and raised in Burnaby and has a heart to see God’s Word faithfully preached from pulpits in every part of the city. He is married to Esther and they have five children. Prior to entering pastoral ministry, Sam worked in industry as a computer engineer and then as a graduate student researcher at The University of British Columbia. Pastor-Elder Mike Parsons Email Mike has served as an elder at Westlynn for many years and has also been involved in pastoral ministry for several decades. Mike and his wife Pearl, have a passion for prayer and can often be found leading times of prayer and encouraging others to pray. Pastor-Elder David Gileff Email David has served as an elder and in ministry for many years both in Westlynn and in his previous church. By day he works as a lawyer, but he also invests a significant amount of time in serving the Russian Language Ministry of our church as well as using his accordion-playing skills in corporate worship. He is married to Taya and together they have six children. Pastor-Elder Casey Cleland Email Casey has been part of the church community since 1994, when he and his wife, Kim, transitioned from Royal Heights Baptist in Delta. As a leader in the Men’s Ministry, he is passionate about helping men discover their identity in Christ and growing in faith together. Driven by a desire to serve faithfully wherever and whenever he is called, Casey is a constant presence around the church, assisting with all sorts of various needs. David Gileff Mike Parsons James Wong Markos Fehr Servants of the church at Westlynn . Janet Campbell Administrator Janet Campbell Email Finance Alex Vergeychik Email ESL Classes Scott N. Email Building Bibot Legaspi Email Music Ministry Yuji Stobbe Email Children's Ministry Joeun K. Email Kitchen Kim Cleland Email Men's Ministry Casey Cleland Email Children's Ministry Daniel Z. Email

At Westlynn Baptist Church, we strongly encourage our church family to be a part of a weekly discipleship group. Our groups may vary in size, focus, and language, but they all serve the same purpose—that is, helping people to grow in their walks with the Lord and also with one another. Discipleship Groups All welcome, in person or online Various weekdays We strongly encourage our church family to be a part of a weekly discipleship group. Our groups may vary in size, focus, and language, but they all serve the same purpose—that is, helping people to grow in their walks with the Lord and also with one another. A typical group meeting will involve a time of focused Bible study, prayer, and fellowship. Some of our groups also share a meal together. As we gather to spur one another on to love and good works (Hebrews 10:24-25), God works to sharpen us (Proverbs 27:17) and gives us joy as we pursue Jesus together. It is our hope that every discipleship group will nurture a supportive environment where we can share our joys and struggles and help each other grow in godliness as we navigate life’s challenges in accordance with the truths revealed in God’s Word. Weekly Calendar Men's Bible Study Tuesdays, 7:00pm - 8:45pm in person Learn More Women's Bible Study Tuesdays, 7:00pm - 8:45pm in person Learn More Farsi Bible Study with Naser Wednesdays, 7:00pm - 8:45pm in person Learn More Thursday Bible Study with Mike Parsons Thursdays, 7:00pm - 8:45pm on Zoom Learn More Friday Bible Study with Damian and Eva Fridays, 7:00pm - 9:00pm in person Learn More Russian Language Ministry with David Gileff Learn More

On the Lord’s Day (Sunday), we at Westlynn Baptist gather to worship the Lord by singing a mixture of biblically rich songs with musical instruments. Sunday Worship Sundays at 10 am 1 341 27th St E, No rth Vancouver, BC This Sunday Our Worship Services. On the Lord’s Day (Sunday), we gather together to worship in accordance with the pattern established in the New Testament. We worship the Lord by singing a mixture of biblically rich contemporary songs, faithful hymns that have stood the test of time, and modern adaptations of metrical psalms (Ephesians 5:19). We complement our singing with musical instruments, ensuring they enhance rather than overpower the voices of God’s people, our primary instruments of praise. During the service, we have a dedicated time reserved for pastoral prayer in which we intercede for the needs of our congregation, city, nation, and our global community. Although our worship service is primarily done in English, we offer live translation into Farsi and Russian for all parts of our service. During musical worship, the lyrics for our songs are displayed in all three languages on the screen. During the scripture readings, prayer times and preaching of God’s Word, a live translation of the service can be followed through our provided wireless audio kits with earbuds. During the sermon portion of the service, children under 10 are invited to join Sunday school classes tailored to their age group. The rest of the congregation sits under expository (explaining the scriptures) preaching from God’s Word. It is our usual practice to preach books of the Bible verse by verse in order to hear what the whole counsel of God has to say to us. In accordance with Jesus’ commands, we come together regularly (first Sunday of each month) to partake in the Lord’s Supper. On these occasions, we do not offer children’s programs as we want to encourage families to worship together. After communion, following the worship service, we gather together for a church-wide lunch. Visiting us for the first time? Find out how to get here . Livestream and Fellowship Hall Seating. For those who prefer, we have alternative seating in our Fellowship Hall just a few steps away from the main sanctuary. A live video link of the service is displayed on a large screen for everyone to see and participate in worship. For those who are ill or unable to worship in-person, we offer livestream access. We do not believe that joining with fellow believers via livestream for convenience sake is spiritually healthy nor part of the New Testament vision for how believers are to be incarnationally present with each other. Therefore, our livestream is only available by request to those who cannot attend services due to illness, health issues, temporary travel, and other reasons. All requests for livestream links are reviewed by the elders.

Westlynn Baptist Church is made up of people from all different ethnicities and ages. We are committed to loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and loving our neighbours as ourselves. Our Story exists to glorify God by nurturing joyful obedience to Jesus Christ in all things . Westlynn Baptist Church Who We Are . Our church is a vibrant congregation made up of people from all different ethnicities, walks of life, from young to old. We are devoted to following God and living our lives in accordance with God’s Word. We believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again to reconcile us back to God and forgive our sins. Therefore, we are committed to loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and loving our neighbours as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-38). Whether you have been a follower of Jesus for decades or you are seeking spiritual truth, wanting to learn more about Jesus and the Christian faith, we are delighted to welcome and serve you. Our History. A New Chapter. God's Work in Westlynn. Westlynn Baptist Church traces its origins back to the 1950s when it was established as a new church plant of the East Kings Road Baptist Church. The latter was formerly situated close to East Kings Road & Lonsdale in North Vancouver. In 1963, the original sanctuary was constructed on the present site, marking a significant milestone in our journey. Through the ensuing decades, the congregation was shepherded by various dedicated pastors. Notably, in the 1980s, the church felt led to undertake a construction project that led to the creation of the current sanctuary alongside an expanded kitchen, purpose-built Sunday school classrooms, a prayer room and new office space. These enhancements were thoughtfully designed to cater to the needs of future growth. In 2017, Westlynn Baptist Church began a search for a new lead pastor. The year 2018 was a pivotal moment in the life of the church as the congregation discerned a potential merger with a young church plant called ACTS 242 Church. They were looking for a permanent location to put down roots. After a 6-month period of discernment which included prayer, joint services, meals, ACTS 242 Church officially merged with Westlynn Baptist Church and Sam Chua was called to serve as the lead pastor. Since then, God has grown Westlynn Baptist Church and opened doors for new ministry opportunities. We offer classes for people seeking to learn more about Jesus, and also discipleship groups for those wanting to grow deeper in their faith. We have dedicated ministries that serve the needs of Russian-speaking , Farsi-speaking individuals. Our weekly English classes are tailored to support immigrants and refugees as they seek to settle into their new surroundings. Our church is also deeply engaged in serving our local community. Our biweekly food program that is staffed by volunteers supports numerous low-income individuals and seniors who are struggling to make ends meet. We are also involved in holding monthly worship service for seniors at the Lynn Valley Care Center. For students and young people, we have a youth group and young adult group that meet regularly on Friday evenings that foster a nurturing environment to study the Bible and grow spiritually as well as to enjoy fun events and outings together. We also have a chess club for elementary and high school that meets several times a month as well as an annual summer Sports Camp for children that has been running for over 20 years. Click here to see our weekly calendar. Click here to see our events.

Your tithes and offerings support the ongoing work of the Lord through Westlynn Baptist Church. We thank the Lord for your faithful giving! Give As we continue to streamline our administration, we have come up with various procedures to make it easy for you fulfill your tithes and offerings which support the ongoing work of the Lord through Westlynn. 1. Direct Debit (recommended method) a. Please click the link above to download the form. Fill in the parts highlighted in yellow, plus the amount of donation in the "Fixed" box. Automatic tithing of a fixed amount will be done on the 1st of each month. b. Members who contribute a fixed amount regularly should take advantage of this method, as it is almost fully automated for you and helps us reduce administration. 2. INTERAC e-transfer a. This is for any amount (especially large one-time donations), since there are no fees. b. Can give directly from your bank account. c. Please send your tithe/offering to the email "info @ westlynnbaptist . com" (delete the whitespaces, password not needed, auto-deposited into our account). For your tax receipt, send us an email with your full name and address so that we can issue your tax receipt by February of the following year. Please make sure your name matches the name used for e-transfer. 3. Online giving a. This is useful if you want to give occasional gifts using a credit card. b. Note that although you will receive a tax receipt for 100% of the amount you give, Westlynn will receive the amount less fees (currently 2.8%). c. You will get your tax receipt directly from Charitable Impact and not from us. Please note that we do not have control over the deadlines that they specify for tax receipting for the tax year. d. Giving: Westlynn Baptist Church | Canadahelps.org 4. Mail a cheque a. We provide this as an additional service at this particular time. b. Please mail it to the church address: 1341 East 27th Street, North Vancouver, BC V7J 1S6 and send an email us to let us know. 5. Put your Tithe in the donation box on Sunday a. Please use an offering envelope and make sure you fill out everything, for tax receipting purposes. In His love and service, —Damian Yap (on behalf of the Finance Team)

The Russian Language ministry of Westlynn Baptist Church. Богослужение на русском языке каждое воскресенье кроме первого воскресенья месяца 12:30 p m Русскоязычное служение проходит каждое воскресенье (кроме первого воскресенья месяца) в главном зале в 12:30. Мы собираемся для пения, общения и проповеди Слова Божьего на русском языке. Русскоязычное служение — это одно из направлений деятельности нашей церкви. Во время англоязычных богослужений церкви осуществляется синхронный перевод на русский язык. Также, изучение Библии и общение на русском языке проходят в малой группе на дому. Русскоязычное служение направлено на удовлетворение духовных потребностей русскоязычных иммигрантов и беженцев из разных стран. Кроме того, мы регулярно размещаем наши проповеди на канале YouTube, чтобы сделать их доступными людям по всему миру. Вот ссылка подписаться на наш YouTube канал. Если у вас есть вопросы, предложения или желание потрудиться в русскоязычном служении церкви Westlynn, пожалуйста, сообщите нам через email . Благодать вам и мир от Бога Отца и Господа нашего Иисуса Христа!

Food Program Food Program Registration Closed Food Program Discontinued The Food Program at Westlynn had its last service on December 26, 2024. Unfortunately, the program is now discontinued. If you need any assistance, please contact Immigrant Link Center Society directly. Westlynn Food Program exists to be the hands and feet of Jesus. It is for those in our community who can benefit from bi-weekly food donations. Westlynn Food Program is a food distribution site operating under the umbrella of Immigrant Link Center Society . The Immigrant Link Center Society was established in 2016 and started the "Win-Win Project" that distributes perishable surplus foods that are still viable from partnering grocery stores (that would otherwise have been thrown out, adding to landfill waste) free of charge. Food donations include vegetables, fruits, meats, dairy, deli products, breads, and bakery goods which are then sorted into boxes by volunteers according to family size and requests. This program is for those that receive government/income assistance, RAP benefits, fall within below the low income cut-off (LICO) guidelines, or have other extenuating circumstances. Clients must register to be part of the program. The program has a maximum capacity of 50 clients at any given time. Volunteers serve at the church every other Thursday from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm. Their responsibilities include unloading boxes of food from a delivery truck, sorting food into individual boxes for each family that receives food, distributing boxes to the clients, tearing down boxes for recycling, and cleaning up the space at the end of the day. Contact us to register or volunteer!

Prayer Ministry Prayer Ministry All welcome, in person or online Wednesdays, 7:00 pm At Westlynn Baptist Church, we strongly believe in the power of prayer and that too often we have not because we ask not (James 4:2). Our Lord Jesus Christ was a man of prayer, often going to desolate places early in the morning to pray (Mark 1:35) and spending entire nights in prayer as he communed with his Father (Luke 6:12, Matt 26:36-46). Our church has a number of prayer gatherings throughout the week. On Sunday mornings, we gather for a time of pre-service prayer at 9:15am in the prayer downstairs. During this meeting, we pray for the Lord’s strengthening and ask for his blessing over our service and to allow us to minister to those who come to worship. During our Sunday services, we have a time of responsive prayer. Following the sermon, we invite people to come to the front or to the back where someone from the prayer team will be available to pray for requests or needs that have come up while the congregation continues singing. On Wednesday evenings, our church family gathers for midweek prayer at 7pm in the main sanctuary. During this time, we open with a time of praise and adoration, glorifying God for who He is and then praying for the salvation of lost souls and also various needs in our congregation and beyond. This time in corporate prayer is precious as it not only unites our hearts together before the Lord, but we also have the blessing of seeing God powerfully answer our prayers and requests.

The Bible uses the image of a “body” to describe the Church. Our human bodies are healthy only when each individual part (or “member”) of our body is functioning together as one unit. Likewise, theologically each individual Christian is a part of a larger body: the Church. Westlynn Baptist Church believes in these main principles to membership: Doctrinal unity, commitment to living life in Christian community, recognition of church leadership and mutual accountability in holiness. Membership Become a Member Being a Member of the Church Body . “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” — Romans 12:4-5 The New Testament repeatedly uses the image of a “body” to describe the Church (Romans 12:4, 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Ephesians 3:6, 4:1, 4:4, 4:10-16, 5:23, 5:30, Colossians 1:18-24, 2:19, 3:15). Our human bodies are healthy only when each individual part (or “member”) of our body continually shares in the life of the body as a whole, doing its part to cooperate with and serve all the other members of the body. Likewise, the theological fact that each individual Christian is part of a larger body (the Church) implies that Christians should grow in their connections—to each other, to their leaders (e.g., pastors-elders and teachers), and ultimately, through their participation in the church body, to Christ, who is the head of the Church (Ephesians 4:11-16). How do we apply this biblical truth in our local church? One way our church does this is by encouraging church membership through voluntary participation in a membership process. In practical terms, what biblical aims are fulfilled by engaging in a membership process, rather than, for example, just considering everyone who attends our public gatherings to be a member? 1. Doctrinal unity. Not everyone who attends our worship services is a Christian. Even if someone considers themselves a Christian, not everyone shares our core Scriptural and theological convictions. However, the church cannot act in unity unless there is basic agreement on the essentials of the Christian faith that was “once for all delivered to the saints”—i.e., the truths that must be proclaimed, lived out and carefully safeguarded by the church (Amos 3:3; Eph. 4:1-6; Jude 3). Church membership is your public affirmation of adherence to our church’s Statement of Faith—which is the essential foundation for all that our church is or does. 2. Commitment to living life in Christian community. We know that not everyone who attends our church is willing to commit to continually sharing their life with other members of the church, specifically, by loving one another (John 13:34-35, Romans 12:10, 13:8, 1 Peter 1:22, 1 John 4:7-12); carrying one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2); serving, teaching and admonishing one another (1 Peter 4:10, Galatians 5:13; Col. 3:16); regularly gathering together for mutual encouragement (Hebrews 3:13, 10:24-25; Acts 2:42), being held spiritually accountable by submitting to one another and confessing sins to one another (Ephesians 5:21, James 5:16); living in harmony together (Romans 12:16); and bearing with one another and forgiving each other where necessary (Romans 15:7, Ephesians 4:2, 4:32, Colossians 3:13), for example. Significantly, the biblical teaching to live life together and to use our spiritual gifts in love to serve one another in the church arises directly from the biblical metaphor of the Church being the Body of Christ (Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 4:16). Becoming a church member is your public affirmation of these biblical obligations and the Westlynn Church Membership Covenant represents your promise to other church members to fulfil these and other biblical teachings as to how Christians should live together in love (John 13:34-35; Romans 12:4-8; 1 Peter 1:22; 1 Corinthians 12-14; Ephesians 4:16). 3. Recognition of church leadership. The same Bible passages that speak of the Church as the Body of Christ also mention spiritual leadership gifts. For example: (a) Romans 12:6-8 mentions that the gifts given to the Body include teaching and leading; (b) in Ephesians 4:11-14, God gives the gift of certain kinds of leaders including pastors-teachers “to equip the saints for the work of ministry” to lead us to spiritual maturity; and (c) 1 Corinthians 12:27-28 also lists several categories of leadership gifts. Ultimately, Christ is the head of the Church (Ephesians 4:15-16; Colossians 1:18). However, Scripture clearly teaches that Christ rules His Church partly through the leadership of a group of godly and biblically qualified pastors-elders (Acts 14:23, 20:17, 20:28, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-2; Philippians 1:1, James 5:14). Members of the church are called to submit to the godly leadership of a local church’s pastor-elders (1 Pet. 5:5; Hebrews 13:7, 17; 1 Corinthians 16:15-16; 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13; 1 Timothy 5:17). Membership in the church expresses your recognition of—and submission to—the biblical teaching that Christ, as the Chief Shepherd, has appointed pastors-elders in the church who are accountable to Him for shepherding your soul (Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:2-4, Hebrews 13:17; Ephesians 4:11-12; John 21:15-17). Similarly, pastors-elders need to know for whom they will be held responsible before God (Hebrews 13:17). Membership thus provides spiritual and practical clarity in church polity (governance). At Westlynn Baptist Church, our pastor-elders generally require someone to be a member (or to be working towards that end) in order to be entrusted with a specific church ministry. 4. Mutual accountability in holiness. God intended the church to faithfully represent Jesus to the world by us living holy lives, both individually and together as a community (1 Peter 1:15-16; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14; Titus 2:11-12; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7; Ephesians 4:24; 1 Timothy 4:7-8). The early church recognized that not everyone who attended church services or who professed faith in Christ was truly a Christian. For example, the church distinguished between church members in good standing, unbelieving “outsiders,” and apostates or heretics: see 1 Corinthians 14:22-25; Colossians 4:5; 2 Corinthians 13:5; 1 John 2:19, 3:6-10; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 1 Timothy 1:18-20, 4:1-2, 2 Timothy 3:1-8; Jude 3-4. For the first category (faithful Christians), the church is a means of sanctification (i.e., helping us fight against sin), challenging sinful behavior and calling members to repentance (Galatians 6:1-2; James 5:16; Hebrews 3:12-13,10:24-25; Matthew 18:15-17; Romans 15:14; James 5:19-20). The Great Commission is fulfilled only if the church teaches and directs her members to obey Christ in all that he taught personally or through the Apostles, a process we call “discipleship” (i.e., learning to be a disciple of Jesus by following his teachings and being conformed to his personal example of holiness): see Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 8:29, 12:2, 13:14. Discipleship requires discipline both on a personal level and as a church. Therefore, in cases where a member is persistently ungodly and unrepentant after repeated warnings, the church as a whole is called to remove such persons from membership as a sign that these members do not represent Christ and, indeed, are in danger of being excluded from God’s Kingdom if they fail to repent of their sinful conduct (Matthew 18:15-17; James 5:19-20; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, 6:9-11). In summary, the practice of church membership promotes spiritual accountability as follows: (1) first, it is a means for the church’s leadership and members to challenge one another to grow in holiness and godliness by defeating sin through the power of the Spirit; (2) second, we protect the reputation of Jesus Christ in the world by publicly affirming which faithful Christians the church believes belong to Christ; and (3) in the event that a member is persistently unfaithful, church membership is the basis of church discipline, by which the church attempts in love to restore a sinner to Christ in order to save their soul (Matthew 18:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5:4-5; James 5:19-20). Jesus Christ established the Church for our own good. A Christian needs to understand—and live out—the biblical truth that “we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another” (Romans 12:4-5). The leadership of Westlynn Church is persuaded that voluntary membership in our church through our Membership Covenant is an important part of the discipleship process, whereby Christians can declare that they are members of Christ by their membership in a particular local church (Westlynn) and the means by which the church, on its part, calls upon her members to obey Scripture in all that it teaches about life together as a spiritual family. If you are a follower of Jesus and want to explore becoming a member of the Westlynn church family and/or seek to be baptized as a sign of your discipleship to Jesus Christ, please contact Pastor-Elder David Gileff or Elder Mike Parsons about our Membership and Baptism class, which is being held on demand at the church on Friday evenings at 7:00 pm. — David Gileff Steps to Become a Member . Register for and complete a church membership class with David Gileff . Review the Westlynn church covenant then sign, snap a photo/scan, and send back to David Gileff. Review Statement of Faith (Baptist Faith and Message 2000) . Write a 1-page testimony (or more if you want) about how you came to know Jesus and send it to David Gileff. Upon completion of the above, schedule an interview with David Gileff to review your application. If you have not been baptized, schedule a date to read your testimony in front of the congregation and be baptized. Your name will be brought forward at our next congregational meeting. The congregation will then listen as you share your testimony (unless it was already read at your baptism) and vote to receive you into membership at the church. Become a Member

Westlynn Sports Camp Westlynn Sports Camp Ages 5.5-13 (Grades K-7) with Registration Last Week of July, Annually Registration for this year is now open! Click here to register your children as campers. Westlynn Sports Camp (click here to watch video) is an annual, week-long, multi-sport, day-camp for children who finished grades K-7 by summer. Our camp runs from 9:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. The earliest drop-off for campers is at 9 a.m. after our morning staff meeting is finished. We offer a variety of different sports lead by volunteer coaches and leaders, and also daily Bible-based lessons for all campers. Along with all the sports and Bible lessons, we sing and dance during the opening and closing rallies, and younger children make arts and crafts. We also provide all the snacks and lunches so parents don’t need to worry. On the last day, we invite the parents and families to join us for an evening ice cream social where we present our Sports Camp video and give the parents a little taste of what camp was like for the week. This year (2026) Westlynn Sports Camp will be held on July 27-31.

Children's Ministry Children's Ministry Ages 6-11 - Sundays during sermon Ages 0-5 - Sundays at service start We follow a curriculum that gives the children an overview of the entire Bible in 3 years. The aim is to help them learn about and obey God’s Word in an age-appropriate manner. We meet in the basement of the church, every Sunday during the sermon time, except on the first Sunday of each month when everyone is encouraged to be in service to worship and observe communion together. At Children's Ministry, we teach the Bible using material that the Elders have approved. We currently use the Generations of Grace Curriculum . The Bible passage is read and then explained in historical context as well as in redemptive history. There are activities, games and illustrations to help kids remember the main points. These are all specially developed not only to be fun and educational but also biblically correct. We understand that even with the drawings that the kids colour, care has be taken by the curriculum developers to ensure biblical and historical accuracy. While accurate knowledge is an important aspect of understanding the Bible, application and obedience is also emphasized as our teachers discuss and help children work through these issues with real life examples and through prayer for needs. We are clear that discipling children is the responsibility of their parents. Hence we also work with the family by providing downloadable guides for Family Devotions based on what the child has learned on Sunday. Many of us are parents ourselves and have done these devotions with our families and have found them to be beneficial both to the parents and the child(ren) as they cater to various age groups that may exist in your family. We also collaborate with families to help them prepare their children for the two important projects that we do – the Christmas Eve Nativity Service and Easter Scripture reading. It is our prayer that the Holy Spirit would use all these and other experiences in the lives of our children to develop godly men and women of Westlynn. For volunteer sign up : It is with a correct understanding of the Word and also a living faith with our Creator that we can not only share the Word with the children but also model it through our own lives and experiences. The goal is not the mere imparting of knowledge but its application in our lives and that of the children and ultimately the bearing of the fruit of the Spirit and Christ-likeness in our lives. Our teachers and helpers are committed Christians who each have a living faith in our Lord Jesus and who want to grow in their faith by serving the Lord. Preparing the lesson involves first doing an in depth study of the passage. The curriculum that we follow provides an excellent study guide as well as 10 minute teaching videos to help us first understand the passage and its context in redemptive history as well as comprehend how it is ultimately fulfilled by or in Christ. In addition the helpful analogies and illustrations are also shared. Many of our teachers through preparing for the lessons actually learn more about the Bible and our amazing God. Teachers commit to serve a one to two year term teaching approximately once a month from Sep-Jun first as a Helper and then as a Teacher who not only teaches the children but also helps to mentor the Helper. Our Planning Center Registration module allows the teachers to view the class list of names to allow them to remember the children’s names but also to pray for and care for each of them. If you have a passion for Lord and have a desire to understand and clearly explain the Word of God simply to anyone but in particular to children, are willing to undergo training, a criminal record check and an interview, we would like to work with you to help develop your skills and passions to serve the Lord better. Please speak to Joeun K. or Daniel Z. when you visit us on Sunday.