Partners in Ministry - Grace at Fort Clarke Church of Gainesville Fl

HOW YOU BECOME A “PARTNER IN MINISTRY”

• What is a “Partner in Ministry”?

We don’t have traditional membership here at Grace, we have what we call “Partners in Ministry”. Too often “joining” a church is little more than posting your name on a list. We think that is shortchanging the body of Christ. We want to be locked arm in arm with those who want to experience serving God and each other in a more meaningful and dynamic way. The purpose of the Partners in Ministry process is to go beyond traditional “Church Membership”. We want to involve those that wish to be truly a part of the Grace family in an experience that allows you to participate as a fully involved, disciple making follower of Christ within the Grace community. Our Partners in Ministry process places individuals in the context of a small, interactive group, where we will learn together, pray together, worship together and serve the needs of the community together. These are the actions and activities of the body of Christ. Our goal is to foster a love of God, a love of each other and a love in service of God’s world. This will all take place outside of the walls of the church campus, because that is where the church truly exists. We will try and help each other discover the unique gifts, passions, and abilities that God has equipped you with and how we can best utilize those gifts in His service.

The Partners in Ministry process meets every other week for six sessions in homes and concludes with a time of commitment and vows.

Partners in Ministry is headed up by Jim and Sharon Skiles. You can get more information by emailing:
There will be a new class scheduled shortly. To be included as part of that class, please contact Jim and Sharon.

jim.skiles@willis.com and ; pat.smittle@sfcollege.edu

To hear from some of our Partners, click this link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfz66AxFhkY

THE MEANING OF "PARTNERSHIP"

When a person unites with Grace at Fort Clarke UMC, they covenant together with God and with the Partners in Ministry of Grace to keep the vows, which are a part of the order of confirmation and reception into the church. Just as in a wedding ceremony, you will be asked specific questions concerning your commitment.

The four questions you will be asked are:

1. Do you confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and pledge your allegiance to His kingdom?

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10:9-10

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this;
it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:8-10

2. Do you receive and profess the Christian faith as contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments?

You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

2 Timothy 3:15-17

3. Do you promise, according to the grace given you, to live a Christian life and always remain a faithful member of Christ’s holy church?

This grace was given us in Christ Jesus . . . And the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 1:9; 2 Timothy 4:6-7

Make sure that your everyday life is worthy of the gospel of Christ. Philippians 1:27

Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. Matthew 28:19-20

4. Will you be loyal to the United Methodist Church and uphold it by your prayers, fellowship, financial support, and by serving God using your identified spiritual gifts?

Prayers

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will . . . growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power ... . Colossians 1:9-12

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

Fellowship

They devoted themselves to the apostles; teaching and to the fellowship . . . every day they continued to meet together . . . praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47
But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

Financial Support

Each one of you, on the first day of each week, should set aside a specific sum of money in proportion to what you have earned and use it for the offering. 1 Corinthians 16:2

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 1 Timothy 6:6

Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13

Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:20-21

Serving God using your identified Spiritual Gifts

We each have different gifts, according to the grace given us. Romans 2:6

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. I Corinthians 12:7

Each one should use whatever gift they have received to serve others. 1 Peter 4:10

(God) gave . . . some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. Ephesians 4:11-12

PARTNER IN MINISTRY COVENANT

Having experienced the grace of God through faith in His Son,
and having been baptized as a disciple of Jesus Christ,

I claim and confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of my Life!

Having completed the Partner in Ministry course
and having an understanding of and agreement with the
Mission, Vision, and Core Beliefs of Grace Church,

I hereby commit to partnership with Grace at Fort Clarke UMC agreeing,

with God’s help, to support this church with:

My Prayers—I commit to pray regularly for the success of Grace’s mission,
its leadership, and its ministries as we seek to fulfill God’s calling;

My Allegiance—I commit to uphold the unity of Grace by acting in love toward others
and suppressing any and all forms of gossip, disunity, or dissention.
I also commit my allegiance to joining a small group where I can develop deep relationships

with other Christians and be challenged and encouraged in my faith journey;

My Presence—I commit to faithful attendance in our worship celebrations
and to being intentional to invite others to join me in worship;

My Gifts—I commit to honoring God by giving intentionally and generously,
(striving toward the biblical goal of 10% or more), to further the ministries of Grace;

My Service—I commit to discovering and utilizing my God given abilities for ministry
by participating in serving others throughout the world.