As a part of our worship service today, we will be introducing a handful of new members to our fellowship. These new members completed the Exploring Cornerstone Class, which is our version of an Inquirer’s or New Members Class. Then, they spent time with a ruling elder, sharing their testimony of faith and affirming the five church membership vows.
By way of information or review, the five questions of church membership at Cornerstone are:
· Do you acknowledge yourselves to be sinners in the sight of God, justly deserving His displeasure, and without hope save in His sovereign mercy?
· Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and Savior of sinners, and do you receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation as He is offered in the Gospel?
· Do you now resolve and promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes the followers of Christ?
· Do you promise to support the Church in its worship and work to the best of your ability?
· Do you submit yourselves to the government and discipline of the Church, and promise to study its purity and peace?
These brothers and sisters come before you today as a show of their commitment to Jesus Christ and to identify themselves as a part of the Cornerstone family. After the service, please take time to introduce yourself and welcome these new friends to the Cornerstone fellowship.
While we’re welcoming new folks, let me make one more introduction. Six months ago, the planting pastor of All Saints Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Brentwood, Rev. Matt Bradley, reached out to me to see if Cornerstone would be interested in partnering for a summer intern. After a few discussions and prayer, the elders agreed to partner on hiring a full time summer intern who would share time between our two churches. I’m pleased to announce that, Mr. Matthew Proctor, and his wife, Kelly, will be serving in a variety of capacities at Cornerstone and All Saints from June 3rd to August 12th.
Let me tell you a bit about Matthew and Kelly. Matthew is a Nashville native. After graduating from Brentwood Academy in 2007, he signed up to serve four years in the Armed Forces. Far away from the Bible belt of the South, his eyes were opened to the tragic reality of what life is like for those who grow up not knowing the Lord. When he completed his time in service, Matthew moved back to Nashville to pursue a missiology degree at Lipscomb University. Before receiving his bachelor’s degree, he somehow tricked his now better half, Kelly Proctor, to both marry him and move with him to Philadelphia, PA, so that he could pursue a Master of Divinity degree from Westminster Theological Seminary (WTS). Still a student at WTS, Matthew has grown to appreciate the mystery of the Gospel (cf. Eph. 6:19,) more and more and longs to share its richness with others.
Once Matthew and Kelly arrive in middle Tennessee, we’ll introduce them publicly in service. We’ll also share a bit more about the ways Matthew will be involved in the ministry over the summer.