When you trust in Jesus and His offer of salvation, you become His disciple. It is a decision to be a follower of His way of life, and to submit to His teaching.
It also involves being part of a community of believers - because the best way a person can grow is alongside another believer who is modeling what it means to be a Jesus-follower. Jesus emphasized this before He ascended into heaven:
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18–20)
And so, in obedience to the mandate of our Lord, we make it our highest priority here at BCCEast to disciple fellow believers in an intentional and authentic way. It's a four-step process: Belong, Connect, Change, Engage - easy to remember because of our church acronymn.
BELONG: Come to God just as you are. He loves the whole world so much that He provides a welcome through faith in His Son Jesus!
The video below will help you understand how you can belong to God's family.
There are more helpful videos to watch when you visit www.truelife.org.
CONNECT: To grow spiritually, you must take an active part in a local church family. Connect and develop meaningful relationships with other believers by worshiping together on Sundays and joining intimate Bible study groups. Here at BCCEast, relationships are primarily nurtured through Life Groups - smaller group settings where life-to-life discipleship is emphasized.
CHANGE: Focus on inner transformation. In 2 Corinthians 3:18, Paul says, “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” And in Romans 8:28, Paul said, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Inner transformation is the result of an ever-increasing commitment to an active lifestyle of humility, obedience, and participation in intentional and authentic discipleship. The primary way we envision this happening is within the context of a Life Group. We also offer classes related to doctrine, and practical topics like How to Study the Bible, How to Pray, How to Budget, etc. to help you in your walk with God.
ENGAGE: As a committed and maturing Jesus-follower, you are encouraged to discover your particular S.H.A.P.E. (Spiritual Gift, Heart/Passion, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences) and use it to reach out to relatives, friends, the community, and the world, and to use it to engage in church ministries. To find out how you can serve through BCCEast, please contact Warren Ilustre at wilustre@bcceast.org.