Membership is a public statement of one’s commitment to a church. It is a statement of belief in what the church stands for and indicates a desire to be actively involved. There are a number of reasons why a growing Christian should move beyond church involvement to becoming a member.

1. Identification. Jesus often spoke of the importance of being identified with him as his disciple. Becoming a member of CrossWinds can be a significant part of the process of publicly identifying with Christ. Membership is a public statement of allegiance to God’s people, signifying agreement with what the church believes and values.
2. Accountability. Being a member means being willing to live by the beliefs and standards of the church. It means agreeing to abide by CrossWinds by-laws and voluntarily submitting to the leadership of CrossWinds elders as they follow Christ. Membership makes accountability possible. Accountability is essential for maintaining purity in one’s own personal life and for maintaining purity within the church.
3. Care. Membership clarifies the primary group for whom the church is most responsible when it comes to care and concern. Those who are members are also more accountable to care for each other.
4. Responsibility. A member not only enjoys the blessings and benefits of being part of the church ministries, but also accepts the responsibilities for the church. A member accepts responsibility for the various ministries of the church, as well as helping to set direction, financial support, active attendance, prayer, involvement, and being available for leadership.
5. Selection of leadership. Because members have publicly declared their allegiance to the church, it is from them that commission chairs, lay pastors, board members and other key leaders are chosen.
6. Denominational voice. Delegates to the Central District and General EFCA Conferences are selected from CrossWinds membership. These delegates make decisions that have an impact on the work of God’s Kingdom beyond the scope of the local church.

1. They learned that as each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately following. By flying in a V formation, the entire flock adds at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own. This speaks to the importance of sharing the ministry at CrossWinds with one another. We are going to be able to accomplish God’s purposes more quickly and more easily because we are advancing on the energy and giftedness of each other.
2. Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to go it alone, and quickly gets into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front. Another important aspect of membership is understanding our contribution to the harmony and unity of CrossWinds and the importance of supporting the leadership of the church. God wants us to move in the same direction. Membership involves sharing a common direction by owning the mission, vision, and values of CrossWinds.
3. When the lead goose gets tired, he rotates back in the wing and another goose flies point. The geese also honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. As members we have a responsibility to care for one another, to encourage and build each other up in the faith. We should intentionally seek how we can contribute to the overall health and strength of the congregation.
4. When a goose gets sick, or is wounded by gun shots and falls out, two geese fall out of formation and follows him/her to the ground to help and protect. They stay with him/her until he is either able to fly or until he is dead, and they then launch out on their own or with another formation to catch up with the group. Membership involves standing by one another in times of doubt, discouragement, and crisis.

It is our desire to help your membership at CrossWinds become meaningful. We want you to understand that membership is much more than simply having your name attached to the name of a church or denomination. It involves demonstrating your commitment to Jesus Christ and his church in a vital and significant way.