What It Means to Be Family

​Before Our Savior is a place or organization, we are Jesus’ spiritual family.

Because I am adopted, I’ll explain what I mean through my personal lens.

My name was Naum Kyoo Park. I was physically brought into the Bayer family in August of 1983. At that point, I was introduced, connected, and bonded with friends, grandparents, cousins, an existing family history, and a future together. I was “part of the family” in almost every sense of the word.

Then, through an immigration process, I legally became their son. I have a new name. I have official documentation. It’s a totally new identity in every sense of the word. At that point, I was recognized by governments, states, and schools as a legitimate part of the Bayer family.

In other words, before I was recognized as a part of the family, I experienced family... I participated as part of the family… I became part of my family’s history and their future together. All of that was in place before I was publicly recognized as part of the family.

I think this is a helpful way of thinking about what church family membership means for us. We’re already part of Jesus’ spiritual family. We already experience family (that’s grace!). We already participate in the family (that’s faith!). We are already part of God’s greater story (that’s the scriptures!). Becoming a church family member means that we now choose to be publicly recognized as part of the family. It's a public acknowledgment of what and who we already are and becoming. While there is no spiritual legal requirement to be a member of a church, this declaration of belonging brings a deeper sense of belonging to the family of God.

Want to learn more? Join me and our incredible team for our next New Member Class beginning on Sunday, April 24th.

In the meantime, drop me a note and let me know what being a church family member at Our Savior means to you - or any questions you have about it.