QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Our church has always had an open-door policy. Feel free to ask any question about any ministry. We welcome your questions. Below are answers to some of the questions we are frequently asked.
What’s in the name Baptist?
This church is a Baptist church by conviction and principle, not by affiliation. This means that we believe the basic Bible teachings for which Baptists have historically stood. As Baptists, we believe the following:
Biblical Authority: the Bible is our sole authority for all matters of faith and practice
Autonomy of the Local Church: the church should be autonomous or self-governing
Priesthood of the Believer: the believer does not need a priest, other than Jesus Christ, to come boldly to God. Every Christian has equal access to God personally
Two Church Ordinances: God’s Word gives us two ordinances for the church-baptism and the Lord’s Table
Individual Soul Liberty: each person is individually responsible for his decision to accept Christ
Separation of Church & State: the separation of church and state is biblical
Two Church Offices: there are two biblical offices in the church—pastors and deacons.
What does it mean to be an independent church?
As an independent Baptist church, we are not affiliated with any particular Baptist denomination or ruling body. Because of this we can support our own missionaries, select our own leaders, and support institutions that believe as we believe. In short, our church answers to the headship of Jesus Christ rather than a denominational body. There are currently more than 14,000 independent Baptist churches in America and thousands more throughout the world.
How can I be involved in ministry?
There are two types of ministry involvement at Heritage Baptist. Many people help, in a given month, with volunteer projects in areas such as maintenance and office-related projects. Feel free to contact the church office if you would like to volunteer your time in this way. If you are interested in teaching, helping, singing, or other visible positions of leadership, an appointment must be set with Pastor Fong.
What is required for membership?
To be a member of Heritage Baptist you must first be saved and then baptized in a Baptist church of like-faith. You will then be invited to attend our New Foundations class on Wednesday evenings. This will be a time to get to know and understand more about the purpose and function of our church and Bible doctrine. Your membership is officially finalized upon completion of this class. During a Sunday evening service, you and your family will be invited to attend our new members reception, to become more acquainted with the church family.
What does the church do to help widows?
One of the primary responsibilities of each deacon is to assist in caring for the widows of the church. On a monthly basis, the needs of each widow are personally addressed and cared for.
How is the leadership of the church structured?
Ultimately, Christ is the head of this church. On a daily basis, the church is primarily led by the pastor and pastoral leadership team. This team works together in prayer and decision-making to follow the leading of God for our church ministry. Also, our deacons serve as a church-elected group that meets with the pastor monthly to review and discuss matters of church importance. This provides a high level of accountability as well as a great spirit of cooperation as we follow God’s leading for this church.
