Incorporating Soul Care into the Membership Process at Clifton Park Baptist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland

Abstract

This project sought to incorporate soul care into the membership process at Clifton Park Baptist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland. Chapter 1 presents the ministry context of Clifton Park and the purpose, rationale, and goals of the project. Chapter 2 provides the biblical basis for the project, which is grounded in Jesus’ ministry actions in Matthew 9:35-36 and in His declaration in Luke 5:31 that the sick need a physician. The project also finds support in Jesus’ soul care actions in John 4:1-42 and in Luke 8:40-48 and 19:1-10, and in His soul care mandate in John 13:1-17. Chapter 3 presents the need for soul care in churches, presenting the why of the approach, and provides direction in how the church can prepare itself to perform this ministry. Chapter 4 provides the timeline for the project and the specific actions needed to bring it to fruition. Chapter 5 evaluates the project based on the completion of the goals and the stated purpose for its implementation. It is hoped that this project can help to create a soul care way of being within and outside the walls of Clifton Park Baptist Church.