STATEMENT OF FAITH
We believe that:
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice.
There is one true and living God revealed in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Man was created in the image of God, but as a result of sin, is lost and powerless to save himself.
The Lord Jesus Christ is eternal deity and He is the virgin-born Son of God, who died upon a cross to bear mankind’s afflictions and punishment for sin, who arose bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father, and who will return to earth in power and glory.
Sin is cleansed only through personal repentance and faith in the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
Personal salvation is the result of regeneration by the Holy Spirit, who baptizes the believer into the Body of Christ.
Believers are to be baptized in the Holy Spirit according to Acts 2:4, and there is a moving and working of the Holy Spirit in the lives of men in these last days.
Jesus Christ will personally return to this earth and establish His kingdom on earth.
We believe that:
The Bible is the inspired Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice.
There is one true and living God revealed in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Man was created in the image of God, but as a result of sin, is lost and powerless to save himself.
The Lord Jesus Christ is eternal deity and He is the virgin-born Son of God, who died upon a cross to bear mankind’s afflictions and punishment for sin, who arose bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of the Father, and who will return to earth in power and glory.
Sin is cleansed only through personal repentance and faith in the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
Personal salvation is the result of regeneration by the Holy Spirit, who baptizes the believer into the Body of Christ.
Believers are to be baptized in the Holy Spirit according to Acts 2:4, and there is a moving and working of the Holy Spirit in the lives of men in these last days.
Jesus Christ will personally return to this earth and establish His kingdom on earth.
ABOUT US
Licensing and ordination is available through the Bethany Ministerial Fellowship (BMF), which also offers support for those in ministry, including conferences in the fall, regional meetings throughout the year and a quarterly newsletter. BMF believes that the Lord calls and ordains individuals into ministry, and that man merely recognizes that call of God upon their lives. For more information, contact the BMF office at [email protected].
BMF STRUCTURE
Paul exhorts us to “be submitted to one another (Ephesians 5:21).” There are specific ministries given to the church – apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic, pastors and teachers. We are not to be functioning alone without any supportive relationships.
These relationships include, among other things, being connected together in common fellowship, helping one another, ministering to one another and being accountable to one another.
We are all aware of Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 12 that we are the body of Christ and, as part of that body, each one has different gifts of the Spirit. It also follows that, as each part of the body is under the headship of Christ, we are directly related to each other. Being related to each other means that no one is alone and we are to be responsible to each other. “For no man lives alone and no man dies alone.”
We recognize that God calls people into individual and sometimes unique ministries. We also recognize the value in the autonomy of the local church. Therefore, it is not our purpose to develop a ministerial fellowship that in any way interferes with that calling or with the local church. But it is our purpose to develop a fellowship that can enable, support, help equip and provide a mutual accountability that gives the called ministry integrity with the Lord and before the world.
Paul exhorts us to “be submitted to one another (Ephesians 5:21).” There are specific ministries given to the church – apostolic, prophetic, evangelistic, pastors and teachers. We are not to be functioning alone without any supportive relationships.
These relationships include, among other things, being connected together in common fellowship, helping one another, ministering to one another and being accountable to one another.
We are all aware of Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 12 that we are the body of Christ and, as part of that body, each one has different gifts of the Spirit. It also follows that, as each part of the body is under the headship of Christ, we are directly related to each other. Being related to each other means that no one is alone and we are to be responsible to each other. “For no man lives alone and no man dies alone.”
We recognize that God calls people into individual and sometimes unique ministries. We also recognize the value in the autonomy of the local church. Therefore, it is not our purpose to develop a ministerial fellowship that in any way interferes with that calling or with the local church. But it is our purpose to develop a fellowship that can enable, support, help equip and provide a mutual accountability that gives the called ministry integrity with the Lord and before the world.
OUR PURPOSE
• To provide modest fathering, counseling and consulting
• To equip, strengthen, support and encourage leaders
• To provide a spiritual covering and place of accountability for leaders
• To impart and uphold what we believe to be godly standards, in regard to the character and qualities of a minister or leader
• To license and ordain leaders for credibility
• To help establish ministry teams and mobilize leaders
• To provide modest fathering, counseling and consulting
• To equip, strengthen, support and encourage leaders
• To provide a spiritual covering and place of accountability for leaders
• To impart and uphold what we believe to be godly standards, in regard to the character and qualities of a minister or leader
• To license and ordain leaders for credibility
• To help establish ministry teams and mobilize leaders
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP
Members of the Ministerial Fellowship receive the following benefits:
· The ability to perform legal ceremonies: weddings, funerals, etc. (which require
license or ordination – check your state regulatory body)
· Access to prisons, hospitals, nursing homes and psychiatric centers
· Church organization assistance
· A support fellowship of prayer, counsel and exchange of ideas
· Channels for ministry outreach
· Fellowship at conferences and regional meetings
· Support from regional leaders
· A quarterly newsletter
· A basis of fellowship with likeminded ministers and ministries
The Bethany Ministerial Fellowship also provides:
· A spiritual covering for you
· Fellowship, mutual nurturing and encouragement
· Consultation and literature regarding Bible correspondence courses, Bible
school, and Christian professional organizations
· Counseling regarding marriage and family
· Guidance, counseling, training and appropriate support services to overseas
missionaries
· Regional meetings, as announced
· A yearly Leadership Conference at Bethany Bible Training Center
· Consultation and networking on ministry-related issues and programs
· An intercessory prayer group available to all members in response to requests
for ministry and personal matters in need of urgent or continuing prayer
· Consulting regarding structure, legal, accounting, tax and professional
resources available from various sources
Members of the Ministerial Fellowship receive the following benefits:
· The ability to perform legal ceremonies: weddings, funerals, etc. (which require
license or ordination – check your state regulatory body)
· Access to prisons, hospitals, nursing homes and psychiatric centers
· Church organization assistance
· A support fellowship of prayer, counsel and exchange of ideas
· Channels for ministry outreach
· Fellowship at conferences and regional meetings
· Support from regional leaders
· A quarterly newsletter
· A basis of fellowship with likeminded ministers and ministries
The Bethany Ministerial Fellowship also provides:
· A spiritual covering for you
· Fellowship, mutual nurturing and encouragement
· Consultation and literature regarding Bible correspondence courses, Bible
school, and Christian professional organizations
· Counseling regarding marriage and family
· Guidance, counseling, training and appropriate support services to overseas
missionaries
· Regional meetings, as announced
· A yearly Leadership Conference at Bethany Bible Training Center
· Consultation and networking on ministry-related issues and programs
· An intercessory prayer group available to all members in response to requests
for ministry and personal matters in need of urgent or continuing prayer
· Consulting regarding structure, legal, accounting, tax and professional
resources available from various sources
