Joining a Church of the Brethren is an exciting and momentous step. More than the end of a journey, it is the beginning of a new life of adventure and responsibility.

It is also a step to be taken after study and prayerful meditation.

Whether you join by baptism or by transfer of membership from another denomination, you will find a welcoming people in the Church of the Brethren. We are eager for you to be a part of us! Together we can better live out the joys and challenges of our faith in Christ.

Someone once compared the church to a few reeds growing in a river. The reeds gather enough other reeds, and after a while they change the course of the river. Becoming part of a people of faith is like that. You not only experience God’s love and presence, you join hands with others who are changing the course of their world. A gathered and Spirit-empowered people will help you grow in faith and make a difference in the lives of those around you.

The church will also nurture your personal life. The faith community can support you and your family in difficult times, or in the costly steps that discipleship and faithfulness to the gospel sometimes require. It will help shape life’s priorities and mold your values, as well as those of your children.

For all of these reasons and others, the Church of the Brethren provides an appropriate setting for Christian nurture, praise and worship. Members are urged to attend worship services regularly and participate in prayer and Bible study groups as well as church school classes. Northview will provide you with opportunities to discover your spiritual gifts and then use these God-given talents within the life of the church for the benefit of all.

Faith is personal, someone has said, but never private. An evidence of discipleship, of how much we love God, is found in how deeply we love and care for others.

The Church of the Brethren encourages its members in the disciplines of an active prayer life and regular Bible study. Never as ends in themselves, they are spiritual preparation for loving others, for service. Brethren care about giving clothing, food, shelter and other forms of material aid to those in need. Brethren are a people who care about sharing their faith with others, whether they live next door or in distant lands. We are Christians who have taken seriously Jesus’ summons to love our enemies. Many members, therefore, find military service incompatible with a Biblical faith and work at forms of alternative service. Many feel led to witness for peace and justice in other ways.

The faith that warms our hearts must strengthen our hands and set our feet on a path of devotion and compassion. "To do justice...love mercy...and walk humbly with God" (Micah 6:8) - this is our vision and mission.

While tradition is important, membership means a good deal more. Brethren have emphasized that Christian faith begins with receiving Christ, but the process continues. A maturing faith means discipleship. It means following Christ. It is being transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit into new persons who live lives directed by Christ. One newcomer to the Brethren explained the difference this way: "People in the church...try to live a Christ-like manner daily, not just on Sundays."

This way of life will mean new directions. Integrity, compassion, and faithfulness will increasingly guide the believer’s choices. Christ’s ways of loving, giving, and serving will often lead to a stand clearly apart from the popular values of modern society. It will also mean living as responsible stewards of God’s good creation.