The Structure of Rochester Bible Baptist Church

BIBLICAL OVERVIEW OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH
(as outlined by Rev. Paul Cannings Ph.D.)

The church mentioned by Christ on two separate occasions (Matt. 16:18; 18:17) was not referred to as an institution but a ekklesia, meaning an assembly of individuals who He considered to belong directly to Him. In Matthew 16:18 Christ made reference to the universal church, but in Matthew 18:17 He made reference to a local assembling of believers. Paul follows Christ example when he refers to the church.

In Ephesians 5:23,25 Paul makes reference to the universal church but in 1 Corinthians 1:2, 4:17, and several other passages, Paul refers to the local church. Paul also states that there are four important principles that should characterize the universal and local church; these principals are Faith, Hope, Love - the greatest being love- (1 Cor 13:13) and The Word of God - which should dwell in the believers richly - (Col 3:15-17). Jesus Christ, presented through the Word, must serve as the Chief Cornerstone.

Therefore the New Testament local church represents a group of baptized believers of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1:2; 12:12-14), working together to carry out His plans, purpose and will (Eph 1:11). These believers are baptized because they have first, by faith, accepted as fact, that Christ died for their sins, and secondly have confessed Him as Lord (Rom. 10:9,10; 1 Cor. 1:17).

These believers must gather regularly (1 Cor. 1:2; 11:18; Acts 20:7; Heb 10:24,25) for the building up and equipping of one another (Eph 4:11-13; 1 Tim. 4:1-16) through teaching, prayer, singing, Lord's supper, Fellowship (Acts 2:42). This will be done as a result of the use of individual gifts (Rom. 12:3-21; 1 Cor 12-14; 1 Peter 4:10) so that believers will be imitators of Christ (Eph. 4:1,2; 5:1,2) to be presented perfect in Him (Col 1:28-29). These believers must also become witnesses for Christ in the local community, and the world (Acts 1:8; 2:42-47; 13:1-4). They must also seek to function as one body, united in Christ, characterized as a loving community, for God's glory (Acts 2:44-47; Eph 2:14-18).

Finally, the absolute foundation for developing church ministry must rest on the authority of the Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16, Matt. 4:4; Acts 20:27), and the goal of it's ministry must be to disciple (Matt. 28:19,20) believers to be mature in Christ (Col. 1:28-29). The Church must also bear the responsibility of representing Christ comprehensively before the community (Eph. 1:22)


ROCHESTER BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCH

Vision Statement
The vision of RBBC is to develop a community of Born Again Believers in Jesus Christ, who through the development of genuine relationships, based on love and truth, will unite for worship focused on glorifying God's name. This church will seek to equip, and establish these believers, in the Word of God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that everyone will demonstrate faith, hope and love as found in 1 Thess. 1:2,3. We will also provide viable mechanisms and training programs to empower these believers to reach unbelievers comprehensively as a local church, as well as corprately with other churches.

Process: A man of God receives the Word of God, having received the Word he Gives it to the people of God, so that the people of God and the man of God can go and tell the community and the world about the Lord God.

How this vision will work itself out:
    A. The vision of this church is to develop a community of believers, of Jesus Christ, who, through development of genuine relationships, will unite for the glorification of God.
    1. This will be developed through the:
      • Fellowship Ministry and Care Cell Ministry
      • Worship Service
      • Fellowship Sundays
    B. This church will seek to equip and establish these believers, in the Word of God, by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that everyone will demonstrate faith, hope and love as found in 1 Thess. 1:2,3.
    1. This will be developed through the :
      • One on One Discipleship Classes
      • New Members Class
      • Sunday School, Wednesday Eve Bible Study, Childeren and TEEN ministry Bible Studies, and exegetically preaching the Word of God.
      • Men's, Women's, Single's, College and Career, Youth, and Children's Ministry

CHURCH MINISTRY PROFILE
In keeping with Acts 2:42, Matt. 28:19-21, Acts 1:8, the church has five major areas through which it fulfills its mission: Outreach/Evangelism, Worship, Discipleship, Christian Education, and Fellowship.
  1. Worship:
    The English word worship comes from the old English word weordhscipe which was later shortened to worthship. It is concerned with the worthiness, dignity, or merit of a person, or as in the case of idolatry, a thing. Worship, in the verb form means the paying of homage or respect, and in the religious world the term is used of the reverent devotion, service, or honor, whether public or individual, paid to God. It is the adoration, veneration, exaltation, and magnification of God. It is when we respect, esteem, love, admire, and even dote on God that we are worshipping him. Worship is totally concerned with the worthiness of God, not the worthiness of the worshipper. (Judson Cornwall)

    Worship Philosophy: Worship has as it's primary goal to provide for meaningful worship (through songs and hymns, singing praises to God), and prayer, and to administer the ordinances of baptism and communion. The worship service must seek to stimulate the believer to no longer concentrate on self, but to focus totally on the power, faithfulness and glory of God (Col. 3:15-17).

  2. Discipleship:
    Discipleship is a process of spiritual development occurring in the framework of the accountable relationships of the local church whereby Christians are progressively brought from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity and are to repeat the process with others.

  3. Christian Education:
    Teaching occurs through observation (Matt. 28:20), instruction (2 Tim. 1:13), and accountability (2 Tim. 3:16; 4:2).

    Christian Education Philosophy: Christian Education promotes learning from the inerrant word of God among God's people, and a response of personal obedience to the Scripture (Eph.4:11-13: Col. 1:28).

  4. Outreach / Evangelism:
    Outreach and evangelism is focused on presenting the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ through the Word and by ministering to the physical needs of members, the community, and the world. (Acts 2:44; 1 John 3:16-19; James 2:14-17).

  5. Fellowship:
    Fellowship is designed to promote the interpersonal caring and sharing of God's people one to another as an outgrowth of our fellowship with God (Acts 2:42)


ROCHESTER BIBLE BAPTIST CHURCH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
By Pastor Alfred Cotton

Overview of five year plan
  • Purpose - To provide an organizational mechanism for the discipleship of each member of RBBC and comprehensively impact the community.
  • Theme - Discipling the Church to Dispel The Myth in the World.
  • Method - Develop a quality leadership team that will oversee the implementation of the vision.
  • Process - To provide a structure whereby each leader is developed and functions in the context of a small accountable leadership group, and helps facilitate the same among the members whom they serve.
  • Philosophy - The Church is to reflect the operation of God's Kingdom and the Lordship of Jesus Christ on earth in every sphere of life.
  • Vision - To have a ministry that comprehensively reflects the above philosophies through the churches impact in every area of life for the salvation of souls and the betterment of our community.
    • How this vision will work
    • Evangelism
    • Church Planting
    • Disciple Making
    • Christ Likeness
    • Glorification of God
GOALS
  • Church Mission Statement: Discipling the Church to Dispel The Myth in the World
  • Church Emphasis Discipling /Equipping Leaders to More Effectivley disciple the Church
  • In light of our five year plan leadership development becomes the most important issue facing our church. Therefore the Senior Pastor's focus will be on the discipleship of leaders and The Family Unit. This will include.
    1. Development of Discipleship relationships between pastors and deacons
    2. Heightening pastor/deacon accountability.
    3. Streamlining Church program to fit into discipleship process.
    4. Identifying and training new qualified leaders.
  • Comprehensively impact the community through an all Church evangelism effort within the City.
    1. Sharing the gospel: door to door; street preaching; track handouts; telephone
    2. Block Parties; Presence at Special Events; Work with community groups