Harbor Baptist Church

Next Steps

First and foremost, welcome to the family of God. We are so grateful that you are with us on this journey into eternity. You might find yourself a little out of place as you get your bearings. You might be a little confused. You might have some anxiety even.

Fear not. Jesus tells us “Take heart, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Your walk and relationship with Christ will change and grow over the course of the rest of your life. But no other time will be quite like the next few days, weeks, months or years, as you adjust and get settled in.

Please reach out to us if you have any questions. We would be happy to help in any way we possibly can. Know that you have just joined a great mystery, and it is unfolding not only before our eyes, but has been for the last two thousand years, and before all the host of heaven.

Steps for the New Believer:

1. Try to make a habit of praying every day or at least as often as you can and think of it. Prayer is our direct tether to God, and He hears our prayers day and night, no matter what we say, no matter how we say it. Paul tells us to, “pray without ceasing.”

2. Begin to take the Bible seriously. Make it a hobby. Read it every day or as often as you can. Make a habit of carrying a small pocket Bible with you for down times – when waiting in the pharmacist line, when sitting in a doctor’s office, when sitting in the bank drive through teller line. You do not have to know any special kind of way of studying, or need special books or equipment. Just pick one of the books of the Bible and read through it. Once you are finished, then read another. Repeat this process as a simple rhythm to life until you have finished reading the entire Bible from cover to cover.

3. Find a Bible-believing, Bible-teaching, Bible-following church, housechurch, or small group where you can make friends with other believers and people who have also been called by the Father to a saving faith in Christ Jesus. While some may be called by God to solitude and isolation so that they might devote themselves to prayer and study, most of us are called to out our faith in and among the rest of the world. A church is not a building, nor is it an organization. It is a mystery – an organic, breathing temple made of living stones – and we become members of it the moment we believe. We, of course, would love to welcome you to our local assembly at Harbor Baptist Church if you live in the local area or if you happen to be visiting our beautiful Oregon Coast. But, if not, we encourage you to find a church near you where the Bible is taught consistently where you can love others and they have the opportunity to love you.

4. In your studies over the next several months, read about Baptism, what the Bible says about it, and soberly consider if God is convicting you to be baptized at some point in the near future. If you happen to live in our area and would like to be baptized, please give us a call. We would be thrilled to baptize you at our church or out on the river or at one of our many lakes.

Everything else we are certain the Holy Spirit will make clear to you. We congratulate you on the beginning of a whole new life, one filled with joy and peace and adventure, and may God watch over you and preserve you, body, soul, and spirit for the day of redemption.

Our only remaining advice: buckle up, your life now is going to be one heck of a ride.