el CORE OUTCOME:
COMMITMENT TO THE LOCAL CHURCH
Commitment to the Church
One of our core values in the Emerging Leaders program is a deep commitment to the local church. We believe that disciples of Jesus are not only made in the church but are also called to serve and grow in it (1 Cor. 12; Rom. 12).
As part of this program, you are expected to join and actively serve in a local church during your time in EL. Your first and most important place of service is your church. That’s why we require all ELs to serve at least one hour per week (typically on Sunday mornings) at their church, as part of the 4–8 monthly service hour requirement. This priority reflects our conviction that your growth, witness, and disciple-making are deeply rooted in the local body of Christ.
SUMMER READING 📚
To frame your commitment to the church, you'll be reading Church Membership by Jonathan Leeman this summer. This short book will help you see why being deeply rooted in a local body is both biblical and essential for your spiritual formation (Heb. 10:24–25).
CHURCH TOUR ⛪️
We’ll be visiting a handful of local churches from Sunday, August 10, through Sunday, September 7. These are just a few of the many gospel-centered churches we love and partner with.
Tentative Schedule:
Sunday, August 10: East Side Community Church
https://eastsidememphis.org/community
Sunday, August 17: Harvest Church
Must attend a membership class called “Discover Harvest.”
https://harvestmemphis.org/membership
Sunday, August 24: The Avenue Community Church
https://www.theavecc.org/membership
Sunday, August 31: Park Ave Church OR Midtown Baptist Church
Must attend a membership class called “Membership Matters.”
https://www.pacmemphis.org/membership
Sunday, September 7: First Evangelical Church
Must attend a membership class called “Discover First Evan.”
https://www.firstevan.org/membership
While we’re only visiting a few, there are many faithful churches in Memphis that we affirm. We encourage you to explore them as you prayerfully consider where to plant yourself.
Other church partners:
Church Decision Deadline: Monday, October 6
You’ll have time to revisit churches throughout September, but we ask that you submit your church decision by Monday, October 6. Committing early allows you to:
Build relationships
Be known in the body
Connect with older believers who can invest in you
Step into meaningful opportunities to serve
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP AND SERVING 📝
Important Note: Most of the churches we partner with require formal membership before allowing you to serve. The membership process typically involves:
Attending a class (sometimes on a Saturday morning)
Interviewing with an elder
Some churches only offer membership classes once per quarter. If you miss the fall class, you may not be eligible to become a member or serve until spring.
➡️ We recommend writing down the membership class date for any church you’re considering so you don’t miss the opportunity to engage quickly and fully.
SERVING REQUIREMENTS: 4-8 HOURS/MONTH
SERVE MEMPHIS EXPO 🏙️
On the note of serving, if you have a flexible schedule or a desire to serve beyond Sunday mornings, we’ll host a required Serve Memphis Fair during Orientation Week hours. This is your chance to connect with some of the incredible gospel-centered ministries working in our city.
Even if you’re not able to serve with a non-profit this fall, the Fair is a great opportunity to learn what God is doing in Memphis and keep your eyes open for future involvement.
Many ELs find more free time after Commissioning in May. We’ll invite several of our non-profit partners to return near the end of the year to help you explore summer or long-term service opportunities. These are not required, but we’re excited to open the door for continued impact.
SUMMARY 🔍
We’ll cover all of this information again in Orientation Week, but we’re sharing it now so you can begin exploring each church’s website and learning what makes them unique.