What’s in the name Baptist?

This church is a Baptist church by conviction and principle, not by affiliation. This means that we believe the basic Bible teachings for which Baptists have historically stood. As Baptists, we believe the following: the Bible is our sole authority for all matters of faith and practice. The church should be autonomous or self-governing. The believer does not need a priest, other than Jesus Christ, to come boldly to God. Every Christian has equal access to God personally. God’s Word gives us two ordinances for the church-baptism and the Lord’s Table. Each person is individually responsible for his decision to accept Christ. The separation of church and state is biblical. The believer is eternally secure and cannot lose salvation. There are two biblical offices in the church—pastors and deacons.

What does it mean to be an independent church?

As an independent Baptist church, we are not affiliated with any particular Baptist denomination or ruling body. Because of this we can support our own missionaries, select our own leaders, and support institutions that believe as we believe. In short, our church answers to the headship of Jesus Christ rather than a denominational body. There are currently about 10,000 independent Baptist churches in Australia and South East Asia and thousands more throughout the world.

I’m Not a Baptist… Can I Still Attend?

It is our desire that Lighthouse would be a church for everyone that has a desire to know God. You do not have to come from a Baptist background, or hold to any particular religious affiliation to attend services here. We are convinced that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and it is sufficient to point any sincere person to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. If you have a desire to know God and experience His best in your life, we invite you to join us on the journey! If there is anyway that we can be of help to you please feel free to let us know.

I want to become a Christian what should I do?

You should talk with the one of the Pastors who will be glad to discuss this with you.

How can I join this church?

If you would like to become a member of our church, please talk with one of the Pastors after the service to arrange a time to explain the Church Membership requirements. You will then be invited to attend our 3-week new member’s class with Pastor Bakss to help you learn more about the Lighthouse and what it means to be a meaningful part of God’s church family.
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How can I be involved in ministry?

There are two types of ministry involvement at Lighthouse Baptist. Many people help, in a given month, with volunteer projects in areas such as maintenance and office-related projects. Feel free to contact the church office if you would like to volunteer your time in this way. If you are interested in teaching, helping, singing, or other visible positions of leadership; an appointment must be set with the ministry leader. Often a waiting period and a spiritual gift assessment are required.

Is this a Charismatic Church?

No we are not. We don’t speak in tongues and we are not in agreement with many of the practices in Charismatic churches.

When does the church observe the Lords Supper?

Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is usually observed once every three months as part of the Sunday evening service. It is available to all born again, baptised believers of like faith who are in attendance on the day it is observed. Visitors from other Baptist churches and non-members are welcomed to participate.

Why don’t people call the Pastor by his first name?

Most people choose to refer to the Pastor by his proper title. This is done out of respect for the office of the Pastor, just like we respect the titles of other professionals in our community. However, the Pastor will not be offended by how you choose to address him.

Why do you use the King James Version of the Bible?

God has promised in His Word to preserve the Word of God to every generation. We believe the King James Bible is the preserved Word of God without error and is just as God intends us to have it in the English language. We have some helpful information in our bookstore on the Bible and its accuracy and preservation.

I want to be Baptised what do I do now?

New Testament Baptism is reserved for those who have repented of their sin and placed their faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. The Bible clearly teaches that we are saved by grace, not by works. Baptism is a symbol of our faith and an act of obedience for believers and a wonderful celebration of what God has done in your life. It is also a picture of what has already taken place in the heart of the believer – death to the old sinful nature and birth to New Life in Christ. If you have decided to get baptised then you should tell on of the Pastors and a time will then be arranged to talk with you about this.

What is the Invitation time about?

As mentioned earlier, this is a time at the conclusion of the preaching where the Pastor will invite people to come forward for a special time of prayer if they would like to do so, or to make a public profession of their faith. At times the Pastor may call on people to come to front of the church and pray about a particular thing.  Taking an outward step can help solidify an inward decision.  It is an individual decision and you should never feel you have to come forward if you don’t want to.

Does this church welcome all racial and cultural groups?

Yes. We have always warmly welcomed people from all over the world.

Does the church welcome divorced people?

Yes. We welcome all people regardless of their situation. We want our church to be a friendly, helpful place to all people of our community.

How can I obtain a CD recording of a message that was preached?

You can order one from the bookstore. Order forms are available on the information board or in the Bookstore.

How is the leadership of the church structured?

Ultimately, Christ is the head of this church. On a daily basis, the church is primarily led by the pastor and pastoral leadership team. This team works together in prayer and decision making to follow the leading of God for our church ministry. Also, our deacons serve as a church elected group that meets with the pastor regularly to review and discuss matters of church importance. This provides a high level of accountability as well as a great spirit of team cooperation as we follow God’s leading for this church.

What is the church’s approach to financial giving?

We have never practiced pressure techniques or fund-raising schemes. Rather, we choose to occasionally preach and teach what God’s Word says about Christian stewardship and giving. How you respond to that teaching is a heart issue between you and the Lord.

A bloke who sat near me said “Amen” during the Message.. what was all that about?

Amen simply means “I agree”. Occasionally, you may hear someone say “amen” during a message or service. This simply means we are in agreement with what is being said or sung.

Can I make a time to see the Pastor?

Usually yes. Just contact the church office on 4928 6633 to book an appointment. On occasions the church staff may be able to easily help you and assist you, otherwise the Pastor will be glad to meet with you.

Does the church loan equipment (i.e., tables, chairs, etc.)?

God has certainly blessed us with great facilities and many pieces of equipment. The equipment and furnishings are very expensive, and we are charged with being good stewards of it all. In order to continue to meet the week-to-week needs of the church and the school, equipment use must be limited to church and/or school sponsored functions and cannot be loaned out for personal use.

Does the church provide counselling?

Yes, our Pastoral Team and Care Team are professionally trained Christian counsellors who have experience with individual and family needs, including marriage, pre-marital counselling, trauma recovery, and addiction recovery.
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