Bellicose Church

Practical Partnership Guide for New Prospective Partners (NPP)

Questions and Steps To Help Move People Toward Partnership

  1. Do they display the fruit of being a believer, and have they been baptized as a believer?

  2. Have them explain the gospel and why they believe it.

  3. Are they submitted to the Word and to the other people in the MC?

  4. Ask them, “Why do you want to be a partner?” (Remember: Partnership is not a status – it’s taking responsibility.)

  5. Have them listen to all 10 Gospel Training Teachings and all 5 Partnership Training Teachings.

  6. Have the NPP read or listen to "Build Up or Shut Up".

  7. Does the NPP value the Bellicose Values as found here?

  8. Does the NPP display the Fruits of Partnership in the three areas of our mission below?

    Make sure to ask about the fruits that could potentially “fly under the radar” (e.g., sex life for married couples, sexual purity, financial giving, etc.) If there are areas in the NPP that require church discipline, then they are certainly not ready to be declared a partner.

    The Kingdom of God

    Shared Priorities

    • Demonstrates the fruit of being a water baptized, disciple of Jesus
    • Demonstrates the fruit of the fear of the Lord and ongoing sanctification (being saved)
    • Demonstrates the fruit of a life primarily oriented around the kingdom of God
    • Demonstrates the fruit of valuing what Bellicose values
    • Demonstrates the fruit of serving the church as a joy and not a burden

    In All Of Life

    Shared Vision

    • Demonstrates the fruit of an open, vulnerable heart
    • Demonstrates the fruit of an open, hospitable home
    • Demonstrates the fruit of an open, flexible schedule

    Together

    Shared Responsibility

    • Demonstrates the fruit of owning the identity, mission, and expression of a missional community
    • Demonstrates the fruit of regular Sunday morning service participation and serving
    • Demonstrates the fruit of regular corporate prayer meeting participation
    • Demonstrates the fruit of regular financial support of the church’s mission by joyfully giving according to income
    • Demonstrates the fruit of a good reputation and a demonstrated effort to be at peace with all men
    • Demonstrates the fruit of using his/her spiritual gifts while also recognizing and receiving the spiritual gifts in others
    • Demonstrates the fruit of verbally building up the church
    • Demonstrates the fruit of commitment to ongoing training
    • Demonstrates the fruit of submission to Bellicose Elders
    • Demonstrates the fruit of monthly partnership meeting attendance

  9. Has anyone gone through the Statement of Faith point by point with the NPP to ensure there are no disagreements?

  10. Have the NPP talk with the other partners in the MC to see what they discern as fruits, or lack of fruit, in the NPP. If there is lack of fruit, make sure the NPP clearly understands what specifically is missing and when you will be circling back to reevaluate.

  11. Make sure the NPP understands that all partners are required to: attend monthly partnership meetings, to join the partners in fasting the day of the meeting, to be ready to be a lead partner if called upon by the elders, and to commit to regular accountability from the other partners.

  12. Before telling the NPP that they can be declared a partner, make sure the other partners in the MC are in agreement. This is not a lead partner decision – it is based on them going through specific requirements, demonstrating the fruit of partnership, and the other partners agreeing that the NPP has these fruits.

  13. If the NPP has never gotten together with an elder at Bellicose, they must do so before they can be declared a partner. (The lead partner should reach out to the elders when that time comes, not the NPP.)

  14. Lastly, before telling the NPP that they are being declared a partner, let the elders know in case they have any concerns beforehand.