Free Rider Fellowship

Section 1.  The name of this church shall be Free Rider Fellowship of Plant City, Florida. This body and corporation, one in the same, shall be known as Free Rider Fellowship. This body may be herein further referred to as the Church.

Section 2.  The purpose of the Free Rider Fellowship shall be to carry out the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ as recorded in Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; and to develop Christian fellowship and growth in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ among the saints. The purpose of the Church is to glorify God by fulfilling the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:36-40) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). We have organized ourselves to fulfill these requirements of our Lord by directing our efforts in the following areas of activity:

EVANGELSM – To share the good news of Jesus Christ with as many people as possible in our community and throughout the world (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 4:11; II Timothy 4:5; II Peter 3:9).

EDUCATION – To help members develop toward full Christian maturity and to equip them for effective ministry. To promote personal spiritual growth and discipleship through Bible teaching (Matthew 10:20; Luke 2:52; I Corinthians 13:11; 14:20; Ephesians 4:11-13; II Timothy 2:2: I Peter 2:2)

WORSHIP – To participate in corporate worship services and to encourage personal daily devotions (Deuteronomy 12:5; Micah 4:2; Psalm 122:1; Zechariah 8:21; Luke 4:16; 24:52-53; John 4: 24; Hebrews 10:25).

MINISTRY – To serve unselfishly, in Jesus’ name to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those in our Church, community, and throughout the world (Proverbs 31:20; I Peter 4:10-11; Matthew 25:35-40; Romans 16:1-3,6,12; I Thessalonians 5:11; Galatians 5:13).

FELLOWSHIP – To encourage, support, and pray for each other as members of the family of God. To share our lives together (I John 1:7; Acts 2:44-47; Hebrews 10:23-25; Romans 15: 5, 7; John 13:34-35).

Section 3.  The Church shall be incorporated in accordance with the laws of the state of Florida governing religious bodies, and the handling of property shall be in accordance with such laws.

Section 4.  The government of the church is vested in the body of believers who compose its membership. It is subject to the control of no other ecclesiastical body, but it recognizes and sustains the benefits of mutual counsel and cooperation.

Section 5.  The Church shall be governed by the HOLY BIBLE, the inspired and inerrant Word of God, which is the basis of our beliefs. We affirm the doctrinal statement adopted by the body at the time of its constitution. The ordinances of the Church are Believer’s Baptism by immersion (Mark 16:16; John 3:5; Acts 2:38, 41; 9:18; 10:48; Matthew 3:16; Acts 8:38), and the Lord’s Supper (Matthew 26:26-30; I Corinthians 10:16; 11:23-29) as “open” communion of His Saints.

Section 6.  The Church Covenant that binds the Church in fellowship shall be as follows:

            Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on the profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, we do now, in the presence of God and this assembly, angels and men, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.

            We agree, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love (1); to strive for the advancement of the Church, in knowledge (2), holiness (3), and comfort (4); to promote its spirituality (5) and prosperity (6); to sustain its worship (7), ordinances (8), discipline (9), and doctrines (10); to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry (11), the expenses of the Church (12), the relief of the poor (13), and the spread of the gospel through all nations (14).

            We encourage family devotions (15) and devotions which are private (16); to religiously educate our children in the moral and spiritual doctrines of the Bible (17); to seek the salvation of our kindred and acquaintances (18); to walk circumspectly in the world (19); to be just in our dealings (20), faithful in our engagements (21), and exemplary in our deportment (22); to avoid all tattling (23), backbiting (24), and excessive anger (25); to abstain from all drunkenness (26), and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior (27).

            We commit to watch over one another in brotherly love (28); to remember one another in prayer (29); to aid one another in sickness and distress (30); to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling (31) and Christian courtesy in speech (32); to be slow to take offense (33), but always ready for reconciliation (34), and mindful of the rules of our Savior to secure it without delay (35).

            We moreover understand that when we remove from this place, we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church, where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word (36). 

Church Covenant Scriptural References:

(1)    Christian Love – John 13:35; 14:15-16; 15:12; I Peter 1:22; Romans 12:9; I Thessalonians 3:12

(2)    Knowledge – Proverbs 2:3-5; John 7:16-17; 8:31-32; 17:3

(3)    Holiness – Luke 1:74-75; II Corinthians 7:1; Hebrews 12:14; I Peter 1:16; II Peter 3:11

(4)    Comfort – Isaiah 40:1; I Corinthians 14:31; II Corinthians 2:7; I Thessalonians 5:11,14

(5)    Spirituality – John 4:23-24: Philippians 1:1; 3:3; I Timothy 6:11; Titus 2:12; II Peter 3:11

(6)    Prosperity – Deuteronomy 29:9; I Chronicles 22:13; Psalm 1:3; I Timothy 6:6; Titus 3:8

(7)    Worship – Matthew 4:10; John 4:24; Hebrews 10:25

(8)    Ordinances – John 28:19; Matthew 26:26-30

(9)    Discipline – Luke 17:3; I Corinthians 5:5; II Corinthians 13:2; Ephesians 5:11; I Timothy 1:20; 4:2; Titus 3:9-11

(10)Doctrines – I Timothy 4:6; Titus 1:9; 2:1

(11)Contribute – Mathew 10:8; Romans 12:8; I Corinthians 16:2; II Corinthians 9:7

(12)Expenses – Malachi 3:10

(13)Poor – Mathew 5:42; Luke 12:33; Acts 20:35

(14)All Nations – Matthew 28:19-20

(15)Family Devotions – Acts 10:2; I Thessalonians 3:10; II Timothy 2:15

(16)Secret Devotions - Matthew 6:6; Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12

(17)Educate Children – Deuteronomy 6:7; Proverbs 22:6; Isaiah 28:9; John 21:15

(18)Acquaintances – John 1:42; Acts 22:15

(19)Circumspectly – Ephesians 6:13; Galatians 5:22; Titus 2:12; Hebrews 13:18; I Peter 4:2,6

(20)Just Dealings – II Corinthians 13:7; Romans 13:13; Hebrews 13:18; I Peter 4:2,6

(21)Faithful Engagements – I Corinthians 10:31; Philippians 4:8; James 1:22

(22)Exemplary Deportment – Philippians 4:8; Galatians 5:22; 6:10

(23)Tattling – I Timothy 5:13

(24)Backbiting – Romans 1:30

(25)Anger – Ephesians 4:31

(26)Drunkenness – I Corinthians 6:10; Ephesians 5:8

(27)Zealous Efforts – II Corinthians 9:2; Titus 2:14

(28)Brotherly Love – II Corinthians 7:12; 12:20; I Thessalonians 3:10

(29)Prayer – John 17:20; Romans 1:9; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:4; I Thessalonians 1:2; James 5:14

(30)Sickness and Distress – Job 29:15, 16; Luke 10:34; I Corinthians 16:15,                                                               16; Philippians 4:3; James 5:14

(31)Sympathy – Romans 15:1; Galatians 6:2; Hebrews 13:3

(32)Speech – Proverbs 25:11; Ecclesiastes 10:12; I Peter 2:22

(33)Offense – Ecclesiastes 7:9; Romans 12:10

(34)Reconciliation – Hebrews 13:1

(35)Delay – Matthew 18:15-20

(36)God’s Word – Hebrews 10:25 

Section 7.  The cooperation of the Church shall be with the Shiloh Baptist Association, the Florida Baptist Convention, the Southern Baptist Convention, or such similar Baptist bodies that the Church may become affiliated with, so long as such cooperation does not violate the autonomy of the Church.