Professions of Faith

How do you know if your student is ready to make a profession of faith?

If your student expresses trust in Jesus alone for salvation, is growing in the things of the Lord, and is actively involved in the worship and ministry at IPC, then they are welcome to begin exploring whether they are ready to profess their faith before the congregation and become a communing member.

A profession of faith is not a “rite of passage” or a thoughtless ceremony. Our desire is for your students to profess being a desperate sinner and the need for the one true Savior, Jesus Christ, only if they own it for themselves.

Our hope is your student would — through the encouragement of the Spirit —  initiate a desire to explore their faith and basic Christian doctrine to see if they are ready to make a public profession of faith and become a communing member at IPC.

This comes through serious personal reflection and consideration, discernment of sin, the gospel, and one’s own heart.

Process

If your student would prefer to meet a youth staff member to go through this process, she or he may do this as well.

1. Set up a meeting with Brad or a preferred member of the youth staff to go over the vows and any initial questions. The students will receive a Profession of Faith booklet which we will go through at each meeting.
2. Set up a meeting with someone on the youth staff to go over vows 1-2 in the POF booklet.
3. Set up a meeting with someone on the youth staff to go over vows 3-5 in the POF booklet.
4. Set up a meeting with Brad or the students prefered member of the youth staff for a final interview.
5. Meet with Brad and 2-3 Ruling Elders at IPC -student will share their testimony-
6. Your student's name will go to the Session for approval. If approved at this meeting, your student will become a communing member.
7. It is desired for each student to make a corporate profession of faith during a worship service at IPC, although this is not required.