Charleston Community Church recently welcomed six new members and celebrated the baptisms of Iona Dickson and Stephanie Kong. The service was especially poignant for one of the newest members, Tammy, who had recently professed faith in Christ, having been connected to the church since its launch in 2017.
Rev. Andy Robertson, minister of Charleston Community Church, explained church membership during the service: “Church membership is not about receiving special privileges or rewards, like VIP treatment or loyalty benefits. Instead, it is a formal commitment made before God to the people of the church. It involves being dedicated to Jesus and to one another within the church community.”
Andy went on to explain that baptism symbolises the death of Jesus on the cross, which forgives sin and brings people into God’s family. “In the New Testament Church, baptism is a sign that points backwards to what Jesus accomplished rather than forward to something still to come. The use of water in baptism represents the cleansing of sin and the union with Jesus that all Christians experience. Baptism is a picture of God’s promise to cleanse, save, and restore us to Him, but the act of baptism itself does not save. It’s not a magic ritual; there are baptised individuals who are not saved, and non-baptised individuals who are saved. Baptism is a sign, and signs point to what truly saves, which is living, saving faith in Jesus.”
Tim Allyn, an elder at Charleston, said, “It’s a testament to God’s faithfulness in building His church here in Charleston. We’ve been blessed to walk alongside these individuals as they’ve grown in their faith, and it’s a privilege to welcome them into our church family. We look forward to what God will continue to do in and through them.”
Following the service, the congregation gathered for lunch to celebrate the day. The sense of community was evident as the new members, the entire church family, and friends from further afield came together to mark the occasion.
Charleston Community Church, which meets in a local community centre, began as a church plant of St Peter’s Free Church, focusing on reaching the 4,500-strong Charleston community. Through its partnership with 20 Schemes, Charleston Community Church aims to plant churches in Scotland’s most impoverished areas, focusing on evangelism, discipleship, and training indigenous leaders to build sustainable church communities within the schemes.