{"version":"1.0","provider_name":"Church Answers","provider_url":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com","title":"A \u201cThank You\u201d to the First Church I Joined | Church Answers","type":"rich","width":600,"height":338,"html":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"F4hxaJPhcZ\"><a href=\"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/blog\/a-thank-you-to-the-first-church-i-joined\/\">A \u201cThank You\u201d to the First Church I Joined<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/blog\/a-thank-you-to-the-first-church-i-joined\/embed\/#?secret=F4hxaJPhcZ\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;A \u201cThank You\u201d to the First Church I Joined&#8221; &#8212; Church Answers\" data-secret=\"F4hxaJPhcZ\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\/* <![CDATA[ *\/\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n\/* ]]> *\/\n<\/script>\n","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/churchanswers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/New-Member-Certificate.png","thumbnail_width":1200,"thumbnail_height":628,"description":"It\u2019s colored with age. In fact, it\u2019s yellow, black, brown, and other colors that have faded with the decades gone by since I first received it. In fact, you might be able to see the various shades in the picture above. \u201cIt\u201d is my \u201cNew Member Instruction Certificate\u201d I received when I joined my first church at age 13 now 50+ years ago. In case you can\u2019t read it, here\u2019s what it says: Charles Lawless, having manifested credible evidence that he has been converted and has entered into covenant with Pisgah Heights Baptist Church and having completed the course of instruction for new members, is hereby awarded this certificate commending to him the further joys of the Christian life and church membership. My pastor (the only pastor I ever knew before I became a pastor myself), Glenn Davidson, signed the form. My wife and I found the certificate as we were clearing out \u201cstuff\u201d in our home this past weekend\u2014and it has brought to mind so much about that little church in southwestern Ohio."}