1.0Church Answershttps://churchanswers.comA “Thank You” to the First Church I Joined | Church Answersrich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="hppSCyFifH"><a href="https://churchanswers.com/blog/a-thank-you-to-the-first-church-i-joined/">A “Thank You” 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=hppSCyFifH" width="600" height="338" title="“A “Thank You” to the First Church I Joined” — Church Answers" data-secret="hppSCyFifH" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">
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https://churchanswers.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/New-Member-Certificate.png1200628It’s colored with age. In fact, it’s 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. “It” is my “New Member Instruction Certificate” I received when I joined my first church at age 13 now 50+ years ago. In case you can’t read it, here’s 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 “stuff” in our home this past weekend—and it has brought to mind so much about that little church in southwestern Ohio.