If you are new to the church or to the Christian faith you may have questions. Here are some answers to ones we hear often.
I've never been to church — what do I wear?
Come as you are. You will find some dressed smartly and some in jeans. There is no dress code at Harlesden Baptist Church.
What happens in a service?
A typical Sunday morning includes singing (a mix of hymns and contemporary songs), prayer, Bible reading, a sermon explaining a passage of Scripture, and the chance to give an offering. Children join the main service for the early part, then go out to Sunday School.
What does it mean to be a Baptist?
Baptists are a stream of Christians who hold that the local church is gathered around the Lord Jesus Christ and the Scriptures, with all members equal before God. Distinctives include believer's baptism (we baptise those who profess faith, by full immersion), the priesthood of all believers, and congregational church government. We are part of the Baptist Union of Great Britain.
I'm not a Christian. Am I welcome?
Yes. You are very welcome to come and see what we are about. We would love to meet you.
How can I become a member of the church?
There is no single application form or hard sequence of steps to follow. Coming into membership at HBC happens through getting to know us — and us getting to know you — over time. In practice, the path most people take looks something like this:
- Visit the church. Come to a Sunday service. Sit anywhere; introduce yourself only if you want to. Several visits is usually a good idea before any further step.
- Read what we are about. Our Mission & Beliefs page sets out the convictions we share as a church. It is short and worth reading before joining.
- Speak with someone. Members of the church family and members of the Diaconate are happy to answer questions, pray with you, and explain what membership involves. There is no obligation at any stage.
- Join a Bible study or a house group. Pastor Cornelius leads a Bible study programme, and there are six house groups that meet midweek — smaller, more relaxed settings where you can ask any question and be prayed for by name.
- Believer's baptism, if you have not already been baptised by full immersion as a believer. See our baptism page for what this involves.
When you are ready, the Pastor and Diaconate will speak with you about formal membership. Please do not feel rushed — this is a step taken at the pace God leads, not on anyone else's timetable.
How do I submit a prayer request?
Please use our prayer request form. Requests are routed to our pastoral team for prayer.