| Our Affiliations |
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When The Branch Church began in January, 2005 in a home with 8 people. Our main sponsoring church in finance and administration has been Immanuel Baptist Church in Highland(http://www.ibchighland.org/).
Three other groups also gave financial support to help us get started:
The Inland Empire Baptist Association
110 churches that fellowship together and work together to reach San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.
The North American Mission Board
NAMB's defined mission is to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, start New Testament congregations, minister to persons in the name of Jesus Christ, and assist churches in the United States.
The California Baptist Convention
1,500 churches that fellowship together with the goal of evangelizing our state.
All of these groups, including The Branch, are part of an even bigger affiliation:
The Southern Baptist Convention
40,000 churches that cooperate together in a world-wide effort of missions
We now wholeheartedly support these groups in helping start many other new churches. 15% of all money brought into us through the regular giving of our members, gets directly channeled back into missions!
WHAT IS THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION?
It is the largest association of Christian churches in California and in America
One out of every 10 churches in America is affiliated with the SBC (40,000 churches and 15 million members, more than most other denominations combined).
It is the most diverse association of churches
SBC churches include every race, nationality, and ethnic group. Each Sunday, services are held in over 80 languages in the U.S. One out of every three blacks in the U.S. is a Southern Baptist. In our local association there are Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Hispanic, Vietnamese, Laotian, Arabic, and Romanian Southern Baptist churches.
It is one of the fastest growing groups
The SBC baptizes thousands of new Christians every year in the U.S. and begins nearly 5 new churches a day.
WHY NOT JUST BE AN INDEPENDENT CHURCH?
We are an independent church! Every SBC church is completely independent. There is no denominational control or hierarchy, as there are in most other denominations. Each church is self-governed and determines its own affairs.
For example:
Every SBC church chooses its own pastor
Every SBC church owns its own assets
Every SBC church determines its own programs
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF AFFILIATING WITH THE SBC?
1. It allows us to identify with other Christians around the world who are known for their commitment to the Bible. Unlike other groups, the SBC has no man-made "creed". The Bible is our only authority.
2. It allows our church to participate in the largest missionary organization in the world. Through the SBC "Cooperative Program" we help support over 7,500 missionaries in 104 countries around the world.
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