Dear New Believer,

Welcome to a fresh start with God!

You are beginning life’s most satisfying adventure. As you start your Journey, here’s what God would say to you:

Count yourself lucky: how happy you must be–you get a fresh start, your slate’s wiped clean.” (Psalm 32:11 MSG)

When you commit your life to Jesus Christ, not only is your “slate wiped clean,” you also get a new lease on life–a “fresh start.”

Please feel free to call us and let us know how we can serve you. To help you grow we have a New Believers Class that will help you to begin your journey of discovering all that God has for you. You can sign up for this class by calling the Vineyard office at 937-427-1912, ext.101.

I look forward to meeting you in person, so when you are comfortable please introduce yourself to me.

Sincerely,

Doug Roe

Senior Pastor

Tips to Help you Along Your Way

Making a decision to give your life to Jesus is the most important decision you can ever make. We hope you will continue to explore your journey of faith. Below are some tips to help you along the way.

Consider becoming a part of our church family

The messages will help you grow as a believer and connect the dots. Consistency is a key.

Pray daily

Prayer by definition is talking to Jesus just like you’d talk to your closest friend. Find a place where you were you can be alone and talk to Him. Don’t be afraid to express how you feel and to ask Him for help.

You can also receive personal prayer at the front of the auditorium at the end of every service. If you’d like to give your life to Jesus here is a simple way to begin.

Present yourself to Jesus and thank Him for what He is about to do (forgive you, give you a fresh start in life, etc).

Repent… be willing to turn away from all that you know to be wrong or selfish, and to turn toward God.

Ask Jesus to forgive you for what you’ve done wrong and invite Him to come into your life.

Yield your live to Jesus. Offer Him all that you are and all that you will become.

You can begin by saying, “Well God, here I am. I am sorry for what I have done. I turn toward You. I ask You to forgive me. I invite You to come into my life.  I now yield my life to You. Help me to follow You all my days.”

Read the Bible daily

The most important page for new believers is the table of contents. This section will help you discover your way around the Bible. Start reading in the New Testament. The book of John is a great place to begin. Think about what you are reading and jot down some of your thoughts or questions in the margins. A free Bible is available upon request.

Consider being baptized

Being baptized signifies a decision to follow Jesus and a determined action to pursue a new life. Please contact Adam Vaughan, our Making Disciples Pastor, about baptism. Also, see the bottom of this page for more details on baptism.

Spend time with other believers

There are many small groups or Bible studies you can join. Please contact Adam Vaughan, our Making Disciples Pastor, about joining a group or study

Tell your friends about your Journey of Faith

You’d be surprised how many people will encourage you along the way.

Ask questions

There are many people you can connect with at the Vineyard. If you’d like to talk to someone one on one, simply phone the office and ask for an appointment with one of the pastors. They are always willing to discuss any questions you may have or to help you with the issues you face. Email our Connections Coordinator Marcie Roe or call us at 937-427-1912, ext. 101. Also, you can seek out a pastor or leader at the weekly service celebrations. They are usually in the lobby.

Find a place to serve

Following Jesus is a journey of discovery. We are always learning more about Him and finding ways to make Him known. One of the best ways to know Him better and to make Him known is to serve others.

Thanks again for attending the Vineyard. We are not the only church in the Dayton area, but we are a pretty good church. We think you’ll like it here. 

WHAT’S A VINEYARD?

Here is some basic information to help you better understand who we are, what we believe and how we function.

Who we are

Christ-Centered: First of all we are Christian believers who are striving to make Jesus the center of our lives. W believe He is Lord of the church. Therefore our vision, values, priorities, practices and goals revolve around His leadership

Diverse, Yet Unified: We are a gathering of people from many diverse church, educational and socio-economic backgrounds. We seek a form of unity that will extend warmth and acceptance to everyone who attends the Vineyard.

Affiliated with a National Association of Churches: There are many churches in the Dayton area who also seek to make Jesus Christ central to their church and who follow the Bible. Our genetic affiliation is with the world-wide Association of Vineyard Churches. See www.vineyardusa.org or explore our website for more information.

A Caring Family: Our church is like a family that values community, informality, humor, fun commitment and loyalty. Three words that define how we do church: safe…no scary surprises, fun…upbeat and enjoyable, and anointed…having a sense of God’s presence in all we do.

Outward Focused: We believe it is “better to give than to receive.” We also believe people grow spiritually as they begin to serve others. Therefore we serve each other and the people in our community in tangible ways. We also believe that ever person has something of value to offer. Everyone can serve another. Ideally every person who is an active part of the Vineyard will be someone who seeks to meet the needs of other people.

A Simple Structure: We place a high priority on openness and flexibility. We believe this environment is conducive to personal, relational and spiritual growth. We provide a simple, yet purposeful structure to allow for change, freshness and innovation.

Our Values

We Value Worship: All that we have comes from the Father. We honor and worship Him with our words and our deeds.

We Value the Bible: We prefer God’s word to our own wisdom.

We Value the People Jesus Loves: The lost , the hurt, the distressed and the lonely all matter to God!

We Value Simplicity: Life is complicated enough. Our messages are Biblically focused, easy to understand and applicable to everyday life.

We Value Prayer: We all pray at many times in numerous ways.

We Value Small Groups: Relationships are important to us. We grow best when connected to others in a small group.

We Value the Ministry of the Holy Spirit: WE understand we need empowering; therefore, we rely on the presence, power, leading and gifts of the Holy Spirit to accomplish His purpose.

We Value Small Things: We believe small deeds of kindness expressed with authentic love will change hearts.

We Value Openhandedness: We seek to be generous toward one another and toward the people we are attempting to reach. Our outreach expresses God’s grace and generosity to the people of the Miami Valley.

We Value the Ministry of Everyday People: God has uniquely shaped you for works of service. Our role is to prepare you so you can fulfill God’s purposes for your life.

This is how we do church: Practical Bible Messages… Upbeat Music… Empowering Prayer… Fun Youth and Children’s Classes… Relaxed Atmosphere… and Free Gourmet Coffee.

BAPTISM

Your decision to be baptized is one of the most important decisions you will make in your journey with Jesus Christ.

What is baptism?

Baptism is an outward expression of your inward commitment to follow Jesus Christ. It is an indication you have decided to be publicly identified as a believer. It is a decision you are making to walk in the will of God. You are stating, “life is no longer going to be determined by what I want, but by what God wants to do with my life.” You are declaring to God and the world… “I’m living for Jesus.”

Baptism is for anyone who has believed that Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected. It is for those who have invited Jesus Christ into the center of their lives. Being baptized is a decision you make in relation to follower-ship…which means you are walking with Jesus with an active faith. It’s not about joining a church.

Being baptized in water symbolizes that you are buried with Christ when you go under the water…you are saying by faith, “Jesus, I want all my sins to be washed away.” When you are raised out of the water you are declaring by faith, ”Jesus, with your help, I am determined to live a new life in a new way.”

Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we to might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4 NAS)

Frequently Asked Questions

How should I be baptized?

Dayton Vineyard believes that people should be baptized by immersion. The term “baptize” literally means to immerse…to be fully covered with water.

When should I be baptized?

When you have believed and trusted Jesus Christ as the only means of your salvation.

What if I was baptized as an infant?

Among believers and denominations there are different perspective. Some baptize infants while others do not. We believe baptism should be practiced after a person is old enough to make a decision to believe. We also offer baby dedication. If interested in baby dedication please phone the office (937-427-1912) or e-mail us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Should I get “re-baptized” if I was baptized at another church?

As long as you were a follower of Jesus Christ and your baptism was a reflection of your active faith, it’s good enough.

Can my children be baptized?

Absolutely, as long as they are at an age where they fully understand why they are being baptized.

How does it work at the Vineyard?

• Call (937-427-1912) for registration and dates or go to www.daytonvineyard.com and look for the next dates.

• Complete the registration form.

• Attend the baptism orientation just before the baptism date.

• Contact your small group leader or someone who has been significant in your relationship with Jesus Christ and ask them to baptize you. If you don’t have anyone, no worries! We have a baptism team who will help you.

• Invite your family and friends. They will want to attend the celebration.

Baptism details:

• Bring a towel and a dry outfit to change into.

• Bring something to wear that you don’t mind getting wet, dark modest clothing…shorts and t-shirt work well.

• Be sure to sigh in at the Atrium as you arrive just before the celebration.

• The worship leader will tell you when to get ready and where to line up.

• People will be there to pray for you after you are baptized.

Communion

With the hectic lifestyles we all lead, it is easy to forget the importance of Jesus’ sacrifice and His involvement in our everyday lives. Communion is a time we set aside to slow down, remind ourselves of all that He has done for us, thank Him in our worship, and learn to hear His voice.

Christ…

The perfect sacrifice for our sin and selfishness

The Old Testament (the Law Old Testament) painted a picture of what was to come through Christ the Messiah.

The Old Testament Law and sacrificial system was unable to fulfill all of God’s requirements. Jesus’ sacrifice was able to fulfill the requirements once and for all.

“The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming–not the realities themselves. For this reason, it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshiper would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins.

Then he said, ‘Here I am, I have come to do your will.’ He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy though the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Hebrews 10:1-4, 8-10 NIV)

Communion…

Simple, yet profound

Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, was instituted by Jesus himself during his final Passover meal with his disciples. He instituted the new covenant (an agreement) between God and all of mankind through His death upon the cross. Jesus, by giving His life as a sacrifice for our sin, once and for all paid the price for anyone who would willing accept His sacrifice.

That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with our hear that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.’ (Romans 10:9-10 NIV)

How does the Vineyard do communion?

We follow Jesus’ example. He took ordinary bread and wine from the table to help his disciples understand the sacrifice he was going to make–dying on the cross. For us, communion is a reminder of his sacrifice, his death and resurrection. (Note: we use grape juice instead of wine)

“While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then He took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” (Matthew 2:26-28 NIV)

Who can take communion?

We practice open communion… which means that even if it is your first time here you are welcome to participate. All we ask is that you have a current commitment to following Jesus Christ.