Welcome to the Family

A Word from the Pastor

Welcome to the Lakeview Community Temple Church of God in Christ family! I am honored, humbled, and delighted that you have chosen to make Lakeview your church home, and the entire Lakeview family joins me in welcoming you.

Whether you have just given your life to Christ, or you are joining us from another church home, I want you to know that your coming here is no accident. We believe the Lord orders the steps of His people, and that He has brought you among us for a reason. You are not simply an attender or a visitor now — you are being welcomed into a family.

This orientation is designed to introduce you to our history, our beliefs, our leadership, and what it means to be a part of this vibrant body of believers — in short, to help you know who we are, what we believe, and how you can grow and serve in this house. Some of what you read will be familiar; some of it may be new. Take your time with it. Ask questions. And above all, come expecting God to meet you, because He surely will.

It is my prayer that Lakeview becomes for you what it has been for so many before you — a home where the truth of God is preached with clarity, the love of God is experienced, the believers are edified, and above all, God is glorified.

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How to Use This Guide

This guide is arranged in seven short parts. You can read it straight through, or move through it a part at a time in a new members' class. Each part stands on its own, so nothing is lost if you take them in order over several sessions.

The New Members’ Orientation is completed through three sessions of approximately 45 minutes each with the Pastor or a designated ministry leader. These sessions provide an opportunity to review the orientation material, ask questions, and become better acquainted with the life and ministry of the church. Meetings may be held either in person or virtually, based on the availability and schedules of everyone involved.

Scripture references are given throughout so you can open your Bible and see these things for yourself. We encourage you to look them up — the goal is never to take our word for it, but to see the word of God for yourself.

At the end of the guide, a Forms & Next Steps section gathers the Ministry-Interest Inventory and our privacy commitment; please read Our Commitment to Your Privacy before completing any forms.

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Lakeview at a Glance

Weekly Gatherings

Sunday School	Sundays, 10:00 AM
Morning Worship	Sundays, 11:00 AM
Prayer & Bible Band	Tuesdays, 12:00 noon · virtual (conference line)
Bible Study	Thursdays, 7:00 PM
Prayer	Saturdays, 11:00 AM · virtual (conference line)

Conference line for virtual gatherings: 1-605-562-0400 · access code 923-4303

Find Us & Connect

Address	4999 Elvis Presley Blvd, Memphis, TN 38116
Phone	(901) 871-1399
Email	lakeviewcogic@gmail.com
Website	www.lctcogic.org
Facebook	facebook.com/LCTCOGIC
YouTube	@LCTCOGIC
GroupMe	Our primary app for church announcements and updates — ask a leader to add you.
Giving	CashApp $LakeviewCTCOGIC · Givelify “Lakeview Community Temple” · Zelle LakeviewCTCOGIC

What to Expect in Worship

Sunday Morning Worship (11:00 AM) usually runs between seventy-five and ninety minutes, depending on the flow of worship and the move of the Spirit. A typical service moves through devotional singing, prayer, and the reading of Scripture; praise and worship through song; the ministry of giving; the preached word; a call to Christian living; and the benediction. We observe Communion — the Lord’s Supper — on the first Sunday of each month.

Some Sundays carry a special character. The second Sunday is Women’s Sunday, when the women of the church take a leading role and facilitate much of the worship experience. The fourth Sunday is Youth Sunday, when our young people take a more prominent and active participatory role in the service and share with the congregation the biblical truths they have been learning. The fourth and fifth Sundays are casual, dress-down Sundays.

Thursday Evening Bible Study (7:00 PM) lasts about an hour. It usually opens with prayer and the reading of Scripture, followed by a brief testimony service in which the people of God are encouraged to share His goodness with one another. From there we give ourselves to the study of the Scriptures — most often verse by verse, and at times through a topical look at biblical principles.

Children & Families

Children are a cherished part of our church family. Sunday School offers age-appropriate Bible teaching for children, and Children’s Church is held on the first and third Sundays, where children receive instruction suited to their ages. Families are welcome to ask any authorized youth leader to learn more about our children’s ministries.

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Our Story

Lakeview began on a Sunday evening in the early spring of 1961, when Elder Harvey Jones and his wife, State Chair Lady Ella Mae Jones, came to look upon a vacant lot at 316 George Road that had long served as the neighborhood's softball field. By 1962 a building stood on that ground. The builder completed only the exterior; Elder Jones and the older children of Sister Ada Williams finished the rest themselves. Lakeview Revival Center Church of God in Christ was born, and it soon became known across the area for revivals that ran two weeks at a time, night after night, well past midnight. Among its founding members were Sister Ada Williams, the church's first pianist, and Mother Tennessee White, its first Church Mother.

In 1965, Elder Sherman Davis Jr. became pastor, serving roughly ten years and changing the congregation's name to Lakeview Church of God in Christ before his family relocated to Tacoma, Washington. During a period of transition in the early 1970s, Elder James McLemore and Elder Harold Davis Sr. assisted briefly with pastoral leadership.

Bishop Jesse James Lipford · 1975–2017

In 1975, Elder Jesse James Lipford was installed as pastor, beginning a ministry at Lakeview that would span more than four decades — longer than the tenures of all who preceded him combined. He came with his wife, Missionary Merdine Lipford, who went home to be with the Lord in August of that same year; in 1976 he married Missionary Ernestine Royal Lipford, who served alongside him for the remainder of his pastorate. Under his leadership the congregation received the name it bears today: Lakeview Community Temple Church of God in Christ. He remodeled and enlarged the building at 316 George Road, but the work entrusted to the church soon outgrew that ground. Pastor Lipford testified that the Lord had told him there was yet work for him to do, and that it could no longer be done on George Road. The Lord then led him to 4999 Elvis Presley Boulevard, where the congregation worships to this day — a place, as the members are fond of saying, “where there is plenty of good room.” His teaching shaped a generation of members, and the words of wisdom, godly admonition, and sound doctrine spoken by him yet reverberate throughout the church to this day. In November 2017, during the 110th Holy Convocation of the Church of God in Christ, he was consecrated an Auxiliary Bishop, an occasion that marked the fullness of his ministry. One month later, in December 2017, Bishop Jesse James Lipford went home to be with the Lord.

Pastor Jesse E. Lipford · 2018 to the Present

On Sunday, January 28, 2018, Elder Jesse E. Lipford was ordained pastor, succeeding his father. On that evening he set before the congregation the question that has guided it since: “Do you want to go into the Promised Land, or do you want to stay in the wilderness?” Under his leadership the gospel is preached with conviction, the word of God is taught with clarity and integrity, and worship is offered with excellence and sincerity. As such, souls are saved, bodies are healed, the people are edified, and, most importantly, God is glorified.

The congregation looks back and gives thanks for how far the Lord has brought it. He has given sound doctrine, wisdom, power, and love; He has kept and strengthened His people; He has healed, delivered, and set free; and above all, He has saved souls. Therefore the members of Lakeview Community Temple continue to declare:

Our church is a blessed church, and we are thankful! The confession of Lakeview Community Temple

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Our Purpose and Mission

The mission of the church is to advance the kingdom of God by preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to the unbeliever, by discipling and equipping the believer for ministry through sound biblical teaching, and by being a faithful representative of Jesus Christ in the community and the world.

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Our Church Family

Lakeview Community Temple is a congregation of the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), a historic Holiness–Pentecostal denomination. We treasure this heritage: a people who believe the gospel saves, that God calls His people to holiness, and that the Holy Spirit is alive and at work in the church today.

At the same time, the faith we hold is simply the historic Christian faith, the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints (Jude 3) — the same gospel believed and confessed by Christians across the millennia and around the world. In the pages that follow you will find the core of what we believe, taught in plain terms. For the full Statement of Faith of the Church of God in Christ, you can visit cogic.org.

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How We Are Led

Lakeview Community Temple Church of God in Christ recognizes that Jesus Christ alone is the supreme and unchallenged Head of the church. He is the One to whom the whole body is joined and in whom it grows, and to whom every member and every leader remains ultimately subject.

Ephesians 1:22–23 · Ephesians 4:15–16 · Ephesians 5:23 · Colossians 1:17–18

According to Scripture, Christ leads and cares for His flock through the gift of human shepherds who are themselves subject to Him. At Lakeview, that shepherding is entrusted to our Pastor, who is charged with the spiritual oversight, teaching, and shepherding of the congregation, together with the ordained elders who serve alongside him. The Deacons’ Board assists the Pastor in the practical affairs of the church and in the care of its members. The Mothers’ Board and the Missionaries’ Board give prayer, counsel, and spiritual guidance, especially among the women of the church. Together with the leaders of our various auxiliaries, they help carry the work of the house.

As a congregation of the Church of God in Christ, Lakeview also belongs to a larger family. Locally, we are part of a district led by a District Superintendent; more broadly, we belong to a jurisdiction led by a Bishop — all under the national and international leadership of the Church of God in Christ, which is headquartered here in Memphis, Tennessee. This connection roots us in a shared heritage, sound doctrine, and mutual accountability that reach beyond our own walls.

If you ever have a spiritual need, a question, or a concern, you are welcome to speak with the Pastor or with a trusted ministry leader. No one here is meant to walk alone.

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The following is a concise summary of our central beliefs, and is not intended to be an exhaustive statement of every doctrine taught by the church.

The Scriptures

We believe the Bible is the inspired word of God, given by the Holy Spirit, and that it is our final authority for faith and for life. It is the standard by which we test all teaching, and the sure ground on which we stand.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 · 2 Peter 1:20–21 · Psalm 119:105 · Matthew 24:35 · Isaiah 40:8

God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

We believe in one God, eternally existing in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He is holy, sovereign, all-knowing, all-powerful, and full of steadfast love. He is the Creator of all things and the Redeemer of His people.

Deuteronomy 6:4 · Matthew 28:19 · 2 Corinthians 13:14 · Acts 5:3–4 · John 1:1–4

Jesus Christ and the Gospel

We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary — fully God and fully man. He lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose again bodily on the third day. He ascended to the right hand of the Father and will return in glory. There is salvation in no one else; His is the only name given among men by which we must be saved.

John 1:1, 14 · John 14:6 · 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 · Acts 4:12

Salvation: The New Birth

We believe that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and that we cannot save ourselves. Salvation is the gift of God, received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. When a person repents of sin and believes on the Lord Jesus, he or she is born again — made a new creation, forgiven, justified, and brought into the family of God.

Romans 3:23 · Ephesians 2:8–9 · John 3:3–7 · Romans 10:9–10 · 2 Corinthians 5:17

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Holiness and Sanctification

Because our God is holy, He calls His people to be holy.

1 Peter 1:15–16

We believe that sanctification is both a gift and a pursuit. In one sense, the believer is set apart — sanctified — the moment he or she is saved, made holy in Christ and dedicated to God's service. In another sense, sanctification is the continuing work of the Holy Spirit, who increasingly frees us from the dominion and practice of sin and conforms us to the image of Christ.

Holiness, then, is not merely an outward standard but an inward transformation — a change worked by the Spirit that shows itself in our conduct, our character, our conversation, and our worship. We do not pursue holiness in order to earn God's love; we pursue it because we have already received it, and because we belong to Him.

1 Corinthians 6:11 · Hebrews 10:10 · Romans 6:22 · 2 Corinthians 7:1 · 1 Thessalonians 4:3–7 · 1 Thessalonians 5:23 · Hebrews 12:14

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The Baptism of the Holy Spirit

We believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is a gracious work of God, distinct from and ordinarily following the new birth. In salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within every believer. In the baptism of the Holy Spirit, that same believer is filled and empowered by the Spirit for witness, worship, and service.

This experience is the promise of the Father, poured out upon the church to draw us closer to Christ and to clothe us with power for the work of the ministry. We encourage every believer to earnestly desire and to receive this gift.

Luke 24:49 · Acts 1:8 · Acts 2:1–4 · Acts 8:14–17 · Acts 10:44–47 · Acts 19:1–6

The Gifts of the Spirit

We believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to the church today and are not confined to the early church. As the Spirit wills, He distributes gifts among God's people — including the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, the working of miracles, prophecy, the discerning of spirits, various kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues. These gifts are to be exercised in love, in order, and for the building up of the whole body.

1 Corinthians 12:4–11 · Romans 12:6–8 · 1 Corinthians 13 · 1 Corinthians 14:12, 40

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The Ordinances

We observe the ordinances the Lord gave to His church:

• Water Baptism — by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is the outward sign of an inward reality: that we have died with Christ and been raised to walk in newness of life. Matthew 28:19 · Romans 6:3–5 · Acts 2:41
• The Lord's Supper (Communion) — the bread and the cup, received in remembrance of the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in expectation of His return. In this sacred meal, believers corporately declare their shared faith in the bodily sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We come to His table having examined our hearts, in fellowship and reverence. 1 Corinthians 11:23–28 · Luke 22:19–20

Divine Healing

We believe that God still heals today. By the stripes of Jesus we are healed, and we are invited to bring our sicknesses and infirmities to Him in faith and prayer, trusting Him for both body and soul.

We pray for the sick in faith, while submitting ourselves to the wisdom and sovereign will of God. Seeking appropriate medical care is not contrary to faith, as we believe that it is God who has graced medical professionals with the wisdom to treat illnesses. In light of this, no believer should be condemned or made to feel spiritually deficient because healing does not occur in the manner or the timing for which we prayed.

Isaiah 53:5 · James 5:14–15 · Matthew 8:16–17

The Return of Christ

We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will return in glory, that the dead in Christ will rise, and that God will make all things new. This blessed hope steadies us, purifies us, and gives us reason to be ready and to be faithful.

John 14:1–3 · Acts 1:11 · 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 · Titus 2:13 · Revelation 21:1–5

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A Few Common Questions

Do I need to be baptized, or baptized again? If you have never been baptized by immersion as a believer, we would be glad to baptize you. If you were already baptized by immersion after coming to faith in Christ, we do not ask you to be baptized again. If you are unsure about your own baptism, simply speak with the Pastor.

Who may receive Communion? The Lord’s Table is open to every believer who has trusted in Jesus Christ as Savior and is walking with Him. We invite each person to examine his or her own heart and to partake in faith and reverence.

What does living a holy life look like here? Holiness begins in the heart and shows itself in a life increasingly shaped by Christ. In keeping with our Holiness–Pentecostal heritage, we encourage modesty, integrity, and conduct that honors the Lord in what we say, how we live, and how we treat others. If you ever wonder about a particular matter, the Pastor, mothers, and leaders of the church are glad to help — always with grace, never with condemnation.

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Growing as a Disciple

When the Lord Jesus sent out His followers in what is often called the Great Commission, He commanded them to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). A disciple is best understood as a student or a learner. But it is important to understand that, biblically, a disciple is more than an occasional student. A disciple is a committed learner-follower of Jesus Christ—one who trusts Him as Savior, submits to Him as Lord, learns His teaching, follows His example, and seeks through the power of the Holy Spirit to obey His commands. Consequently, it is not our goal merely to produce church members, but to foster students, learners, and followers of Jesus who seek to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Christian growth is the gracious work of the Holy Spirit as believers receive and obey God’s Word, pray, worship, fellowship with the saints, participate in the ordinances, serve others, and faithfully take advantage of the teaching ministries of the church.

The new birth is a beginning, not an ending. God's desire is that every believer grow up into maturity in Christ. Three simple practices are the food of a healthy Christian life:

• The Word. Read it, meditate on it, study it, and put it into practice. As we do, our faith is built and our lives are shaped. 1 Peter 2:2 · Psalm 1:1–2 · 2 Timothy 2:15
• Prayer. Prayer is our communication with God — talking to Him and listening for Him. Cultivate a daily life of prayer. Luke 18:1 · Philippians 4:6–7
• Worship. Worship is what God requires and what we were made for; when rightly directed, it is the highest thing we can do. We worship God privately, in our own homes, and we worship Him corporately, when we gather with fellow believers to magnify His name together. John 4:23–24 · Psalm 95:1–7 · Psalm 34:3

Living a Holy Life

As the Spirit grows us, our lives begin to change from the inside out. This shows in the fruit of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control — and in a walk that increasingly reflects the character of Christ in what we say, how we live, and how we treat others.

Galatians 5:22–23 · Ephesians 4:1 · Philippians 1:27

Stewardship

Everything we possess ultimately belongs to God, and we are called to manage His blessings faithfully. Giving is part of our worship—an act of love, gratitude, and trust through which we support the ministry and mission of the church and help care for those in need. The New Testament calls believers to give regularly, purposefully, cheerfully, and according to their ability, never grudgingly or under compulsion. Giving does not purchase salvation or earn God’s favor; it is our grateful participation in the work God has entrusted to His church.

Psalm 24:1 · 1 Corinthians 16:2 · 2 Corinthians 9:6–7 · Galatians 6:6 · Proverbs 3:9–10

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The Meaning of “Church”

The word we translate “church” comes from the Greek word ekklesia, which means an assembly or a congregation — a people gathered together. From its very meaning, then, the church is not a building, and it is not a solitary pursuit. The church is a gathered people. To belong to Christ is to belong to His assembly. And since an assembly is, by its very nature, a gathering of more than one, it follows that no believer can be the church alone. The very idea of church points to a gathered people, and Scripture expressly calls believers to assemble, worship, learn, pray, and encourage one another.

Known by God, and Never Alone

Salvation is deeply personal. Each of us must come to God for ourselves; no one can believe on our behalf, and no one can walk with God in our place. And yet the Christian life was never meant to be lived in isolation. We are called into a personal relationship with God and, at the very same time, into a communal relationship with God's people — our brothers and sisters in Christ.

While as believers we must know God for ourselves, no believer is to know God by themselves.— Pastor Jesse E. Lipford

Scripture calls us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, but to gather all the more as we see the day of the Lord approaching (Hebrews 10:25). And it promises that when we walk in the light together, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). The personal and the communal belong together: we come to the light one by one, and there we find one another.

The Family of God and the Body of Christ

When you come to Christ, two things become true of you at once. You are born into a family, and you are joined to a body.

You become a member of the household of God — a child of God among many brothers and sisters, part of the whole family named by the Father in heaven and on earth.

Ephesians 2:19 · Galatians 6:10 · Romans 8:15–17 · 1 John 3:1–2 · Ephesians 3:14–15

And you become a member of the body of Christ, joined to every other believer — each part needed, each part contributing to the health of the whole. A hand cannot say to the foot, “I have no need of you.” We belong to one another, and we do not function apart from one another.

1 Corinthians 12:12–27 · Romans 12:4–5 · Ephesians 4:15–16 · Colossians 1:18

Faithful in Gathering

For all these reasons, we gather — and we gather faithfully. When God's people come together, we come:

• For instruction — to be taught and grounded in the word of God.
• For encouragement — to lift one another when hearts grow weary.
• For exhortation — to stir one another up to love and good works.
• For strength — to bear one another's burdens through hard seasons.
• For prayer — to seek the Lord together and agree in His presence.
• For worship — to give God the glory due His name, as one people.

Faithful attendance is not finally about obligation; it is about life. We come together because we need one another, and because the Lord Himself has promised to be present where His people gather in His name.

Acts 2:42–47 · Hebrews 10:24–25 · Matthew 18:20 · Psalm 133:1

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Our Ministries and Auxiliaries

Our auxiliaries and ministries are the ways we serve God, serve one another, and serve our community. Each exists to help the whole church accomplish its mission. As you grow, we invite you to prayerfully consider where God would have you serve.

Finding Your Place

God has given every believer gifts — not for ourselves alone, but for the good of the whole body. You do not need to have it all figured out to begin. Start by worshiping faithfully, praying about where you sense the Lord leading, and speaking with the Pastor or a ministry leader. There is room for you here, and a work prepared for you to do.

1 Corinthians 12:7 · 1 Peter 4:10 · Ephesians 2:10

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Who May Become a Member

Membership at Lakeview is open to all who have repented of sin and put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, who embrace the sound biblical teaching of the church, and who are willing to walk together under its spiritual leadership. Members are encouraged to grow in faithful worship, fellowship, service, and stewardship according to the grace and ability God gives them.

The Path to Membership

1. Be presently a believer, or become a born-again believer in Christ.
2. Accept the invitation, or express a desire, to become a member of our local congregation — embracing the sound biblical teaching of the church, following Christ, and being willing to walk together under its spiritual leadership.
3. Take your place among the family in worship and fellowship.
4. After being welcomed as a full member, complete the New Members’ Orientation.

Welcome Home

Welcome home. We thank God for you, and we look forward to growing together in Christ.

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