Welcome to the Shiloh Family
(We Extend the Right Hand of Fellowship to You)
The Right Hand of Fellowship is a custom intended to welcome a new member into the fellowship
of a congregation or welcoming a new minister into the fellowship of ministers. It is based on Paul's letter
to the Galatians, chapter 2 verse 9, where Paul says that three disciples of Jesus "gave me and Barnabas their right
hands of fellowship" bonding them together as members of the new Christian church.
"When James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had
been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the
circumcised" (Galatians 2:9).
Paul and Barnabas were given the right hand
of fellowship. Paul preached to the Gentiles and Peter preached to the Jews, but the gospel was the same.
In the description of what happened on the day the church was established, we read: "And with many other
words he testified and exhorted them, saying, 'Be saved from this perverse generation.' Then those who gladly received his
word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles'
doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:40-42).
This new fellowship, the church of Christ, was a fellowship of the saved: "And
the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved" (Acts 2:47).
