Dear God
Dear God,
Well, I went to church tonight. I know, I know, you’re saying “It’s about time!” I’m sorry that it’s been a while, but it’s really hard to go weekly when I don’t have a church that I really like. I don’t want to keep going to the ol’ “stand by” church and never find one that I can really enjoy. And it’s hard to go to a new church every week, too, especially alone. I know I need to find a church and get plugged in. It was good to get back to a Baptist church again, though. I really needed the recharging. I’m pretty sure you’re the one that’s been planting the thought of going to this church in my head for a while now, and the service tonight was pretty good. I hope this is someplace where I can settle down and get involved. I pray that you’ll give me the motivation to go back again, and to have an open mind. Seems like it has a good group of people my age, and lots of opportunity.
Thanks for your blessings and forgiveness today, Lord. I pray that I can have a good Monday. Please guide and direct me down Your path, and help me to do your will, not mine. Goodnight
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Jun 28th, 2004 at 00:32:08
I understand that church search thing. It is tough. When I came to Western, it took me forever to find a church. I found myself comparing everything to my home church and nothing measured up. I found lots of excuses for NOT wanting to go to a paticular church.
Funny, the church I now am a member of was one of the first churches I visited origionally. I could have spared myself about 2 years of roaming had I just had a different outlook on my search. Now I would much rather go where I am now than my home church.
I’ll be praying for you. I hope you find something soon, the church is SO important to our growth.
Jun 28th, 2004 at 10:33:16
There’s an article from CHristian single about this thing… actually there might be a couple but here’s one to get you started:
http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/article_main_page/0,1703,A%253D156440%2526M%253D50019,00.html
Also, I think prayer is definitely the key to “landing” in a good church.
I’ll be praying for you!
Jun 28th, 2004 at 12:51:17
Chris,
I am so very proud of you. I nearly cried when I read that. I too will be praying for you, but just remember you’re not in this alone. I don’t know if you have read through the Purpose-Driven Life yet, but if you haven’t I’d start. In this particular situation where you are trying to locate a church look at Day 17 in the book on pg. 130. It talks about every Christian being called to belong, not just believe. If you need anything give me a call.
Jun 28th, 2004 at 16:57:33
I have a question about your church search. Do you try to find a church in your Christian denomination, Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, or whatever it may be? Or do you actually try different denominations of Christianity?
I see where you all are coming from about trying to find the church where God is touching you, but at the same time, it is a bit of a difficult thing for me to grasp in its full concept.
For those who have not figured out or dont know me, I am a born and raised Catholic with a lot of Baptist roots. I did look at a couple different Catholic churches in the area before I settled into the one I call home now. Though for me, I feel like I can find Gods presence and guidance in almost all Catholic churches, but in some, I can find a place where I can worship to Him in more ways. For example the Catholic Church closest to me, is a great country church but there is not a lot of singing and participation by the congregation in song. I like to sing though I am not good at singing, so for me a church with more praise by song and congregational singing, interested me. Though without the singing and congregational participation, I still knew that God was present in the Mass and I felt that presence during the Eucharist(Communion).
Jun 28th, 2004 at 21:57:50
I’ve tried several different denominations - Methodist, Pentacostal, Church of Christ, Non-denominational, etc. I actually went to a Church of Christ for about two years, but found out that I really didn’t agree with all their teachings and traditions. I probably went there for longer than I should have, because I grew comfortable with the people. Finally, God bumped me enough and I finally started looking again.
Jun 29th, 2004 at 01:29:50
Finding a new church is very hard. I grew up in a small Southern Baptist church, and finding one that I am comfortable in up here in N. KY is hard. I know that the problem is me, and not so much the church. I feel like I’m always looking for something in a church that I don’t like, instead of looking for how the church is serving God. I know that to find a church that I can call home, I need to get past myself. That is the hardest part.
Jun 29th, 2004 at 17:35:55
(RE: Robin)
I think that it is important to decide what you personally believe concerning your own personal doctrine. Then I think that if you decide that you believe a certain set of beliefs, it’s important that you are part of a church that also has those beliefs. If I believe “Once saved, always saved.” Then yeah, I might find a fun church with loving people who believe that you can backslide and loose your salvation. Granted this issue may not come up everyday, but the fact still remains that they do not believe the same way I do. In I Corinthians 1 Paul advises the church to be of one mind… he wants us to be unified as a church. So I think that it is important that you see a church that has the same doctrinal beliefs that you do.
That’s just my 2 cents.
Jun 29th, 2004 at 23:32:47
Chris,
I have done some church-searching for myself, and it is a tough place to be in definitely. And I did the alone thing too.
And I’m not sure that I have good suggestions for you. Someone mentioned Warren’s Purpose-Driven Life. I liked the way he emphacized the importance of becoming part of the ministry of a church.
when it comes to finding a church though, I have felt in the past like… it’s hard to come in with a checklist of things that you are looking for in a church… and expect to find them all.
In one state, I found my church in a pretty unexpected fashion. Actually you may not care so feel free to stop reading now, but it’s a notable story I guess so…
My coworkers were having a Halloween party, which I was hesitant to attend due to the drinking that would be there. Having been surrounded by some awesome Christian friends for my college life to that point, I hadn’t even been in much of a situation where I would even want to go to such a party. But, I was far from my friends, and I eventually decided to go. Anyway, that night one of my co-workers noticed that I wasn’t drinking and commented. Later, a few of his friends that we didn’t work with showed up.
To make along story short, we played Trivial Pursuit with some drunk people, and I eventually learned one of the guys was the pastor of a church plant ministering near the local university.
They met as cell groups in people’s homes, and I really couldn’t even think of it as church, it was so different from the norm. But eventually, I realized that that small group was providing accountability to me, helping me in my walk, and loving me… in ways that I had never felt at church before. The very thing that I couldn’t think of as church was more church to me than anything else had ever been!
Anyway, I guess… I just want to encourage you to keep this attitude of seeking and that GOd will provide for you! Maybe even it ways you don’t expect.
Nick
Jun 30th, 2004 at 14:16:40
Thanks for your thoughts, everyone, and your story and experiences Nick.
Jun 30th, 2004 at 23:49:27
Nick,
Anyway, you’ll have to fill me in more on the cell group experience.
That’s a very neat story! I’d like to hear more about the cell group thing. I had received some material from this group somewhere in Texas that is really pushing the cell group thing, but I think I lost it on my old computer.
Jun 30th, 2004 at 23:55:56
The church I used to go to actually had cell groups. I attended one for a while, but found that I didn’t get much out of it, at least the particular group I was in. There wouldn’t be any focus at times, and we would get distracted and not get started until late. All in all, though, the other cell groups at this church turned out pretty well. Several of them split and formed new cell groups, and one Tuesday night cell group actually started a coffee house, called Reality Tuesday Cafe (http://www.realitytuescafe.com/ - named for the church - Reality - and the night on which the group met). It’s a pretty happenin’ place, with music on the weekends. Ashlee, I saw Adrea Stephens (now it’s Laroche) there earlier in the year. You should check her out sometime if you haven’t yet.