The thoughts on this page are directed to those who are looking for a new Church Home.
They are simply personal reflections by the Webmaster, who hopes you'll find at least a few of these
suggestions helpful.
For some people, finding a new place to worship is not that difficult — especially
if they wish to remain members of their same denomination.
Those who are active Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-Day
Adventists, Mormons, Unitarians or Christian Scientists are usually interested in finding
another congregation within their denomination. In the Massillon area, this often limits their choices
to a single church.
However, if you are a member of a Catholic or mainline Protestant church, you may have lots of options. So
what to do?
Start by making a list of churches you
want to "check out." This may include churches in your current
denomination; it could include churches attended by friends and co-workers; it should probably also
include churches that are located close to your home.
MassillonChurches.com is a good resource here.
The information contained within this Web Site is designed to help you in your search.
| A TRUE EXAMPLE |
There
is a small church in a city near here. The building
has a cornerstone dated "1840." The congregation has worshipped here
for more than a century and a half; and although this building is quaint,
it obviously does not hold an active congregation.
Churches either get bigger, or they slowly
dwindle away. If this church still fits in the same building it did 150 years
ago, it must not have much of an active, local ministry. Now for some people, this
may be exactly what they want. But if you are looking to worship with a
dynamic congregation, it's best to approach non-growing churches cautiously. |
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Please consider this first suggestion very carefully: When
making your list of potential churches, only include those that appear active.
How do you do this? Unlike a book,
sometimes you can tell a church by its cover. When you drive
by, are the facilities in good repair? Are the grounds well-maintained? Do you ever
see cars in their parking lot? Does it appear there are actitivites at times other than on Sunday morning?
Things like this can reveal how active a church really is.
After you've made your list of potential churches, go for a visit. Take a church from your list; attend
a couple of their
services and talk to some of their members. Get a feeling for what this church is really all about.
If you still have interest and would like more information about the church, schedule a meeting with their
Pastor; Pastors are always happy to meet with prospective members. For some large churches you may have
to have this meeting with an Associate Pastor, but if at all possible meet with the Head Pastor. Do this
in person — not by email, fax, mail or some other indirect method. Explain your church background,
if any, so the Pastor has some idea of where you are coming from. Ask whatever questions
are important to you, but don't "grill" the Pastor — especially of theological issues.
Remember you are there for information, not to tout your beliefs. When you leave this meeeting, you should
have a pretty good idea if this church is a good fit for you or not.
When attending a new church's services for the first time, keep in mind that churches are
a little bit like people — they have good days, and not-so-good ones. So if you did
not feel welcome on your first visit, or if the service was not to your liking — give
it another chance. Now if, after several visits, you still don't feel comfortable — move on.
You haven't found the right church yet.
As you visit various churches, ask yourself these questions:
- Are you comfortable with their Beliefs and Doctrines?
Every church should have a printed statement of their beliefs. If they
don't have one, or won't provide you with a copy, be wary.
Sometimes churches that have Web Sites will place
this information on the Internet. If you have a specific area where you have strong
feelings — divorce, tithing, alcoholic beverages — do not be afraid to ask what the
church's position is on the matter. This is important because sometimes individual
churches will have beliefs considerably different than the denomination with which
they are affiliated.
- Does the worship style allow you to fully express
your worship to God?
There are several basic styles of worship services:
There is liturgical — highly-formalized, structured and majestic,
with music and instruments you typically associate with a church service. Then there's traditional
— less-formal, usually including hymns and a sermon or other devotional. Finally
there's contemporary — which typically includes modern
Christian music and messages,
being geared toward youth and young adults. One style
is certainly not better than another, but one style may be more appropriate for you. Many churches
have several services — each in a different style. The 'Church Finder' on our Home Page can help
you find churches that have specific styles of worship.
- Do they have programs, services and activities that cater to the age groups in
your family?
If you have children and teenagers, make sure the church has a
well-attended Children's Sunday School and an active Youth ministry. If you have a baby, is
there a fully-staffed nursery available during services? Attending
Church should be a family event. One of the
quickest ways to lose interest in a church is to find there's no one else in your
age group with whom you can relate. A good church will be a 'fit' for every member of your family.
- Do you feel you could go to the Pastor or one of his staff to talk about a personal
problem?
Is there a genuine interest in providing personal, spiritual
help? Does the Pastor seem sincere, approachable, and worthy of respect? Do you get the feeling that
confidential matters would remain that way?
- Are you comfortable with the Congregation?
Do you feel at home when attending Services? Are you comfortable
with the standard of dress? Are the members warm
and friendly to visitors? Is this a group of people
with whom you can relate and with whom you can become friends?
- Is the church close enough to allow you to be as active as you would like?
If you plan on being very active in your new church, perhaps one
that is 15 or 20 miles away is not the best choice. Ohio winters can be snowy and
icy. We've already seen $4.00+/gallon gasoline. While you do not need to
live next door to the church building, the closer you live to your place of worship,
the easier it will be to participate in their services and activities.
When looking for a new church, remember, God has a place for you
to worship. It will have a congregation with whom you feel comfortable. It
will be committed to your spiritual growth and needs. It will provide many
opportunities for you to serve and to help others. And while it may take some time for you to locate the right church,
once you've found it, you'll know that you're in the right place.
Thank you for allowing
MassillonChurches.com to be a tool in your church selection process.
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