Rugged Pursuit
Withdraw to the Wilderness
New City, New Church
5 Things to Look for in a Church When You Move
Moving to a new city can bring about a lot of major changes in a person’s life: New jobs, new schools, new friends, and…new churches.
When asked about the biggest adjustments of moving to a new town, Christians often cite leaving their home church behind. Finding a church that you love, and are personally invested in, is a wonderful thing; one that can be hard to give up. The relationships you form at church tend to be deep and long-lasting because you have served alongside of these people and have connected on a spiritual level. That type of relationship with a person, or an organization, cannot be taken lightly.
However, Christians know that God calls His followers to things, sometimes unexpectedly. Sometimes that means being called to a new opportunity in a new city. Moving away comes with a lot of stress factors. First we have all the anxiety of finding a new place to live, navigating the housing market, and trying to choose a safe neighborhood. Not to mention all the physical burden of boxing up your belongings, loading them into a truck, and unloading them again in an unfamiliar place.
The hardest part, though, is usually the complete reset a move does to your life. You are suddenly thrust into a totally new and unexplored environment. Everything you do feels like starting over. You may have moved for a new job that requires training. At the same time, you are trying to make your new house feel more like a home. You may be registering your kids for a new school, finding sports leagues in the area, and trying to figure out which pizza places deliver to your new address.
All of these changes can be overwhelming. The biggest challenge, however, may be finding a new church. I am not sure what it is about visiting a new church that is so intimidating, but it tends to cause a lot of nervousness. It will likely take a lot of time to figure out if a church is right for you. Usually it would require several visits before you can start understanding what the church is like, what they believe, and how you can fit in. An additional level of difficulty is added when you do not know anyone who lives in that area that can help steer you in the right direction.
So, what is a person to do when going in blind to a church in a brand new city? Are there ways to hone in on which churches may be a good fit? Well, there are some things you can do to save yourself some time, as well as weed out places that may not be your style.
At the end of this article we will talk about how to “know before you go” by using some tools for researching the churches in the area before visiting in-person. But first, here are five basic things to look for in a church when you move to a new city.
1. Teaching and Doctrine
Look for a church that holds to sound biblical teaching and doctrine. The pastor should be preaching sermons that are clearly rooted in scripture from the Bible. The main focus should be on hearing from God, not on hearing a speech that is strictly motivational. The church’s beliefs should align with your understanding of the Bible and your faith tradition, or you may find yourself confused. This includes core theological beliefs such as the nature of God, salvation, and the role of scripture. You want to find out what the church, and church leadership, believes about foundational issues pertaining to Christianity and the Gospel message.
2. Worship Style
The music alone probably should not be as major of a thing to us as it is. Nevertheless, it is one of the main concerns people have when looking for a church. Consider the worship style that resonates with you. Different churches have varying approaches to worship, including traditional hymns, contemporary music, liturgical practices, or a blend of styles. I have visited churches that have more traditional hymns and acoustic music in their first service, and a contemporary, live band approach in the second service. This offers the church-goer options so they can choose which service to attend. Try to remember that the music is not the most important part of the worship experience. However, you will still likely want to choose a church where the worship style helps you connect with God and express your faith in the best way possible.
3. Denominational Affiliation
Depending on your background, you might prefer to attend a church affiliated with your particular denomination. Denominations can offer a sense of theological continuity and shared values. When visiting a church while I am out of town, I can typically find a church of a denomination I am familiar with and have a pretty good idea of what style of worship and preaching I am going to encounter. This can really narrow down your search by simply driving down the street and reading church signs.
This method becomes a little more tricky as churches drop the names of their denomination from their official church titles and instead call themselves things like “The Vine Community Church”, “Elm Grove Friends Church”, or “9th Street Congregation”. These general names are more inviting to a new generation of seekers, but can make them harder to distinguish from non-denominational and inter-denominational churches, so it is not a fool proof plan. If denominational affiliation is important to you, seek out churches that align with your denomination.
4. Community and Fellowship
A strong sense of community is often a hallmark of a healthy church. You want to find a place where you can really belong. The way to do that is to meet other members and build relationships with people inside of the church. Look for a church that emphasizes fellowship, small groups, and service opportunities for building relationships. Is the church having a potluck carry-in? Bring a casserole! Are they having a movie night? Pop some popcorn! Friday night bonfire? Pull up a chair! Getting involved is the only way to get to know the other people, so just show up! Connecting with fellow believers on a personal level can provide support, encouragement, and a sense of belonging.
Finding community and forming relationships is especially crucial when attending a larger church or gathering. The positive side of large churches is that they often have more resources to offer such as ministry opportunities, missions, and events. The downside is that it can be harder to form personal relationships in a large group setting. At a small country church, you get to know everyone’s name by default. It may be more difficult to find connections at large churches, but it is far from impossible. You may just need to be more intentional. Take a step out of your comfort zone and sign up for a small group Bible study. Participation in these groups is one way you can make big churches feel small. You will meet other members while taking steps closer to God. Go beyond Sunday morning worship and dig deeper into the scripture together!
5. Service and Outreach
Matthew 7:15-20 says “You will know them by their fruit”. So, consider the church’s commitment to serving both its congregation and the broader community. What classes or programs do they offer for their members to both be discipled and to learn to disciple others? In what ways are they providing aid to vulnerable people (James 1:27, Matthew 25:35-45)? What kind of service projects do they do in the community? In what ways are they actively pursuing the lost souls in their city?
“Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”
Matthew 7:20
Do you see any evidence of local mission projects that the church has done, or that they are currently involved in? Do people from their church go on mission trips? Who are their global mission partners? These are all questions to ask and things to investigate so you can learn how far the hands and feet of Christ are reaching outside of the building’s walls.
A church that engages in meaningful outreach projects and missions can be a sign of a congregation that lives out its faith in tangible ways. You should not have to dig too deep to find evidence that the church you are considering is actively involved in loving their members and loving the people around them.
“Everyone will know you are Jesus’ disciples if you love one another.”
John 13:35
Know Before You Go
Now, you might be thinking, “Okay this is all great information, but how can I know which churches have these qualities if I’ve never been there?” That is a valid question. The most thorough way to vet a congregation would be to visit that church multiple times so you can experience it firsthand. As I mentioned before, it could take awhile to really get a good read on a church if you are only experiencing it for an hour on Sunday morning. However, I know you may not want to invest that kind of time and likely want to narrow down your search to churches that you think have the highest potential for being a good fit.
So, let’s consider some ways that you can look into a church’s background, beliefs, and programs without actually attending in person.
Local Connections
If you have any friends or connections in the area in which you are moving, ask them if they have any churches they would suggest. At the very least, they may be able to help you determine what churches are closest to you and give you directions. Ask people at work where they attend and ask if you can tag along. It is always easier to go somewhere new if you do not have to go alone.
The World Wide Web
You can usually tell a lot about a church from their website, so find that right away. There will likely be a statement of faith explaining what they believe as a church/denomination. They may give some history about how or why their church was started. There may be a list of pastors and staff where you can view their credentials or get a feel for which leaders are affiliated with which programs. Hopefully, there will also be information about their Sunday School, small groups, life groups, Bible studies, ministries, and other programs they offer that will help you get plugged in and involved with other believers.
Social Media
Find their social media accounts and click around for awhile. There you will find pictures of their building, videos of their worship services, and maybe even some online sermons that you can preview. Look through their pictures from events they have held, community projects they have been involved in, and events that take place at the church. Scrolling through their social media feeds will help you to experience the church from a distance to quickly see if it is one you would feel comfortable in, or if it is a definite no-go.
*Bonus tip: as you scroll through their photos online, pay attention to how people are dressed at church. This will help you feel less stressed over what to wear, should you choose to visit in person.
Make the Leap
After you have done all of this pre-scouting, there is only one thing left to do: just walk through the door. Look, I know it is hard. I understand the anxiety of walking into an unfamiliar place for the first time, not knowing where to go, and wondering if you will be accepted. If there is anywhere we should be able to go without feeling out of place, it’s the Christian church! Easier said than done, I know, but you will not truly know if it is the church for you until you have been there and given it a chance.
However you choose to go about finding a new church, I just hope you succeed in doing so! Attending a local church that preaches the gospel and believes the Bible is crucial to your relationship with the Lord. The church is performing at its best when all the members are working together and moving in the same direction: towards Christ! You need the local church, and the local church needs you!
No church is perfect in all areas. They are all made up of imperfect people, like you and I. I am praying that the church you find will have a top notch welcome team that will greet you at the door and guide you in the right direction. I hope you will give it your best shot to give the church a chance, and that you will show grace in the areas where your preferences are not met. Find somewhere to be amongst fellow believers and get involved in what God is doing in your new city. You will not regret it.
11.30.23
Additional Resources
-There are websites that allow you type in a city and state to view a list of churches in that area. A couple sites that offer this service are Church Finder and The Gospel Coalition’s Church Directory.
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I’m thankful that God has led me to loving, gospel-preaching churches each time I’ve moved. Pray for His guidance as you do the things in this article, and the Holy Spirit will show you where to call “home.”
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