I've been looking for a church home here in Atlanta for about 3 weeks now, and I still feel the need to keep searching. The first one wasn't welcoming; beautiful building, decent sermon, but not welcoming. The second one was good worship, decent teaching, and somewhat welcoming, but the church body was quite large (to the point where 2 long-time members just met for the first time that morning. Not a great sign). Today was a church planted by a campus church at Penn. It was a nice service, but again not welcoming. I think this time it was because it was mostly students. As a student I too wasn't so concerned about newcomers, I suppose, or didn't know how to handle them. I did recognize some people from Penn, but I don't think they recognized me. I might still try the latter two churches again, but I'm not sure.
I suppose I'm really looking for something smaller with a good community. Maybe I've been spoiled by my last few churches - I'm really missing the ones in Savannah and Lansdale right now. But I would really like to have a church family to be a part of for the next few years. Dealing with the transition is of course much harder without that community around me, and it's a bit discouraging. I don't know what plagues most churches that they don't reach out to new people. Maybe it's complacency and self-focus, as plagues me too. I just wish that it wasn't there.
So yes, if you could keep in prayer my search for a church home and family, I would appreciate it very much. For me to listen to God when He says "stay" and "go" with different churches. And openness to His leading.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
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