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Wednesday, April 6, 2011

In Search For...

A Church...yep that would be us!!

Let me explain...

Back in 2005 we joined a SUPER Church in another county and it was GREAT...we loved it there!!

Anyhow...shortly after, my husband was offered a position/promotion with his company and it was over a hour away from where we lived at the time.  My husband, of course, accepted and we moved closer to his work in 2006.  We still traveled to this Church (which was right at over a hour away) each Sunday but although we loved the Church didn't feel that our family was really growing there any longer (as we wasn't able to be as active in the Church as we wanted to be due to the distance and stuff).  So...last year a very difficult decision was made to step down from that Church and start visiting other nearby Churches. 

What we are looking for shouldn't be, (but sometimes is) difficult to find...a Church that doesn't go by a denomination or any man-made rules...just a Bible believing Church...that is what we are looking for!!  Well we have been visiting various Non-Denominational Churches and we have narrowed our choice down to two Churches and one of them REALLY stands out to us as being the choice for our family.

One of the two Churches has a GREAT Sunday service and even offers a Christian school program which we can choose to enroll the kids in if we wish.  The only thing with that Church is there isn't a Sunday Children's Church program which we REALLY like the idea of a Church having if possible as our kids love those type of programs and it really puts things on their level.

The other choice (the Church that really stands out to us) is a VERY active Church which I think you really have to be...you can't just sit back and expect God to do all the work in a Church...you have to pray, seek His guidance and follow Him and work as the body of the Church.  They are a rather large Church, which is something we aren't used to (after all the Church we were members of had around 40 or 50 members at the most and maybe 30 people to attend a Sunday Service...our kids were most of the time the only ones to even attend Sunday School at the Church we used to go to).  Anyhow...this Church that we are visiting that stands out to us has around 250 members...and they do have a children's program that the kids absolutely love and they have asked us a number of times if we can make that our Church, but of course, we may continue to visit but we aren't going to make any decision this fast as we only have been visiting this Church since around the first week of March.  The Church has two services that are basically the same one at 9:30 and one at 11 that way no Member misses a service and its smaller groups of people that way...and what I REALLY like is while the Members can choose what service they attend...the service they don't attend is the one they choose to SERVE at...whether it be in the Welcome Center, Kids Church, whatever...

The Church also plays more of contemporary music and they have a Church band (which I REALLY like).  The pastor doesn't preach the way we are used to...we are actually used to preachers at our old Church really raising their voices and getting into the sermon, but this pastor is more of a speaker in his ministering...which I still think is fine as long as he follows God's lead and delivers the sermons God gives to him.  And...something else I REALLY like about this Church is that while I have been wanting to get the kids in a Youth Group program FOREVER (I mean...even at our old Church, but they didn't have enough kids attend to have a Youth Group)...this Church we are now visting has one.  This will give the kids the opportunity to connect with people of the same faith midweek as well as on Sundays.  Faith is something that is REALLY important to me...it is really a part of the foundation of one's life if you really think about it!!

Anyhow...Justin is out of town this week, but if everything goes well he will probably attend with us next week.  Me and the kids (and our friend who has also been visiting this Church) are going to Youth Group tonight...this will be the kids first Youth Group ever so I am very, very excited for this!  Not only do they do a Youth Program, but they even have dinner (kinda' a time for fellowship after a long day at work/school or whatever) before they get into their lesson.

I have been praying, praying, and praying for God to lead us to where He would have us to go for a Church...and I kinda' laugh at some of the things that I have been through while praying this prayer...because...well, this Church has their prayer circle through an e-mail list...where you get e-mails for the prayer circle prayer requests...anyhow...I was praying to God one morning to just continue to lead us and help us find where He would have us to be...and shortly after I received my first ever e-mail from their prayer circle.  My daughter was trying to tell me that was a sign...but I was like we don't know that but maybe.  Anyhow...I then had a dream that we continued to visit Churches and we thought we was visiting another Church but actually walked into a funeral (and I thought that might mean God was finished with me visiting Churches but I wasn't sure).  Shortly...maybe a day or so later on that week (after I told my husband about my dream) we were going somewhere and I passed a billboard with that Church's sign upon it...my husband passes that billboard everyday when he is working and he said that he didn't see the sign before, but it all of a sudden was up when I was in the vehicle with him.  I was like okay that is literally a SIGN. LOL  Well then...I spoke with someone from this Church on the phone last night and she was talking about how they were really trying to grow their Youth Program...that they had 13 or 14 kids who attended, but they used to have 60 and she had the faith it would grow again and she told me that she feels that by me showing an interest in the Youth Group for my kids that this was a SIGN for them that they were on the right track as they really have been praying about it (and no, at this point I hadn't mentioned my signs to her, but I did afterward LOL).

Anyhow...is this Church the right one for us?  I honestly don't know...at this point I feel that it is for the present time.  I have a good feeling about it up to now...but like I said we only have been visiting since the first week of March or so and that isn't long enough for me to make any definite decisions.  So, for the time being, I am going to be as active in this Church as I can, pray and seek God's guidance, and wait for His answer!

35 comments:

  1. Good Luck in finding your new church home. It looks like you are on the path to finding one that will meet the needs of your growing family.

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  2. It seems like you've been on a journey and are learning a lot about your faith and how you want to worship. I hope you are able to choose soon ... but it sounds very much like you already have ;)

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  3. Hey Jessica,
    Thanks so much for stopping by quasiagitato this morning. Great to meet you!

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  4. I had to stop by and follow you over here as well!! I hope you received my email about my custom design! I am so very excited! have a great day!

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  5. Oh I can relate. We've moved several times since we've been married and I really struggled at times going to a different church three times a week. Praying you find where God wants you sooner than later.

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  6. Finding the right church is so difficult. We've been here over 10 years now and still haven't found one we love.

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  7. HI Jessica! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. SO nice to meet you. Now following you back. Looking forward to read more of your posts!:)
    http://aimee-girltalk.blogspot.com

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  8. It took us awhile to find and settle into a good church too. I hope you are able to decide soon.

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  9. It sounds great! Actually, a lot like the church we attend except our congregation is much smaller, but the church band, the way the minister preaches, youth group, sounds really similar. You can just pray about it until you feel a calling. Good luck!

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  10. Thanks for stopping by The Kid Can Cook, my dear - happy to meet you and your family! Enjoy UBP11 - isn't it fun finding so many great blogs!
    All my best,
    Emme

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  11. A church is definitely a hard place to settle on!

    Nice to ‘meet’ you! Thanks for visiting me for UBP 2011!

    Now following you on google friend connect!

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  12. So nice to meet you! I am following you back from the kind comment you left on my blog. Thanks! Good Luck on deciding which church. Good for you for taking your time with such an important decision. When you think about it, we shop around for the best deals, cars, and homes so it only makes sense that we "shop" around for the place we go to worship. Praying God reveals the answer to you.

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  13. Hi again! I remember our youth pastor telling us that when we were looking for a church to look for 3 things, That they preach from the WORD the Bible not some other book or books. That you witness and see brotherly love. That you see Spiritual Growth. I think you'd need to be at a church a couple months to see Spiritual Growth, maybe that was a spiritual growth in ones self.
    I was 18 when I moved away and I used those 3 principles in finding my church. My church was the 4th Church I visited and I actually attended a Bible Study before I went to a service.
    Instantly I felt the brotherly love. I felt like I was HOME, they treated me like family, liked I'd always been there:)
    And I'm still there:)
    I know that if you are seeking the Lord He will lead you to the right one:)

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  14. Thank you for stopping by this morning! It has been such a treat looking around your blog!

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  15. What a nice blog! Thanks for stopping by Thrifty-Home (www.thrifty-home.com) As for the church dillema...God sometimes leads us where he wants us. That isn't always the same place we "want" to be. Just consider that God may need you somewhere. Good luck, and I hope it works out!

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  16. Jessica, I know that God is leading you and will continue. You will make the right decision!
    Thank you for dropping by Tales from Bloggeritaville. I love new friends! And followers! Come again...and soon :)
    Have a great day!
    Live (really LIVE)* LOVE (deeply)* Laugh (alot)
    Leigh
    Tales from Bloggeritaville
    www.lbratina.blogspot.com

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  17. i'd say if you are in ohio stop by 1st church of god in kettering; we fit all your needs to a tea!;) luv your blog so cute and adorable! prays n' blessings! "for where two or three come together there I am with them"~matthew 18:20 followin' on gfc from http://www.lifeasamomnwife.blogspot.com

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  18. Thank you for stopping by Taylor Made Home and leaving a comment. This is a cute little blog you have here. I pray that God leads you to the church He would have you to join.

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  19. sounds like a good church! I need to get my family into a church somewhere. Good luck on your decision!

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  20. Finding a good church home is so important, so it's great to see that you're really taking it all into consideration. It sounds like you've found a couple of great places to attend. I'm sure you'll find peace on where you're supposed to be, and it'll feel like HOME. :)

    ~Tabitha

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  21. Stopping by from UBP11. Thanks for hitting my site! Finding a church is so hard but I am confident that God will guide you. Our church is amazing. Preaching God's Word, discipling its members, and reaching out to the community! Wonderful to be a part of it. It is large though about 1800 members or so!

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  22. Jessica,

    Thank you for stopping by from the UBP 2011 and leaving your nice compliments! I decided to follow you at this site. Nice blog and nice to meet you(:

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  23. Thanks for stopping by from the UBP ! I'm your newest follower. www.bargainfun.net

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  24. Hi Jessica,
    Thanks so much for stopping by Simply Sandwich! I have taken a little tour of your blog and just love it. My fam was in the same church situation at one time, driving an hour to the service, etc. We finally found a church home with a great youth focus and I am so thankful. It is so important to have the kids build their foundation! I know God will guide you on the perfect church home for your family!

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  25. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment. I am excited to read more on all 3 of your blogs. I have joined all 3 to follow. I look forward to reading more. I will be praying about your decision on a new church home~it is such an important choice-I will pray it will be very clear to you and your family where God wants to be and to serve.
    Hugs~
    Jill

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  26. An important decisions! Good for you for being so diligent and making sure you get what is right for your family! I really commend you for this!
    Sandra

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  27. Hi, I found your blog on the Ultimate Blog Party 2011 and I'm a new
    follower. Hop over and say Hi if you get a chance, Jennifer from Just
    Wedeminute

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  28. Hi Jessica,
    Thanks so much for stopping by The High Calling! I love your blog, and will definitely be back. May God lead you into the perfect church home for your family!

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  29. Thanks for visiting during the UBP 2011 - I too write several blogs so it's great to see someone else so multi-facited in their blogging. I wish you well in your search for the church that the Lord is calling you to.

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  30. Thank you for stopping by my blog during the UBP. I'm happy to tell you that you've won a certificate for the NLT study Bible if you would like it. Send me your mailing address at lcourtneymom@gmail.com and I'll be glad to send it to you.

    I also was reading your post here about looking for a church. I can definitely relate. We've been at our church for over 17 years, but about 3 years ago, we left and searched for another church for a while. It is difficult to find that place, and we eventually came back to our church after a long journey that God led us through. I'll pray that you and your family will be led to the place God wants you to be.

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  31. It's important to find a church that fits you and your family. Not all are a good fit and that's ok! Sometimes it's kind of nice to try out a few anyway just to keep it interesting, right? :)

    Thanks for partying with me for UBP11 - finally getting the clean up done and finishing my thank you visits!

    ~Darcy @ Tales From the Nursery~

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  32. Thank you for stopping by my blog! I'm your newest follower! (Sorry it took so long)

    http://journeythroughmommyhood.blogspot.com

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  33. Thanks for commenting and following my blog! I'm here to do the same as I explore around your site. Good luck finding a church - my husband and I are currently looking too.

    Kristen
    Turning a House into a Home

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  34. Thanks for visiting my blog! Following you back - I love your story!

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  35. Thanks for stopping by my blog! You should enter my giveaway!
    Now following you back!

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