UPDATE II: Some of your comments are getting dumped by spam filters for multiple links. I can sort through the trash if I have time and you let me know. ALSO some of you “Need a Church” folk need to check back in the discussion. You’ve been answered.
I get a constant stream of letters from people who need a good church. Some are in bad churches. Some can’t find a church.
So here’s what I want to do:
1) Write NEEDS a Church or KNOWS a Church at the top of your comment.
2) I want everyone who is looking for a church to post a BRIEF comment designed like this one:
Your NAME First. Then GENERAL LOCATION, specific enough to get a decent answer, but not implying you aren’t willing to drive a few miles. Example: “Louisville Area.” Then describe BRIEFLY what tradition you’re looking for or any other vital info. Don’t tell your entire sad story. We’re all pitiful 🙂
3) THEN Anyone with knowledge of a church that might match up can provide their information.
Got it? OK, I’m turning off moderation. Be helpful.
The Internet Monk Archives 
NEEDS A CHURCH
Los Angeles (East side, Silverlake but also close to Glendale)
Episcopalian and looking for a liturgical high-church setting (would prefer to stay in the Episcopal church). We are a young couple and have visited several area churches but always find ourselves to be the youngest people in church by far. So, would really like a church with a small group of young couples in their mid-20’s to early 30’s. Want a very open-minded, social-justice focused church. Help!
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Not really looking for a church, but hey – saw Scott in Carson and I’m around Carson too. Would love to chat sometime since I don’t know anyone else around here who reads this sort of stuff. lietofine@yahoo.com
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I’m not looking for a country club…social club
….playgrounds…basketball courts…women’s scrapbook club…NO PLAY-ACTING…AS I RECALL Jesus pointed out that better left to the self-rightous hypocrites. Just the Word of God…the Christ you could still find in the mouth at the pulpit. Love is Truth…Truth is REAL Love. Not abetting…not hindering…not keeping blind and in the pit. DEFIRE…”Good”…according to Jesus
…which IS …Hearing FATHER…HIS Teaching and DOing. Tired of the WORLDLY-church…like a prostitute CALLING out to the cars driving by…”COME IN and spend your money on me”. ARE there any TRUTH based churches…in Montgomery, Alabama…that have not severed themselves from the Holy Root? HAVE VISITED…and found lacking
…in want of Him…TRUE RICHES.
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KNOW’S A CHURCH in NORMAN, OK
Tradition: Emergent Church
Strong Point: If you are looking for Acts 2 Community, THIS IS YOUR CHURCH~!~!~!
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Maj Tony
Demographics in this case and in most I would suspect were used in my old church and still are as a marketing tool to target as certain demographic.
I find it offensive.
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Karen,
I know that there are a number of Lutheran churches in Riverside and the surrounding area, unfortunately, I don’t really know anything about them, nor have I heard anything specific about them. You will probably have to visit around.
I have moved my family out of the Metro LA area to the Corona/Chino area(adjacent to Riverside) and haven’t found much to write home about in those areas.
There is a solid LCMS church in Lake Elsinore. We visited a couple times in the last several weeks and we like it. No bells, whistles, or fireworks, but decent liturgy and solid preaching. I’ve known Pastor Kolander for about eight years, and he is a good Pastor and theologian. Their website is:
http://www.firstluth.com/
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Ted/Patrick
Wondering if you know of any good Lutheran churches in the Riverside, CA area?
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to Robin in Olympia
KNOW a church in Olympia area
named Turning Point, non-denom
it’s a church plant, here’s the web site URL:
http://www.turningpointolympia.com
my brother-in-law & sis started it 3 or 4 yrs ago; they are caring folks and have gathered a group of loving caring folks who love the Lord; it might be a fit for you
blessings on you—-
Candy
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More thought. The NEEDS a church idea, I think, is a better one that KNOWS a church. But, as long as the KNOWS a church is done objectively, I suppose it does have some merit).
NEEDS a church.
Rome, NY (50 miles east of Syracuse and 25 miles west of Utica).
Focus on actual relationships, small groups (meeting weeknights in homes), true love and caring in the body, regular prayer. Spiritual warfare, but no tongues. (hey, I’m cool with it, just not my bag). Focus on true healing of the heart vs. sin management. Looking for regular communion (weekly or in weeknight small groups). Not all “pastor” driven, but with laity led ministry. Looking for believers who do not rely on the pastor to do their own job. Looking for people who are involved in the local community (outside the church) as much as or more than INSIDE the church.
I have a “city on the hill” mentality and see the church as being about serving and loving the community. Being Jesus.
Thank you.
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Rob Lofland: don’t be so quick to knock demographics, especially if it indicates true Christian coloblindness. Not saying it’s a be-all, end-all metric for success in a church, but it’s a positive fruit when you have some diversity.
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I’m challenged by the concept of a “good church” repository. Not because they don’t exist, but because we all seek different elements in churches.
Some might look at the preacher’s quality of teaching, some a the music (praise vs. hymns vs psalms, etc), some at the children’s programs, some at adult ministries, schedules, and even at the depth of relationships within.
Further, some within a particular church may believe they have “loving small groups”, but their ideas of small groups may not be something that I would consider small groups, but, in actuality, Sunday School discussions where the folks don’t invest into each other throughout the week.
It’s all very relative. Especially with the trend of many folks believing theirs is “the best” when it might not be what the “church shopper” is seeking.
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demographics
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greg r
tell your friend that if the word demopgraphics comes up:
1. you are in the wrong place
2. he/she is in the wrong profession
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this service post idea is great….it’s interesting, to me at least, what people are adamantly NOT looking for in a church. think I’ll reference this thread to one of my associate pastor friends whose job it is to make church inviting…..hey, that’s my job too, come to think of it. 🙂
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Looks like I deleted one thinking it was a duplicate. Spam filter is grabbing most posts with two links. Otherwise they are OK. Sorry.
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I don’t know what’s going on… I tried to post again, and it’s in moderation… please either post my first comment or the last one! 🙂
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I’m going to re-post my initial comment, with corrected spelling:
For Robin, looking in the Louisville, KY area,
I am a Reformed Baptist and used to be a member of a GREAT Reformed-leaning church. Sound in teaching, traditional in worship, warm in fellowship. Anyway, one of their former staff members is currently helping to pastor Third Avenue Baptist Church in Louisville, KY. Here is the link to their website: http://www.thirdavenue.org/
If that church is not within driving distance for you, go to http://www.9marks.org/ and do a “Church Search†for Kentucky. The 9 Marks site has many good, Reformed, expository teaching churches.
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Sorry, of course, I meant Louisville, KY. I live in *Albuquerque,* NM, and I misspell Louisville! 🙂
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“Alex Silva
NEED A CHURCH:
In Atlanta, GA…”
Alex,
If Traditional Roman Catholicism might interest you , or at least pique your curiosity, the Atl. Archdiocese has an “Extraordinary Form” Mass parish http://www.francisdesales.com/ in Mableton. It’s a converted Baptist Church, and the parish is administered by the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP).
For anyone in Indy looking for same or similar, or just an orthodox Roman Catholic Parish, http://www.holyrosaryindy.org is on the SE side by Eli Lilly’s HQ. We’ve got EF Latin, and OF English Masses nearly every day. No noise, no clapping, no praise bands, lots of Organ, and even some Latin in the OF English masses.
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Know a church
Dave in NW Ohio
Don’t know if this is what you are looking for (and hopefully it isn’t the church you are trying to leave) but we used to attend Ebenezer Mennonite in Bluffton. A great feature was the heavy missions emphasis, and there was a good-sized library with some theology among the pop Christian materials. They did stage one of those Hell House evangelism crusades, but only once that I know of. There are many family/community activities but it wasn’t the focus of worship. Good people. Note: that was a few years ago and there have been pastoral changes since.
http://www.ebenezermennonite.org/
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Charles, This church has been in Paramount for 75 years (starting full of dutch immigrants) but by the power of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God has transitioned from tradition to mission. It is a church looked to by our denomination, the Reformed Church in America, on how to be servants in their communities and bring the light of Christ to a hurting world. Check out our website http://www.erc.la/ to see if God is calling you there.
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KNOWS A CHURCH
I’m not going to go through singular descriptions of these churches. They’re traditional, liturgical, confessional and most have communion every week. The pastors of these churches are the kind who won’t blow their own horns, but they’re all phenomenally good at preaching the law in all its strength followed by the Gospel in all its sweetness.
I wish I knew of more churches like these in more areas. These are the ones I can personally vouch for. If I could ever update and add to this list, I certainly would.
(These are all Lutheran churches, LCMS. Some of these church websites allow you to listen to past sermons – great resources! Also, my business partner, Pat Kyle, posted a couple already which I was going to post, but I removed those so that these aren’t redundant.)
— DENVER, CO AREA —
Trinity Lutheran Church
http://www.gototrinity.com/
The oldest Lutheran church in the Denver area.
University Hills Lutheran Church
http://www.uhillslutheran.org/
Hope Lutheran Church
http://www.hope-aurora.org/pages/Welcome.html
— WATERLOO, IA AREA —
Faith Lutheran Church
http://tinyurl.com/ck8wab
— SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA —
Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church
http://www.pomonalutheran.org/
Reformation Lutheran Church
http://www.reflutheran.org/
(This is the once exception to the rule, being an ELCA church rather than LCMS. But Pastor Lackey trained under Gerhard Forde and is a fantastic preacher. The service at this church has some contemporary elements but is still liturgical.)
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KNOWS A CHURCH: @Jodi in Hawaii, above:
A childhood friend of mine is an LCMS pastor in Ewa Beach, HI. His name is Pat Poock. (say “Poke”) Church stats are here: http://tinyurl.com/dcl726
Traditional worship, every Sunday Communion. It’s a start. If you talk to Pr. Poock, tell him Jenny from Liberia sent you.
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KNOWS A CHURCH
Southern Ca. Outside Los Angeles in Hacienda Heights
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
http://www.htlcms.org
Pastor Bill Cwirla of Liturgical Gangsta fame.
Southern Ca. South Orange County, Capistrano Beach
Faith Lutheran Church Capo Beach
http://www.faith-lcms.org
Pastor Ron Hodel
I belong to Holy Trinity and have been there 16 years. Have visited Faith numerous times and have many friends there. Both churches are really solid and fine examples of orthodox Lutheranism.
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Knows a church:
For Buck
I’d look at Providence Church (ProvidenceKirk.com); I know the pastor, Virgil Hurt, somewhat and have attended some of their singings. They are more Presbyterian than Baptist, although technically I believe open to either.
I love my church–Dayspring Christian Fellowship in Amherst–and would be happy to take you with us some Sunday. It is not, however, either Calvinist or very strong on exposition. (It’s in the Amish/Mennonite tradition.)
Email me at bonesbrother@yahoo.com
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KNOWS A CHURCH (CANADIAN)
Where: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Tradition: Lutheran (LCC)
Name: St Paul’s Lutheran
Orthodox Lutheran – weekly Holy Communion, no powerpoint /overheads etc., traditional (no band), friendly, Gospel proclaimed weekly, mixed congregation (young / old / locally born / immigrant etc).
http://www.stpaulslutheran.ca
thescylding@gmail.com
For Orthodox bretheren, I can recommend St Vincent of Lerins, Saskatoon (Antiochan).
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Hi Michael,
Maybe this is a competing idea, but I really like the layout of Can I Wear Jeans.
He asks a number of questions about music, preaching, dress code etc, and the responses are divided by country and state.
Mike Bell
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NEEDS A CHURCH:
Louisville, Kentucky area. Currently SBC – it is getting hard to stomach the church politics and rerun sermons!
Need reformed – leaning toward traditional worship.
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KNOWS A CHURCH:
Xenos Christian Fellowship http://www.xenos.org/
Columbus, Ohio and surrounding area
Xenos home groups are a small spiritual community of 10-30 adults meeting every other week (sometimes weekly) in a home for bible study, prayer, making friends, and mutual support.
All home groups are clustered by our larger central bible teachings (Central Teachings or CT) which meet at various times on Sunday (Xenos Main Campus, OSU 4th Street Pavilion, and Westside).
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Knows a Church for the Ogden UT. Area.
Rebecca, It isn’t Baptist, or Nondenom so forgive me. But St Pauls Lutheran is a great congregation. I snagged my wife from there. Pastor is Gary Tricky, and Jason Reitz.
Unless you want to commute to Tooele, where I happen to be. There is a better church here 🙂
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Dear anon.,
I KNOW A CHURCH for you and others looking in the panhandle.
New Hope Baptist in Marianna, FL.
Click on my name for the church’s website.
Been to a lot of churches, but this one is a breath of fresh air.
Reformed, missional (China for 9 years), 100+ members (no “inactive” member list), family-oriented, welcoming, hymn-based worship with worship team, semi-liturgical, made of broken people tired of playing church.
I feel like I’m selling a used car here, but “you have to see it to believe it.”
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KNOWS SOME GOOD CHURCHES
A ton of ’em, actually, all over the world. 1,000 that I’ve been collecting for nearly a decade, based on criteria that the Good Doctor Spencer may or may not approve of in its entirety. From a variety of traditions, house church to high church with all the smells and bells.
The list starts here & is divided by country and then state for the U.S:
http://zoecarnate.com/#globalc
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Knows a church:
Montgomery, AL: Gateway Baptist (SBC but doesn’t feel like it). Very missional, both international and inner-city. I think about 200, but growing. A lot of young families. Multi-cultural for Alabama.
http://www.gatewaybaptist.com/templates/System/default.asp?id=27607
Colorado Springs, CO: Northview Evangelical Free. Unusually theologically sophisticated congregation (about four seminary grads plus two students in a congregation of about 80), but very much a family-like culture. A lot of adoptions, foreign and domestic.
http://www.northviewchurch.org/
Both are straight-forward expository preaching, not a lot of “programs,” praise team-style worship with mix of hymns and praise songs.
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For Randall and Nelson:
KNOWS A CHURCH In Knoxville TN
http://www.cornerstonechurchofknoxville.com/
Part of Sovereign Grace Ministries sovgracemin.org
C. J. recently interviewed the Senior Pastor, find part 1 of 3 here. http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/Blog/post/Meet-Bill-Kittrell-(1).aspx
Contemporary-Reformed-Charismatic.
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NEED A CHURCH
Bakersfield, CA area
Anything that is authentic and preaches the gospel, but NOT the culture wars. No legalism, please, and no nationalism. And somewhere that avoids politics for the most part; it’s not the gospel. No over-the-top attempts at being culturally “relevant.” Not uber-Calvinist, please.
I’m not tied to any particular denomination or tradition. Please, please, something with some depth to the sermons and teaching, an understanding of the nature of God’s Kingdom, the brokenness of believers, the fact that faith is a journey, the necessity of lament, and somewhere that creates opportunities for friendships to develop that ultimately form the basis for community.
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KNOWS a church
Raleigh NC
Reformed, interdenominational, Acts 29 network church.
Conservative theology, culturally liberal. Preaches straight up the sacrifices required to follow Christ and the sovereignty of God, but not judgmental about where you are in your faith walk when you get there.
http://www.vintage21.com
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Anon:
See if the Charismatic Episcopal Church has something in your area. http://www.iccec.org
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Jodi:
Honolulu area has either an Orthodox Presbyterian or Presbyterian Church in America congregation. Can’t remember which. I know via a young married couple (he’s in military) who have recently found this group and who have delighted in their find.
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Houghton:
Rebecca (posted 18Apr 8:55 p.m.) gives good steer. Both Presbyterian Church in America and Orthodox Presbyterian Church churches in Normon, OKC area. One may well fit you.
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Charles –
There’s an Acts 29 church plant in Long Beach, if that’s close to where you are in the South Bay. I haven’t been there, I live in the Valley, but it’s worth looking into.
City Lights Community Church
http://www.citylightschurch.org/
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Need A Church
I am seeking a church patterned after the New Covenant communities of the New Testament. I also would like to fellowship with Christian seeking to live contemplative lives.
We live in Holland, Michigan. We are not into the emerging church movement or modern worship movement. Our background in Reformed and contemplative. We reject infant baptism and classical Reformed covenant theology.
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Need a church or a faith community
Olympia area
I’m looking for a group of Jesus followers who are focused on mercy ministries and/or community outreach, and that are all about really supporting each other and helping each other learn better how to follow Jesus.
Outside of holding to the Nicene Creed, I really don’t care about any of the rest of it – liturgical/contemporary, church building/house, doctrinal/non-denominational, compared with what I’m lookin for it’s not at all important to me.
Dave, if I was in Houston I would definitely check out Peace Community 🙂
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NEEDS A CHURCH
Los Angeles – South Bay
I am a 23 year old, new to the area, looking for a church home. I am looking for Biblical preaching, weekly Bible study, and mission-mindedness (locally & globally).
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NEEDS a church
Dothan AL and related Northern Panhandle of Florida area
evangelical and fairly conservative church (i.e. women pastors, dancing, etc is ok – but must stick to things like that the lifestyle of homosexuality is a sin, must support the idea that abortion is murder)
in a liturgical tradition (and none of these that push their only liturgical service to early in the morning at the same time as all the young people groups because they assume the young people want the contemporary service) oh and great music is a plus
Biblical Preaching
(and hopefully a very welcoming church)
I currently go to a church that hits the nail on the head except for that it is not a liturgical kind of church (which is why I put anon. because I don’t want to diss my current church – because it is full of lovely people who are doing the will of God – I just would like to find someplace to fullfill my liturgical bent – even if only in combination with my current church (i.e. one close enough to go to for special occasions in the liturgical year or whatever)
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http://www.ecclesiadenver.org
Downtown Denver, CO
10 month Old Church plant. 40 people from 10 days old to 50’s.
About a third of the church is in seminary or a seminary graduate (one professor of NT).
Big on community, interactive teaching time, ancient/future liturgy, and serving the city.
Eglatarian. Interested in the whole body’s input in decision making.
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Knows a church
St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Cicero, IL (near West burbs)
http://www.stgeorgecicero.org/main/about.aspx
Multi-ethnic, mostly Middle Eastern Orthodox Christian Church. Kind of pan-Orthodox because it has Greeks, American converts, and a few others. Straight up Orthodoxy.
It also has 2 sister churches (church plants?): Holy Transfiguration in Warrenville (http://htaoc.com/), and All Saints (http://www.allsaintsorthodox.org/) on Chicago’s North Side which are churches populated with more American converts.
Yes, I know, I’m Jewish, but this church is near my home and I did make a journey of faith that involved a few branches of Christianity.
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To Aaron Schmidt:
KNOWS a church
Emmaus – http://www.emmausspringfield.com
Non-denominational 2-year-old church plant (plant of an SBC church actually). Meets in a downtown reception facility, missions/outreach oriented, contemporary. We’d love to have you.
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Re: previous post
i forgot to insert that this is in hawaii. Aloha..and mahalo:)
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NEEDS a church
Honolulu area (island of Oahu)
there are a million seeker sensitive and word faith churches like the one i just left so please please please if you can refer a reformed, or confessional lutheran church i’d appreciate it.
thanks,Jodi
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KNOWS a church
Francesville and Medaryville, IN
Small town, farm community Methodist Church.
Pastor Susan Jennys preaches and teaches from Scripture. Our two congregations are mostly senior citizens – which is a good thing. These are good people who bend over backward to help you grow.
Even date Sundays in Francesville, Odd date Sundays in Medaryville. Worship starts at 10 eastern.
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NEEDS A CHURCH
AREA: Lynchburg, Virginia
TRADITION: Baptist/Independent Bible church with Calvinistic theology and an emphasis on expositional preaching and local evangelism.
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To Alex in Atlanta:
You should visit Trinity Vineyard at least once: http://www.trinityvineyard.org/
Not your typical Vineyard, multi-ethnic congregation and very cool outreach into the City. They use Godly Play for the children, if you have babies. Very Gospel-centric and vibrant church.
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Dave (in NW Ohio),
I’ve been meeting with Vineyard Columbus for awhile, and have been helped and refreshed there. But it is a megachurch, and contains some elements that you might consider a negative. I thought that way myself, but it has grown on me and now I appreciate their ways of reaching out to the community. Their worship style is enlivening, and their messages are solidly Bible-based and not sugar-coated.
You are probably more than an hour away, but it might be worth it to make an excursion to Columbus (Westerville, actually) and see for yourself. If you like what you see (or even if you don’t), there are Vineyard churches near where you live, in Toledo, Findlay, and Bowling Green. But I have not been to any of them so I can’t recommend them firsthand. The Vineyard churches are somewhat autonomous, so their style differs from place to place (something I really appreciate about them).
Website: http://www.vineyardcolumbus.com
Locations of Vineyard churches in Ohio: http://www.vineyardusa.org/site/about/churchfinder/?searchTerm=Ohio
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NEEDS A CHURCH
Area: In or around Mayport, FL. Willing to venture into Jacksonville / surrounding areas. I’ll likely be moving to this area, but I’m in the military and don’t have orders quite yet. This move would likely happen around the end of this year.
Background is mixed, but strongly nostalgic of EFCA and non-nostalgic of SBC. I understand that there are two EFCA churches in the area, but I’m willing to look around. My theology is classical Arminian at this point. Currently age 25; definitely hoping for a good 20-30 yr old group to hang with and not feel like “the kid with a guitar.”
—
KNOWS A GREAT CHURCH in northern Tucson, AZ if anybody’s interested: http://www.journeyefc.org/
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Justin –
If you live near the U of M, this church is not too far away. It was my home church when I lived in Memphis.
Lifelink Church
http://www.lifelinkmemphis.org
1015 South Cooper
I know the leadership well – three of my closest friends on the planet. Great community, has many young adults. It’s a more relaxed expression of church but meet in an older, more traditional looking building.
Hope this helps.
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1) NEEDS A CHURCH
Justin, Memphis, Tennessee area. I’ve grown up in a Nazarene church and have moved away from that and am looking for a small group or church plant to get into. Somewhere that focuses on community and getting to know its members, college age is preferred, but not demanded. I go to school in the area and do not have access to a car, and I have tried church hopping with friends, only to come up empty each week.
Thanks to anyone who can help.
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Jenn,
Glad to see a fellow Philadelphian on here! I checked out your site and saw that the most recent review was for mine.
Knows a church:
Circle of Hope
Philadelphia/Camden (3 congregations)
http://www.circleofhope.net
Affiliation: Brethren in Christ
Definitely a church that thrives on the concept of small groups and emphasizes community. Demographically, we are mostly college students and young families. I church-hopped for a long time before settling here and have really enjoyed it!
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KNOWS a Church
South OKC / Moore
Capitol Hill Baptist
304 S.W. 134th St.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73170
http://www.chbchurch.org/
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Knows a Church
An addendum to my last post responding to the request for a church in the Jonesboro or Searcy, AR area:
The pastor in this video, Don Johnson pastors Grace Baptist Church in Batesville, which I just realized is in the same general area of the state. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SGBBKi7NTY
I’ve had the privilege of sitting under his preaching several times. He is a tremendously powerful Calvinistic Baptist preacher and anything but typical SBC. I don’t have a link or email address for him or the church, but if you are interested in learning more, you can contact me at pilgrim1973@gmail.com and I’m sure I can get it for you if interested.
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KNOWS A CHURCH
I cannot vouch for it personally, but I am aware of a Calvinistic Baptist church in Searcy, AR and have had a little online interaction with the pastor:
http://www.gechurch.org/
It is listed on the Founders site. The following church is as well: http://www.ifellowship.org/
I am personally acquainted with a pastor in Conway although from the request for Searcy or Jonesboro it sounds like that may be a bit too far.
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I started a blog called Philadelphia Church Review when I was looking for a church in the Philly/South Jersey area. I reviewed several churches.
http://philadelphiachurchreview.blogspot.com
I attend an awesome church in West Philadelphia. Email me for more info.
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To Dave
KNOWS A CHURCH
Toledo, Ohio
Providence Reformed Baptist Church
I’d be there if I still lived there…
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Alex –
St. John the Wonderworker Orthodox Church
just off Grant Park
543 Cherokee
Mapquest it….
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People: Leave a working email address or web link or this is useless info.
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KNOWS A CHURCH in Northern NJ for any wandering Korean-Americans, lol
New Jersey Central Church in South Hackensack, NJ, right by the Hackensack police station; located in rented Episcopalian Church.
Very small church mainly full of elderly Koreans, but has vibrant Young Adult and College Ministry and Youth Group. Sermons are not “amazing” but definitely Christ centered. Main strong point about this church is it’s intimate community for its young adults and teenagers; it really is like a family and is truly Christ centered! Full of Calvinists and Arminians (theological discussions about predestination are common…lol)
Service starts at 1pm on Sundays. And yes, I do attend this church (look for me when you come! lol)
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NEED A CHURCH:
In Atlanta, GA. I noticed the one mentioned above, but what is the name and where is it located? Does it have a website? Otherwise, I’m all ears. I’ve been Catholic, nondenominational and Presbyterian (PCA), but haven’t attended church in 8 years.
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NEED A CHURCH:
In the Searcy, Arkansas, or Jonesboro, Arkansas area-reformed, or just good solid Bible teaching, family centered, the opposite of traditional SBC.
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KNOWS a church. Norman, OK. Christ the King, PCA. It is a good church, with a very caring pastor and elders – very good Bible teaching and training and good community. I attended there for years before moving away and I miss it greatly. ctknorman.org is the website, for more info.
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I’m in the Dallas, TX area and was successful in finding a great church through Mark Dever’s 9Marks website. Through the church search function we found our church home, which is a traditional Calvinist Baptist church in McKinney, TX. Wonderful exegetical preaching which is feeding these dead bones after years of the topical Mega-Church madness.
Here’s the link to 9Marks: http://churchsearch2.9marks.org/
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NEEDS A CHURCH
Carson City, Reno Nevada area.
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NEEDS A CHURCH
Knoxville, TN
SBC background (doesn’t have to be SBC church), need a church that faithfully preaches God’s word. Looking for church that does not “wear the same pair of pants” as any political party. Prefer more contemporary worship/preaching style. Looking for quality Sunday schools/libraries. Having a quality graduate/professional ministry a plus.
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iMonk,
I don’t know if there’s a Sovereign Grace Ministries church nearby, but I’m going to try to find out! Thanks for the tip.
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NEEDS A CHURCH
Stephanie, Greensboro area, NC.
a bible-based missional fellowship. Been SBC all my life, looking to get away from the SB’s for a season. No “mega” churches either.
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Church Needed.
I desperately NEED a good church in northwestern Ohio. I live about 90 miles south of Toledo and about 60 miles from Fort Wayne, IN. I live fairly close to Lima and Findlay, which are both on I-75.
Currently we are attending a seeker-sensitive-purpose-driven-marriage-relationships-finances – oh so culturally aware and relevant church complete with the kickin’ praise band. We are at this church only b/c we fled our previous church when the prophets and apostles moved in. (out of the frying pan and into the fire? or maybe the other way?) We get very little substantive content beyond felt needs, so I’m a “self-feeder” with my Treasury of Daily Prayer and sermon podcasts (thanks Cwirla, Chandler and many others)
WANTED: Sound biblical teaching and the Gospel! – every week. I grew up LCMS and would be happy there, but not sure my wife would. I appreciate liturgy and hymns. I’m not against contemporary worship as long as it isn’t shallow.
DON’T WANT: law-based, how-to, sermons based on TV shows, multimedia sensory overload, rock concert atmosphere.
Please someone – respond quickly! Or tomorrow I will have to sit through a sermon on fear based on UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship). Or is this Sunday “Texting Your Questions to God” ? I can’t remember. Does it matter? – probably not. If only I was joking . . . .
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Know A Church
Rockingham Friends Meeting
Harrisonburg, VA
Ohio Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Conservative/Christian Worship)
Anyone who’s ever taken the What’s Your Religion quiz on Beliefnet and come up Orthodox Quaker – these are your people.
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Houghton: Is there a Sovereign Grace Ministries church plant near you?
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Knows a church
Peace Community Church
NW Houston, Bear Creek area
Small, warm church in the Reformed tradition.
We are always saying to each other: “Do we have a sign on the highway that says, ‘If you’re a little strange, a little confused, a little (or a lot) broken, come on down!'”
We are learning together to be apprentices of Jesus.
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NEEDS a church
South Oklahoma City & Norman, OK
What we’re looking for: Something with a “mere orthodoxy” focus, respect for tradition, and a healthy balance of essential doctrine, Scripture and serious spiritual formation for new Christians.
What we DON’T want: Sorry to include this last bit, but having been recently exposed to so-called “prophetic evangelism,” “apostolic revival” and so on, my wife and I want to avoid neo-Pentecostalism. We’re not cessationists, per se, but neither do we embrace the extremes that have recently manifested in the charismatic movement.
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Needs a church
Rob
Tyler, Texas
Authenticity, no praise band
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Needs a church
Ogden, Ut area
I’ve attended both a non-denominational and a SBC church in the past.
Thanks
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needs a church
Springfield, MO area
from SBC tradition, but looking for something less restrictive. (I have pacifist/Yoder/E.P. Sanders leanings)
Blended or contemporary worship styles would be fine.
Thanks!
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knows a church
Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church
Madison, WI
Large church – +- 3,400
multiple services at one time (separate “styles” in each, same sermon by live feed, different worship teams)
Best preaching Pastor I have ever heard in person, Chris Dolson, Dallas grad, Gordon Conwell Grad
http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/
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Knows a church.
Baltimore, Md area.
The Garden Community of Baltimore is a new church plant that is pursuing reconciliation and restoration in this city. We are a diverse crowd that is knitting ourselves into the fabric of this community through serving (we will be repainting the local school this summer at no cost to the city), and authentic community.
http://www.thegardenbaltimore.com
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KNOWS A CHURCH
Tradition: PCA (newer church plant meeting in rented theatre in arts district of town)
Location: Charlotte, NC
Congregation Size: 200-300
Communion partaken weekly, with real bread and wine, a huge plus and uncommon for PCA churches.
Diversity: mix of whites and African-Americans, and a degree of other racial groups present. Heavily leaning towards 25-40 yr olds but all ages present.
Music: Incredibly, incredibly good and intentional in its style. Very urban, jazz tinged and r & b influenced, but focusing on mostly rich hymn texts that have been adapted.
Preaching: Very culturally aware and relevant, with a very loose expository style. Typical in length, but a bit “dressed down” and user friendly than typical PCA fare, fairly in line with the more ‘missional’ outlook of the church.
Evangelistic Zeal: 6 out of 10: Active mercy mninistries,
Involvement with Youth: 5 out of 10: An active youth group and regular activities, especially for a young and small-ish church.
Adult sunday school classes focus largely on biblical/cultural issues, rather than typical devotional formats, good quality children;s classes as well.
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Surfnetter:
Just go to any local RC hospital chapel. You will get the abbreviated, fast-talking priest mass. You will be out in 30 minutes.
Not a drive-through but hey, a 30 minute obligation met is worth the parking and walking in.
Peace
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KNOWS A CHURCH:
Location: Thornton (north part of Denver, Colorado
Name: Village Baptist Church
Information: Baptist General Conference, Calvinistic, but others welcome. Excellent preaching and teaching. Congregation of about 150.
Worship would have been modern twenty years ago, has some more modern songs and some hymns.
High School and Middle School on Sundays and during the week and younger groups on Sundays. Adult classes as well and some mid-week groups.
Demographics: Mostly white, lot of Hispanics, some Asians and Blacks. Majority of people in 40-60 range.
Very friendly and caring church.
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Randall
Needs a Church.
Knoxville,TN area.
Traditional
Have SBC background though not necessarily looking to go to another SBC church – considering other denoms or non-denoms but want traditional approach.
Might consider blended but with a nod toward (lean toward) traditional.
Thanks much!
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I think this is actually a better way of finding a church than many. You would actually know one person with whom you had something in common to begin a good conversation. Hope this goes well. I will continue to check back if anyone in my area requests a “good church”
(You’re a brave man for turning off the moderation on this one, Imonk.)
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Michael,
Might be a good idea to restrict comments to needs and those “knows” which are a direct response to needs.
Mike
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NEEDS A CHURCH
northern Baltimore area
peace church tradition
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KNOWS A CHURCH
Christchurch Anglican
http://christchurchxp.net
Montgomery, AL
Conservative, evangelical Anglican church of about 300 or so (Sunday attendance). Are part of the Anglican Communion Network which is comprised of churches that have left the Episcopal Church USA due to the heterodox teachings and practice of the national denomination. Currently meeting downtown at Dexter Ave. United Methodist but building a new facility (scheduled to move in Summer 2010).
–Started in 2005
–Excellent teaching.
–Traditional worship with mostly Anglican hymns but sometimes includes Taize chants.
–Mixed age congregation
–Under the leadership of the Anglican Church in Uganda
–Almost an all white congregation, but has outreaches and programs working with inner-city children as well as cooperative efforts with Dexter Ave UMC, which is a multi-ethnic congregation.
–Seems to have a pretty active youth group
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KNOWS A CHURCH:
Apostolic Christian Church
Livonia, MI (and others, see http://www.apostolicchristian.org/ for more locations)
– Lay ministers deliver sermons that are based solely on Bible reading as inspired by the Holy Spirit
– The congregation participates through unaccompanied congregational song worship and in leading group prayers
– A typical Sunday includes two hours of worship separated by a noon lunch hour, which is prepared by church families on a rotating basis
– Congregation is made up of a full range of ages: an active young group (high school –> college), several young and growing families, and elderly members who reside in a nearby church-run nursing home
– Strong church-to-church connections through the United States and the world
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Knows a church:
Grace Community Church (PCA)
Mobile, Al
*9 year old church plant
*multicultural with a heart for the impoverished area we serve- tutoring, basketball camps, VBS, etc.
*strong ties with Campus Outreach at Univ of South Alabama
*relative young average age- many young families and lots of children
*elder led
*sound teaching in all areas
*not program driven
*church website http://www.gracemobile.org
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In St. Louis area there are many :
The Journey – New City Fellowship – St. Louis Family Church – Southgate (formerly Victory Fellowship)The Gateway house of Prayer.
And many more but I agree with Michael The Church shopping is to easy and weakens our walk.
By the way I don’t go to nor have I been to many of the churches listed above only the house of prayer.
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KNOWS A CHURCH
Tradition: Eastern Orthodox
Location: Atlanta Area (Central)
Congregation Size: 200
Ethnicity: White American, Countercultural
Diversity: 3 out of 10: Some African American, some traditional Orthodox ethnicities (Arab, Russian), some Hispanic
Preaching: 8 out of 10: Long sermons for an Orthodox Church. 1 priest, 2 deacons, 2 catechists, all preach
Evangelistic Zeal: 6 out of 10: Active mercy mninistries, school, always several catechumens, but no visitation program or missionary activity
Involvement with Youth: 5 out of 10: Many young families, but few programs for youth
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Michael – I would see this more as trying to help people where they are. No, looking for a church via a blog is probably not a good idea. But if that’s where people are looking, that may be the only place to help them!
In e-mail I receive, often requesting help with problems, a key indicator of trouble is that the person has no local fellowship. The odds of getting help from someone over the internet are poor, but perhaps that’s the one chance they’ll have to get connect.
Thus I’m going to link to this post from my blog on the assumption that the more people get connected to a local community, the better!
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