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SEPT, 28, 2011

“WHEN YOU’RE VISITING CHURCHES, YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR...”, PART 2, HOW TO SHOP FOR A NEW CHURCH
“HMN, LET’S SEE…” I LOOKED UP AND DOWN THE AISLES WHILE FEVERISHLY GLANCING AT MY LIST, “I GOT THE EGGS, BUTTER, CHEESE, MILK, WATER, BREAD, WHAT ELSE AM I MISSING?” I KNEW THAT I WOULD CATCH UP FROM MY WIFE IF I FORGOT ANYTHING SHE WROTE DOWN FOR ME. QUICKLY I DROVE MY SHOPPING CART FULL OF ITEMS BETWEEN THE OTHER SHOPPERS, MEANDERING UP AND DOWN THE AISLES. “NOW WHERE WOULD I FIND THE YOGURT ANYWAY?”

“I  ALWAYS FELT LOST AND TOTALLY CONFUSED EVERY TIME I SHOPPED IN A UNFAMILIAR STORE. I’D BECOME DISORIENTED WITH THE DIFFERENT SIGHTS, SOUNDS, AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE SCRAMBLING AROUND LIKE RATS ON A KITCHEN FLOOR, LOOKING FOR A PIECE OF FOOD. I’D FEEL SO RELIEVED WHEN THE ENTIRE ORDEAL WITH COMPLETED AND STARTED DRIVING AWAY. BUT ONE NAGGING THOUGHT ALWAYS HAUNTED ME. “I HOPE I HAVEN’T FORGOTTEN SOMETHING IMPORTANT.”

ISN’T THAT HOW IT FEELS WHERE YOU VISIT A CHURCH FOR THE FIRST TIME? NO MATTER HOW WELL YOU’VE SCOUTED OUT THE PLACE, NO MATTER HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU’VE TALKED TO AT THE NEW CHURCH BEFORE VISITING IT. NO MATTER HOW CONFIDENT YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR DECISION TO MOVE TO A NEW SANCTUARY, YOU CAN’T HELP BUT GET A BIT NERVOUS IN MY STOMACH WHEN YOU FINALLY GO THERE.

I’VE PROBABLY VISITED CLOSE TO SEVENTY CHURCHES IN MY LIFETIME, MAYBE MORE. MANY OF THEM I ATTENDED BECAUSE A CONFERENCE OR RETREAT WAS THERE. MOST TIMES I WAS A GUEST OF SOMEONE WHO HAD VISITED MY CHURCH, AND THEY INVITED ME TO SEE WHERE THEY WORSHIPPED. THERE WERE PLENTY OF TIMES I WAS PART OF A MINISTRY TEAM AND WE WERE THERE TO MINISTER TO THE CONGREGATION OR SPECIFIC AUDIENCE.

VISITING A NEW CONGREGATION CAN FEEL A LOT LIKE GOING ON A BLIND DATE. YOU’RE EXCITED AND A BIT ANXIOUS, BUT YOU DON’T REALLY KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT. YOU’RE REALLY HOPING IT GOES WELL. IF IT DOESN’T AND THINGS GET UGLY, YOU QUICKLY SCRAMBLE FOR THE NEAREST EXIT SIGN, VOWING YOU’LL NEVER DO THAT AGAIN!

 BEFORE WE GET INTO THE DETAILS, I’VE SOME QUESTIONS TO ASK FIRST. I’D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT FEELINGS AND THINGS YOU EXPERIENCED WHEN YOU DECIDED TO VISIT ANOTHER CHURCH HOME. I’D LIKE TO KNOW WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO LEAVE, AND WHAT THINGS YOU’RE EXPECTING TO FIND AT YOUR NEW LOCATION.

YOU CAN EMAIL ME WITH YOUR COMMENTS AT ARCEASER3RD@GMAIL.COM

NEXT TIME, WE’LL GET RIGHT INTO IT, WHAT IS AND WHAT MAKES A HEALTHY CHURCH…AND MAYBE I’LL SHARE SOME OF MY EXPERIENCES AS WELL.

AL

Comments

  1. Kathi MaciasSeptember 29, 2011 at 1:00 PM

    Good thought-provoking post. I'll be interested to see the responses. For myself, I've only changed churches when I moved to a different geographical location.

    ReplyDelete

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