Help, I’ve Moved and Want to Find a Church!

We’re a mobile society. Job opportunity comes up – we move. Fall in love – we move. Tired of cold weather – we move. With that movement comes disconnection anxiety from where we were, and re-connection anxiety from where we are. We miss where we were comfortable shopping, playing, and worshiping. We have trouble finding a store, a health club, and a church that we like.

Here’s how you can take one of those worries off your anxiety list – use the Web to find churches that fit your unique interests and needs. Unless you’ve moved to the depths of a tropical jungle or a polar cap, you probably have Internet access. The Web is the quickest and easiest starting point for your church search journey.

Websites have become churches’ main travel brochures. Churches are savvier about capturing online searchers because they’re no longer tied to serving the needs of a specific community. The trick is to limit your choices using online information, so you’re not sucked into the glossy hype going nowhere.  

During your search, you’ll run into a lot of opportunities for side trips and detours. The best way to navigate around them is to understand the general locale. Several Website landmarks provide us reference points so we don’t get lost or sidetracked. Keep these landmarks within sight while you search:

•  Big Beautiful Waterfalls. Be wary of “the slick click.” Just as we rely on Websites to provide us a first impression about a church, many churches enhance their Websites to give you only the BEST first impression. Get real -- no church has perfectly groomed people experiencing perfect moments in time.

• The One-Stop Shop. No church can do everything for everyone, and don’t let them try to convince you they can. But every church can do something with excellence for someone. Every Website’s primary theme showcases the church’s best ministries. Identify the church’s theme by what takes up the most space on their Website and see if it’s meaningful to you.

• Local Flavor. Church Websites vary significantly in style, content, and approach – who doesn’t? Even denominational churches vary in their own Website designs and content. Remember, the basic Christian beliefs about the Trinity, the Sacraments, and the Bible may be expressed differently at the local level. Look at variations in the “denomination standard” to pick up on local practices and beliefs.

• Bright Lights, Big Cities. The extent of Website sophistication tends to be an indication of a church’s location and size. Larger churches located in highly competitive urban/suburban markets make the most of their Websites. Their language invites outsiders and they offer more multi-media options (streamed services, podcasts, video tours, etc.) to connect with Website visitors.

• Small town comfort. Churches serving as “the last rest stop for the next 100 miles” and smaller congregations tend to use Websites differently. These Websites usually emphasize the congregation’s personality and people, cultural beliefs, values, and ministries. Or, they project the church’s main defining feature – which is often their “family” environment.

• The Franchise. With a few exceptions, Roman Catholic and Orthodox Church Websites are function-based, and may sport a franchise feel. A Big Mac is a Big Mac wherever you find it! These Websites assume people already know the church’s doctrines and practices. The sites advocate, promote, and support the traditional practices of the faith. The Website is a tool primarily to present information regarding the local parish, the regional diocese, or the larger denomination.

Finding the right church in your new location doesn’t have to be a struggle and a worry. By doing a little pre-planning, some careful thinking about what’s most important for you, and some simple Website searching, you’ll find the “right” church for you in no time.

How to Choose a Church offers more online searching tips and strategies for church searching. I pray you continue to seek God’s voice and guidance in your search for a new church home. Read more about it on my Website at www.thechurchguide.net.