During the summer, many pastors take vacation, get refreshed and visit other churches to see what other congregations are doing. This summer, my mom and I decided to do the same. Sometimes you just need to get out of your comfort zone and experience new things. When I was young, I went to my mom and dad's church. Then I worked at a Christian school and attended that church but thoughout my whole life, I've never really looked into finding a church based on the type of church, the style or the people. I've loved all the churches I've attended, that is not my point but I've never visited other churches to see what others are doing.
This summer I asked my mom to join me in doing a "traveling church". We would not go to a church more than once and we would go in with an open mind and see what God was doing throughout our Christian friends. What a neat experience. Obviously some churches we enjoyed more than others but, as I have always believed, the church is not as important as the relationship with Christ so style and format is all in what a person enjoys as long as the church is teaching the true word of God. Not only did I get to experience so many different churches and styles but, as a Christian, I grew a lot as well. No church is perfect but there were some things that I enjoyed more than others. 1. Welcoming New Visitors - Wow...what a wide range of differences between churches. This is a huge part of making a new person feel welcome. Luckily, with my experience, I'm not nervous about going to church, what I'm going to experience or will I fit in. But for someone going to church for the first time or returning after wandering away for awhile, this is a very important ministry of the church for those hurting people. One church I went to I received the bulletin and asked where the bathroom was. The nice lady walked me to the restroom and that was the end of it. That was such a HUGE flag "I'm new...I'm new" because I didn't know where the bathroom was and she didn't capitialize on the opportunity. I would understand in a big church not noticing someone visiting but in a small church, it is pretty apparent who isn't a regular attender. Some of the churches were so good at welcoming you and getting to know you. Other churches, we sat from beginning to the end with no one welcoming us or even saying hello. Can I say I've also been guilty of this? This is something I realized that I do not do and need to work at when I see someone I don't recognize. What a difference it makes in that persons experience. The best "welcoming" church I found had people holding open the church doors, welcoming you and giving you a bulletin. Now most churches do this but it was the next thing that made all the difference in the world. As you entered the door, not even 5 feet from the door was a welcoming table. It "screamed"...you need to come here next. You didn't feel like you could go left or right. Your next stop WAS this table. At the table was the nicest lady and she asked if we were new because she was familar with her congregation. Score! She automatically nailed who was new before they got 5 feet in the door. Everyone at the church put on a "Hello, my name is..." tag so she gave us a name tag to fill out, a church mug as a welcoming gift and made us feel like we were family. As we went into church everyone we met called us by name (because they could see it) and they were so interested in getting to know us. The churches I've gone to in my life have been big churches. Can I tell you how many times I've talked with someone for WEEKS, maybe even months and I still didn't know or remembered their name? How embarrassing is it after you have talked with them for 3 months saying, "I'm sorry, what was your name again". I loved that everyone wore name tags because with my mind getting older, it would be nice to have the reminder each week. 2. Music - This is one of my favorite things about church. Music does such an amazing thing to the soul. It quiets the soul, speaks to the soul and comforts the soul. During worship it is a time for me to speak to God and reflect on my time with Him. I enjoy the hymns as well as the contemporary music. I found through this experiment that I don't enjoy just hymns and I don't just enjoy contemporary songs. I truly enjoy a mix of both. Hymns bring tradition and the words are so well thoughtout and meaningful. However, contemporary music allows me time to really worship and quiet my thoughts of speaking to God without worrying so much about what word is next in the song. Next is the level of music, I do like the upbeat songs loud enough that you rejoice and celebrate. However, it seems more and more churches are getting louder and louder with music. It is important to keep a balance, not only based on taste but also taking in consideration of the needs of others. The older generation does not enjoy it as loud and I believe it is not good for young children's hearing (as well as all of us, probably). I don't want to fall asleep during worship but I also don't want to be at a rock concert. In our "traveling church", I found the churches that kept their instruments simple, tended to have the better balance of volume. 3. Tithing - My mother-in-law told me a story a long time ago about tithing. My husband's family is huge, nine kids. Money was not a luxury for them. However, my mother-in-law said that one day she was convicted to tithe like the bible said. Not because of what a pastor said or out of guilt but because it is what God instructs. She said she couldn't do the full amount at first but she worked her way up to tithing her full 10%. She said it was difficult but once she got to her 10% she was shocked. All of the sudden she got to the end of the month and her bills were all paid. More money was not being brought in. It was still the same Army paycheck but for some reason she could make ends meet...every time. She stepped out in faith that God would provide and He showed her He would. When she told me this story, I decided to try it myself. Gil and I were eating off of $25 a week for food when we first got married. Money was tight and we did everything thing we could to cover our cost. I didn't tithe the full amount, but I worked my way up to it over time. And, just like my mother-in-law, God provided everything. In fact, He started blessing us in so many ways. It was so amazing to watch. Now, I love to tithe! Gil and I make good money and when I look at it from a "worldview", I sometimes catch myself saying "Wow, it I didn't tithe that money, I could..." but then I'm reminded about the blessings God has given me throughout the years and it far exceeds that monentary amount. I can't wait...I really mean, can't wait to give my money to the Lord each week. Well, during this traveling church, I wanted to make sure I wasn't spending God's money. So I would take my check to each church willing to support their ministry. To my surprise about 50% of them do not pass around a collection plate. Most of the time I walked out without tithing because I completely forgot. I would be tied up in discussing the sermon or the music and completely forget that an offering was never collected. Many just have a box in the back of the room for you to deposit on your way out. I get it. They are not making it a focal point and leaving it between you and God. But there is something about praying over the collection and offering it to the Lord. I would literally be disappointed that I wasn't able to give once I realized I'd forgotten. 4. Fellowship with Family - So a "traveling church" is fun on a short term bases but we are not only called to worship God but mingle with other Christians for support and fellowship. I hear some say "I don't need to go to church". You can worship God with music and studying your bible in your private home but what would your family be like if you only talked with your dad but you shut out the rest of your family and never developed a relationship with your brothers or sisters, your aunts and uncles, etc. Family is everything! I tell my kids all the time "Family is everything. When everyone else leaves you, your family is always there." The same is true with your Christian family. Family is everything and you need to develop those relationships with your brothers and sisters, your "aunts" and "uncles" within your church family too. So although I've loved traveling and seeing what is out there, it is soon time to settle back down and find that place that I belong. I learned so much about other churches and I believe it has not only shown me what other Christians are doing but it showed me how I can be a better Christian, especially to new people coming into God's house. I'm praying that God will settle my heart and help me find that place I belong. Like I said at the beginning, the church does not define my relationship with God but I do have to go to a church that fits my personality and perferences. No church is perfect, in fact, if it is I don't want to go there because Lord knows, I'm not perfect. So I will continue to look to the Lord to reveal to me where I should settle down at. May God bless you in your journal as well.
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We crammed as much as we possibly could while our kids were young. Sometimes we couldn't afford it, sometimes it was a little irresponsible but it was always a lot of fun. I'm not sad because we have great memories. You can't ever go back and have a "redo" and I believe we did it the best we could. Now it is a time for Gil and I to make new memories and in a few years, I'm sure another "new season" will come when the boys hit another phase of their lives that we will become a big part of. Make the best of today...no one is guaranteed tomorrow. How can I make today special?We cram_med as much as we possibly could while our kids were young. Sometimes we couldn't afford it, sometimes it was a little irresponsible but it was always a lot of fun. I'm not sad because we have great memories. You can't ever go back and have a "redo" and I believe we did it the best we could. Now it is a time for Gil and I to make new memories and in a few years, I'm sure another "new season" will come when the boys hit another phase of their lives that we will become a big part of. Make the best of today...no one is guaranteed tomorrow. How can I make today special? :-)
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