7 Steps To Finding A Local Church After A Move

Last year, I moved to a new city at the beginning of the pandemic and finding a home church was at the top of my list. In previous cities where I had lived in, there were a plethora of options to choose from. However, with the pandemic and my new city, I soon discovered that it can be difficult and time-consuming finding a real-life community.

You may ask, “Why find a church?”. The church is a great place for believers to connect and build meaningful relationships. We were not designed to do life alone which is why God instituted the church. Although the church is not a building but God’s way of bringing together his body in unity. As such, it is important to physically gather for: fellowship with the brethren (Hebrews 10:23-25), spiritual growth and accountability (Luke 17:3, Thessalonians 5:11, James 5:16, Galatians 6:1-5), stewardship (1 Peter 4:10), discipleship (2 Timothy 2:1-2) encouragement and support (Ephesians 2:19, 4:13, 29, Romans 15:14), ministry and evangelism (1 Timothy 5:16) among many others.

So, if you just moved to a new city or new town like me and you need to find a community of believers, here are some practical steps to finding one:

Choose Based Off Your Season

I have been consistently attending an online church for close to a year which has greatly been a blessing. About two weeks ago, my mom sent me a sermon and it resonated with me. That same week, I visited my friend who also played the live Sunday service from that same church. The next Sunday, while alone, I felt an urge to tune in to the service but my sense of loyalty would not let me.

Thankfully, I have learned that God speaks to me through tiny nudges and promptings from friends and family who do not even know that God is speaking to me in a certain area. As I contemplated attending the service online, I received a text on a group chat from my friend asking to join the service that the message was for me.

While this may not be permanent, I certainly believe that in my season of waiting, this is where I should be.

Use Google

Google is a great tool for searching for churches near your location. In addition, reviews on Google can be very helpful in giving you a feel about the church. Reviews can also be biased so take it with a pinch of salt. Google is a very vital tool for coming up with a list of churches to visit.

Visit The Church’s Website

In Amos 3, the bibles says, “can two work together except they be agreed” (verse 3). In order to ascertain that we are aligned foundational, I would typically visit the church’s website to find out the following:

1. Doctrine: Before joining a church, you need to determine if your doctrinal beliefs align with the church. Usually, you can find it on the website as “what we believe” or “statement of faith”. Does the church believe in God the father, God the son, God the Holy Spirit? Does the church believe in the resurrection and baptism? etc
2. Denomination: There are several denominations within the body of Christ, including: Catholic, Pentecostal/Charismatic, Baptist, Anglican, Non-denominational, Inter-denominational. I was raised in a pentecostal church but I have an inclination towards non-denominational and inter-denominational churches.
3. Proximity to your location: After finding a church, I was unable to attend as it was quite a distance from my apartment. Determine what your ideal travel distance to church is and find churches within your limit.

Ask Family and Friends

It was very easy finding a church while I was doing my graduate studies as a friend had suggested one to me. I also found a Nigerian church after meeting a few Nigerians during orientation, but I decided to attend a non-denominational church.

A quick way of finding a church home is by asking people who have lived in the city before you. After moving, I asked Christians that I came across what church they attended. I found one through this method but it was a distance from my apartment. However, it proved to be efficient.

Church Hop (Visit Different Local Churches)

Sometimes, you wouldn’t know until you try. After my move, I attended a church where as I made my way to the front of the church, I said, “hello” to members gathered at the door but no one responded back. I slipped behind the section for parents and children and during the service, the pastor made a call for the congregation to turn around and welcome someone to church. No one extended a hand of welcome to me.

In their defense, I sat in the section for family and children and I also believe that is an area that the church needs to grow in as the Pastor addressed the congregation that day about opening up their doors to outsiders. As I made it out of service, I bade the usher goodbye but never got a response.

I knew that wasn’t the place for me just by attending because I did not feel welcomed or at home. So, here are a few questions to ask after attending a new church:

1. Is the church welcoming?
2. Is the church involved in missions and evangelism?
3. Does the teachings of the church align with the Bible?
4. Is this where God wants me to be?
5. Are there opportunities for stewardship?
6. Is there a sense of community?
7. Are there testimonies of transformation?
8. Is there and opportunity for discipleship?

The goal of visiting different churches is to find a home church to settle in. I believe it is okay to church hop with an end goal in mind. You may not find the right church from the get go and do not feel obligated to remain in a church because you attended its service. However, the goal is to find a church family and settle.

Use an App

There are apps that you can use to make godly friends. One app that has been useful for me is the “United Young” app. Ask questions and connect with people who have lived in the city before you.

Be Led by the Spirit

Ask God to lead you to direct your steps. In 1 John 4:1 we have been instructed to, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” One of the ways that you can test the spirit, is by weighing the teachings and beliefs against the word of God and by the spirit of God. The Lord knows them that are his (2 Timothy 2:19-21).