https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 20 May 2026 23:24:48 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1586705 Wed, 23 Apr 2014 14:36:23 +0000 citymouse 1586705@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@redsmarties: Not to thread jack, but I LOVE Orange and am so sad I cannot go this year. Im hoping to tune into their live stream when I can! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1586562 Wed, 23 Apr 2014 14:03:55 +0000 mrsrain 1586562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsMcD: @pinkcupcake: No doubt it will still be hard (maybe even harder), but I have a feeling having our baby with us will change our perspective and add to what we are looking for. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1584542 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 18:22:31 +0000 pinkcupcake 1584542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@redsmarties: @chopsuey thank you!</p> <p>@mamimami: definitely, community is important. That's great you've stuck it out with your church for so long. </p> <p>@LuLu Mom: thank you! Glad you found a church that clicked for you :)</p> <p>@snowjewelz: awh, that is a great story! :) what a great way to meet :)</p> <p>@Happygal: it IS totally like dating :P and I never really enjoyed dating too much. We actually had a church we loved about five years ago, but unfortunately we moved and couldn't attend anymore. I think that church has become the standard we are using now, and it makes it a lot harder. </p> <p>@littlebug: I'm sorry you'll have to go through it again :( I hope you find another church quickly!</p> <p>@mrsrain: good luck to you! I have to agree with @MrsMcD: that church shopping with a baby adds a new wrinkle to it all. </p> <p>@MrsMcD: thanks for the encouragement. I think we just have to keep going and keep an open mind, and hopefully we will find a place we feel comfortable with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1584538 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 18:21:08 +0000 avivoca 1584538@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It took me over three years to find a church, but I may be the anomaly. I wasn't going super regularly, but a friend invited me to a women's conference last month and I am so glad I went. I love this church! I hope you find a church soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1584532 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 18:13:49 +0000 gingerbebe 1584532@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sorry if this is totally obvious and you already do it, but I would make it a priority in your prayer life to ask God to lead you to the right church. Like dedicating a certain time of day to that particular prayer request might help you. Ask God to speak clearly to you and to give you a definitive sense of peace when you go. That way you are prepared and receptive when you take in the service.</p> <p>I also agree with others that so much of a church is about the people there and the community. Sermon style, music style - all that is great and all, but pastors and worship leaders come and go. You really want to dig into a church that's committed to growing each individual in their walk. I'm very partial to small groups and weekly Bible studies and we lead one now in our home for families. You can probably look into those resources online.</p> <p>I'd also look into the church's leadership system. For me, I always want to see the requirements for the elders and even the bylaws that the church uses because that will largely determine who's running the ship and how. We had a rough situation with the head pastor last year, but we've held together as a church quite well because our elder team has been very good and intentional with the transition process. These types of things you can get without attending a service, or by e-mailing/calling a church or through their website, which may help from a research standpoint. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1584515 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 18:01:30 +0000 deactivated_account 1584515@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsrain: I think it will be harder to look for a church after your baby is born for reasons mentioned above about church shopping with kids. </p> <p>@pinkcupcake: I was church shopping last year and the beginning of this year. I hope you stick with it and find a church you like. I had such a tough time. And now the church that I've ended up at and have been going to the past few months is great, even if it isn't totally "perfect", whatever "perfect" may be for a church. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1584027 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 14:19:56 +0000 mrsrain 1584027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pinkcupcake: We are in the same boat. :(<br /> In fact, we just decided to wait until after the baby is born to continue our search. It is just so frustrating and tiring being a visitor every week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1583993 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 14:09:50 +0000 littlebug 1583993@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It took us a long time to find a church that we liked - probably a year. We finally did, and we LOVED it. 3 months after joining, we made the decision to move back to our hometown. So we'll start the process all over again. Bluch. It's so hard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1583981 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 14:07:11 +0000 Happygal 1583981@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's super hard, especially if you have had a church you really liked before. Every church is a little different, so I get a touch nervous about following their traditions correctly. Oh, and I hate the passing of the peace, even at my own church! Making small talk is not my thing.</p> <p>I've decided that there is no such thing as a perfect church, so I try to figure out what is important to me and focus on that. I agree with others that if you are so-so about a place, give it a second shot--they may have just had an off week.</p> <p>Good luck! It's kind of like dating, isn't it? It can be discouraging, but once you find the right place, it's awesome. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1583853 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 13:31:02 +0000 snowjewelz 1583853@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pinkcupcake: I hope you will find your church soon! It's tough. Give one of them a chance and get to know the people! I find that no church is perfect, but hopefully you can sense where God is calling you to worship at! I grew up in a church and when I was in my mid-twenties, everyone was telling me to go to another church with more young singles but I really felt like this was my home church and I wanted to stay... I ended up marrying a new pastor that came in! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1583803 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 13:18:18 +0000 LuLu Mom 1583803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry, it took us 3 churches before we landed on one that clicked. I think it clicked more for me than DH (he was Catholic so it's a little modern for him) but I love it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1583720 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 12:59:45 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 1583720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: Our church is a strategic partner with Northpoint, and our lead pastor works for Orange. But yes - if you were raised Lutheran, I totally understand why it might be not your cup of tea. I'd give it another try, if you're looking....we LOVE it.<br /> @chopsuey: I think I knew that! My DH is headed down in a few weeks for Orange conference, and I wish I could go with him this year! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1583707 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 12:57:36 +0000 chopsuey 1583707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: try againnnn! R would love waumbaland! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1583695 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 12:55:39 +0000 mamimami 1583695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not sure what to tell you -- I have some pretty funny memories of church shopping with friends when I was in a new place for grad school -- one place we didn't even stay for the service! Walked in and out again. And one of my friends refused to tolerate any church where the worship leader played the keyboards and spoke at the same time. </p> <p>Sometimes you just have to pick a place and give it a chance. We don't have many church options where we live (three, really, if I want a protestant service in English), and we've stuck with the one we go to through thick and thin... through pastors we liked and didn't really like. The community was what made us stay. SO keep in mind that a sermon or even a pastor may rub you the wrong way and it may rub all the longtime church members the wrong way! That doesn't necessarily mean it's a no-go.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1583666 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 12:50:43 +0000 chopsuey 1583666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@redsmarties: we got to buckhead and love it! </p> <p>@pinkcupcake: hope you find a great church soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1583655 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 12:49:33 +0000 Smurfette 1583655@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@redsmarties: BTW, how have you heard of it all the way in Canada? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1583651 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 12:48:57 +0000 Smurfette 1583651@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@redsmarties: I tried Northpoint years ago. I had major issues with the sermon/message for that day. Not for me at all.<br /> Plus I was raised Lutheran, so I would really like to find a Lutheran church. DH was Baptist, which I won't join, so we are trying to find a Methodist to meet in the middle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1583640 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 12:46:39 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 1583640@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh, this is so tough! Praying you guys will find something soon - its so discouraging to be church hunting!<br /> @Smurfette: You're in ATL? Have you checked out NorthPoint/Buckshead/Gwinnett? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1583524 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 12:20:37 +0000 pinkcupcake 1583524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: I agree, since now their children's program is a huge factor. Plus, sometimes I get nervous leaving her in a nursery with people I don't know at all, so I have a hard time concentrating on the sermon...</p> <p>@MaryM: @mrs. wagon: @pui: @snowjewelz: That's true, I do think it's important to go a few times to get a real "feel" for the church. I think our problem is, we go like 2 - 3 Sundays in a row, feel like this isn't it, get super discouraged, and then quit going at all for month(s). :( We need to just have faith and keep trying, but man... after a year of church shopping, we're both feeling so down! </p> <p>@Smurfette: @mrs. wagon: I'm sorry you ladies are in the same boat :( Praying that we all find a great home church quickly. I know for myself, personally, I struggle so much in my daily life if my walk isn't straight. And without a church to keep me grounded, I'm feeling really blah right now :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1583183 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 10:42:17 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1583183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It is so hard! I think it's even harder now with a LO in tow... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1583178 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 10:40:44 +0000 MaryM 1583178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with the others on giving each place a few sundays. And if they have multiple services, try out different times. Sometimes each one can have a different feel!</p> <p>I grew up in an area that only had one Catholic Church so I didn't really appreciate "church shopping" until more recently. But it can be so hard! and then if you're of a religion that regularly changes pastors, it can stink to finally find a "home" only to have the pastor be moved elsewhere. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1583172 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 10:39:47 +0000 Smurfette 1583172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We can't find one either. It sucks. DH and I just don't agree on one at al. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1583163 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 10:37:30 +0000 mrs. wagon 1583163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pinkcupcake: We are in the same boat :( I was hoping to be settled by easter so we could start attending regularly on easter sunday. Alas, it is taking much longer than I expected. </p> <p>We got a tip from someone at a church we visited a few weeks ago-- pick a church and visit 4 weeks in a row to really get a feel for what that church REALLY is like to make sure you're not visiting on weeks that are anomalies for whatever reason. We have yet to do this (I want to feel REALLY good about a church before going for consecutive weeks) but I think it's a good piece of advice! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1583158 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 10:36:18 +0000 pui 1583158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It is hard... DH and I went to a whole slew of churches before settling in to the one we're members at now. We spent over a year searching for the right one. One piece of advice is give each church a few Sundays before deciding it won't work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1583157 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 10:36:12 +0000 snowjewelz 1583157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>:sad: I am so sorry to hear! Do you think you might want to go back to a few of those and stick it out for a while? Sometimes churches might not give the best first impression... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/why-is-looking-for-a-church-so-hard#post-1583150 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 10:35:05 +0000 pinkcupcake 1583150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just what the title says... why is looking for a new church so hard? :( It's so exhausting trying out new churches every weekend... and it sucks when you just don't feel a *click* with the pastor or anyone there.</p> <p>It's been a year since we've been church-less and I'm starting to feel so discouraged :( </p>