Finding a (Church) Home

Over the course of Tim's career, we have moved five times.  For us, the key to settling into a new community is finding a church home.   There we may begin to develop close friendships by worshipping with other Christians, participating in small group Bible studies and serving in mercy opportunities within our city. 

Catalina Foothills Church, our church home in Tucson, gave us all of the above.  There we pondered Christ's teachings as we listened to Pastor Mark Roessler's sermons, enjoyed the friendships made in the Bible studies we attended, and sensed fulfillment when helping others at the homeless shelter.  We will miss Catalina Foothill's fellowship and our friends there. 

Yet it's time to move on, if we wish to find community here, despite how I hate the rounds of "church shopping."  How can anyone form an opinion of a church in such short visits?  It seems so judgmental to me; plus, it's convicting for I find myself wondering why I wasn't more friendly to newcomers in my previous church homes. 

Nevertheless, we need a church family.  So, Tim and I are using these questions to guide our search.

1.  Is the church centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ?  By grace, Christ brought us into a new relationship with Him; yet, He still has alot of transforming to do in our lives to make us whole.

2.  Does the church as a body of believers seek to apply Christ's teachings by caring for others beyond the church's doors?  If so, are there ways that we could help in these ministries?

3.  Does the church encourage its attendees to grow closer to other believers as a family of God?  Throughout our marriage, the development of such deep church family friendships has profoundly affected our lives and the lives of our children, too. 

We need a church home.  Thankfully, both Tim and I think we've found a good match in our visits to Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, a PCA (Presbyterian Church of America) church that meets at the Arlington campus of George Mason University.  We're looking forward to growing in our faith with this family of believers.