Our Church Search has Ended

If you've been following my blog for any length of time, you know that we've been looking for a church home in our city for a couple of years.  Yes, years!!  We visited so many churches and really struggled with finding a place that felt welcoming and that it would be a good fit for our family.

We tried several different denominations, looked for churches with strong programs for kids, small group options for adults and a very Bible centered place.  Our good friends invited Olive to go to vacation Bible school with them this past Summer.  She was so excited and I was looking forward to learning more about their church.  It was a large church that we visited when we initially moved here.  The size scared us off a bit so we kept looking.

Olive had a life changing week at Bible school.  She was on fire for the Lord, talking about her Bible lessons, raising money for the people of Haiti and was singing worship songs 24/7.  It was so sweet and inspiring to see.  She loved it so much and would easily tell you it was her favorite week of the Summer.  Her example, enthusiasm and sweet excitement prompted us to give this big church another try.  Sending her to vacation Bible school impacted our whole family.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

(*I really love the whole 29th chapter of Jeremiah because it addresses the importance of being a positive contribution wherever you live getting plugged in and building relationships)

When we visited the church again we opted to commit to going for the whole Summer and seeing if it was a place where our family could worship, learn and connect with God.  We started going July 1 and have been going there almost every Sunday since.

It turns out that we were going about finding a church in the wrong way.

We'd visit a church and critique all the pros and cons.  We'd have a discussion every weekend to see if we were up for trying a new church.  Church became more of a week to week decision vs making it a top family priority to be there every weekend.  We were looking for the perfect church and were regularly disappointed when we didn't find one.

Turns out, perfect churches do not exist.

When we started going, getting involved and really looking for ways to plug in, we found a church home.  Olive will now tell you that our plans for the weekend include church on Sundays.  It's become a nonnegotiable part of our weekend routine for the first time in a long time.

Both kids LOVE going to their Sunday school classes on Sunday mornings.  This felt (and still feels) like a huge milestone.  We've moved around a lot and our kids were hesitant to stay in a class all alone.  Not anymore.  They barely say goodbye to us before heading off to learn about Jesus with their friends.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

Kevin and I have found small groups and ministries to get plugged into at church pretty quickly.  We both had to go out of our comfort zones to be the new people in various settings.  We did a short term couples group, I go to a mom's Bible study one morning a week and he goes to a men's group that meets during the week before work.  I got plugged into a food delivery ministry where we bring new moms meals.  We are all connected to people and making friends at church.

It's taken years, but it's finally happened!!

Olive has gotten to participate in Kindergarten kick off programs where she received her first big Bible.  We've gone to fun Halloween parties.  We finally got to dedicate our kids and promise to raise them in church.  We had been wanting to do that since the kids were born, but with us relocating frequently it never happened.  It felt so good to be included and feel a part of something.  The picture above is from Family Dedication Sunday.  I got teary eyed to hit this milestone after so many years of wishing and praying for it to happen.  Now Olive is started to ask questions about being "bap-a-tized".

"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6

We are so thankful to have found a church family.  We still have a long ways to go as far as meeting people in a big church, but I'm confident that we are in the right place.

I want to wrap things up by encouraging you to find a church home.  It'll be so good for you and for your family.  Don't make the mistake we made... don't look for the perfect church because it's not out there.  Find a church that aligns with many of your beliefs and commit to going regularly.  It'll be a huge blessing to you!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend :)