Moving Churches - Advice needed

[Ben14]

Hi everyone,

I recently came across this forum and loved it so much that I decided to join! I hope you can give me some much needed advice on moving church.

Me and my wife are fairly new Christians having both come to faith 2 years ago. My wife, who was brought up in a Christian family, had come away from faith in her teens but felt a calling to return to Church shortly after we got married. She encouraged me to go with her and we settled at a local Baptist church.

The reason for us choosing this particular church is that the fellowship there was just so welcoming and friendly and we really felt at home and comfortable (which was important in my case). We both attended their Christianity explored course and felt Christ enter our lives. We were Baptised together after completion of that course soon after. We were also blessed with our son Jacob who was born just over a year ago and who is absolutely loved and adored by everyone at the Church.

The only issue we have ever had is that there are no other members of our age. We decided to attend the Church in the hope that we could encourage other similar young people to join but unfortunately in the 3 years of being there this has not happened. We try to get involved with the church as much as possible which includes attending a bible study group every other week.

The problem is we are starting to feel our faith is stagnating a bit because we don't have contact with or socialise with Christians of our own age or level. We often feel we can't express ourselves or talk about issues of people of our age. The nearest in age to us is around 10 years and we are very concious of falling away from Jesus and going back to our lives before we were saved.

We have been praying hard about this but are unsure what direction Jesus wants us to take. We feel an obligation to this Church as members and as friends to stay and continue in the hope that we can help attract new younger people. However, we also feel that it might be best for us to leave to ensure that we continue to mature as Christians and in our walk with Jesus.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[parsley]

Why don't you start a group in your home? Or a bi-weekly restaurant meeting. That way, new people would not feel like they need to commit to the church in order to participate in the group.

A lot of young marrieds groups (are you?) have rotation dinners in homes, hiking or kayaking trips... events outside the church where devotionals are integrated into the activity.

 

[tturt]

Parsley has some good ideas because there is such limited interaction while at church no matter what age group attends. But the best advice is continue to pray and asks Yahweh what He wants.

 

[RobertMerton]

ditto the above advice.
Start a cell group for people around your age at your home.

 

[1watchman]

I don't approve of "starting churches", but agree one might think about just meeting in the home with others for Bible readings, discussions, and singing and praying to the Lord. God can then help one to find a truly scriptural assembly later. I say this, because we don't need more sects started in the world, but to keep what God has given in His Word for His church ---"unity of the faith" universal. There is a need to continue the worldwide fellowship God already has in the world.

There seems to be a trend in christendom to find a place that pleases us, or is very social, without regard to God's testimony and the scriptural order. We might forget that the church is of God, not of man, and the various denoms. is man's ideas. That is my assessment, anyway.

 

[paul1149]

I would say to pray, then begin to step out in small ways, whether it's the cell group, visiting other churches, or if the Lord has called you planting your own house church. Or maybe there's something your present church needs to do to attract younger people that you can be involved in.

 

[Peripatetic]

I second the vote for visiting other churches. You don't have to make any commitments, but it will help you to see how others worship and get a sense for their fellowship.

 

[parsley]

Btw, when I suggested starting a group, I just meant a weekly meeting for people in your age range, to meet the need described in the OP. My "not commit to a church" meant a way to stay where you are, and gradually lead new people in to the existing church without them being scared off.

It is a lot of work to lead something larger than that. I am just suggesting that the church's ministries don't have to limit what you do for fellowship. Many people visit mid-week services at other churches, attend meetings and concerts around the region, have home Bible studies or restaurant breakfast prayer meetings.

I will change my phrasing.

 

[LilLamb219]

Why not invite other people your age to come attend the church services? This is a great opportunity for the church to thrive.