So this past Sunday my wife and I visited a new church. We have been attending the same church for 29 years. It was a tough choice to visit a new church but there have been many changes at our home church and felt it was time to visit a different church in our hometown. Praying God’s wisdom and guidance on this. Do we stay? Do we keep visiting other churches? I’m sure some of you have experienced this at some point. Best to all of you.
PF

My wife and I had to make the hard decision I few years ago when the new pastor was not preaching the word. It split the church at the time and they lost a lot of members including us. We decided to leave long term friends that we had to go to another church that actually preached from the Bible. So many churches today are seeker sensitive, Bible lite teaching, not wanting to offend anyone. Ask the Lord for guidance in prayer in this. It’s hard to leave friends but don’t let that be your decision. Blessings on your day.

We have been going to our church for 23 years and have seen a few people leave for new churches over that time. The main question I would ask is, does your church still feel like family? If a river were to flood would people come to your aid? Do you live close to your church? The closer you are the easier it is to find help if you need it. Does your church still believe the core beliefs you have? If our church were to change its core beliefs we would have to leave. What is making you dissatisfied at your church? Have you communicated to leadership about it? Remember every church everywhere has problems. So you will just be trading one set for another. No matter what, pray about it. God knows what is best.

Thanks SV. Our home church is still preaching the word from the Bible but it has been feeling like all the changes in personnel and restructuring of services is geared toward getting numbers of attenders up rather than cultivating the current flock. While reaching new people is important, not losing sight of what has kept our church strong is important too. Feels like some are losing sight of that. We will be in prayer on this one.
Take care

Canoearoo: "We have been going to our church for 23 years and have seen a few people leave for new churches over that time. The main question I would ask is, does your church still feel like family? If a river were to flood would people come to your aid? Do you live close to your church? The closer you are the easier it is to find help if you need it. Does your church still believe the core beliefs you have? If our church were to change its core beliefs we would have to leave. What is making you dissatisfied at your church? Have you communicated to leadership about it? Remember every church everywhere has problems. So you will just be trading one set for another. No matter what, pray about it. God knows what is best."

Good points Canoearoo. Believe me this is not something I take light hearted. The church does not feel like a family anymore. Core beliefs are there. We live a mile and a half away. My wife and I have meet with several staff. Yes every church has issues, I've seen it. Will be praying. Thank you

Some time ago my wife and I were considering a move like this and shared our thoughts with a missionary couple who was visiting us. The missionary wife asked, kind of bluntly, "is leaving this church something God has told you to do?"

Continuing to ask God for guidance. We will be back at our home church this week. We aren’t throwing in the towel. Thank you for the encouragement

My family and I were members of a congregation (and school) for 17 years. The school is what brought us there. The congregational members sealed the deal for us officially joining. At first we were Sunday morning Christians. As time passed, we became more and more involved in school and church functions. God’s Word and His people of the congregation began to work with us, and the Holy Spirit guided us through and we really began using our time and talents for the Lord’s Work. I was elected to the Church Council and I was eventually elected the congregation’s President for two years. During this time we were going through the single most transitional period this congregation has experienced. Called workers who had been there for 20-30 years were retiring (several at one time). And new, younger staff were taking their places. This was hard for older members to accept, because they saw their church changing. Change can become a hard thing and we sometimes find ourselves out of our comfort zone. The change I am referring to had nothing to do with the teachings of the Pastors. Our Synod has always stayed true to the Word. This was a different change; staffing, the way sermons were being done, minor changes in worship music and other worship practices that vered from the norm.
I think every Congregation goes through these changes periodically, but it is what God does to keep us thinking and engaged in worship, fellowship, and our own relationship with him. New leaders emerge and carry the load of the congregation, doing the work behind the scenes to keep the doors open and continue to offer worship to members and visitors alike.

Anyhow, during my time as President, I began to notice needs that were not being fulfilled and I recognized that some of our called workers were not fulfilling their call. I fought this fight for the last 2 ½ years of our membership. I became frustrated that many things were falling through the cracks and not getting accomplished. It eventually led us to request a “release of membership”. We have not been members there for a good year now and we have not found, nor been actively looking for a new Church home. I can tell you this, although I believe we made the right decision at the time, I really do miss those people. It is the people, our Christian brothers and sisters who I dearly miss. We raised our kids in that building and built some really good relationships there. I have lately been wondering if we really did make the right decision. Should we have stayed and fought this out? Part of me thinks that we just quit when it got hard.

Ash Wednesday is fast approaching. Lent is the perfect time for a Christian to reflect, repent and bind the wounds we have made. I think God is calling us back there, but I am still wrestling with this thought.

Should you leave your current Congregation? Pray about it, talk about it. Reach out to some of those members who you have made connections with. God will provide the answer.

God’s blessings,

JW

JW - Thank you for your insight and sharing your experience. Everything you described sounds very similar to our current status. I'm not ready to walk away and have questioned many times if we just aren't plugged in all the way. We were at our church on Sunday and the message was good but the vibe is off. I can't put my finger on what it is yet. Probably just me. Pray that God shows me

PF

I made the decision years ago when I left Living Word in Brooklyn Park and joined Eaglebrook church. Never regretted the decision.

Basspro69: "I made the decision years ago when I left Living Word in Brooklyn Park and joined Eaglebrook church. Never regretted the decision."

Glad it worked out for the better. It feels like the time is right. Nothing is weighing on my heart about attending another church.