No church, what do you do?

[beverlya]

There aren't any Bible Believing churches anywhere near us, nor have we found any other believers yet to fellowship with.

I'm wondering if you are in the same situation, how to you encourage yourself in the Lord?? Do you have any kind of church service at home?

It's been very discouraging and I'm disheartened at present.

Thanks,
Beverly

[rachel4]

Hi Beverly,
We are in a slightly different situation but I feel some of what you are going through. We are in a church right now, but I have reservations about it and don't always feel that I get good counsel there (on the other hand to be positive sometimes we do have good fellowship). One thing we've started doing that has encouraged me is joined a house-based Bible study group that is made of people from our homeschool co-op. However, I recognize that's still not your situation, or at least not as I read it from your post.

Are you new to your area? How do you interact with your community? Library, things like that? Is there a potential to meet other believers through those avenues?

Always of course I would encourage you to pray, which I'm sure you are, and I will pray with you, but Our Father knows what we need, so knowing you need fellowship He can provide it.

One other thought, when we first moved to where we are now we went through about 6 months of being very alone, no family, no church, really no neighbors because we live in a rural area. God used that time to help us pull back together as a family. Sometimes I think He uses those "desert" times in our lives to grow us, or to get us ready for something He's getting ready to do in our lives, a new direction He might want us to take that requires our concentration to prepare for.

Just some thoughts, I will be in prayer for you.
Sister Rachel

[art]

We have just found ourselves in the same situation. We have been reluctant to leave our church for quite a while because we have had great preaching and some good fellowship but God has prompted us to look elsewhere now. We will begin this Sunday visiting churches but we don't know of any near us that are going to be fundamental and conservative enough. We have some friends on this board that attend a church 45 mins to 1 hour from here that we may go try. I'm rambling on about us and not answering your question so I digress.

We have family devotion time every night with Bible reading and some discussion. We look for teachable moments throughout the day to point things out in Biblical perspective to the children and to ourselves. I look on this board for encouragement and edification. We email with Christian friends. We pray for God to put us where he wants us even if it means we have to pack up and move. We enjoy a Christian magazine called "Keepers at Home". It's a ladies magazine but Tammy likes for us to read it together and I am also encouraged by it to strive to be a better Christian husband and leader in my home.

While we're seeking a new church I'll also be listening to some sermons online. I have found some good sermons at www.plainviewchurch.org but of course that doesn't offer any fellowship.

Keep praying and seeking His will. God bless you.

[Brother Ben]

Sister Beverly,
I'm sure you've noticed the recent theme on our forum: Pilgrim Believers dwell outside of the camp. Often, as we draw into these last days, true, biblical, strong, godly, holy, fellowship is becoming hard to find. Through this, the Lord is calling his people to come out from among dead religion that has even prevaded the "fundamental" circles.

Art said something powerful:

God used that time to help us pull back together as a family.

You have a godly preacher husband, you follow after the Lord, your children are being taught the ways of the Lord. You have a nice little flock, right there, right now. Enjoy it. Yes, you might need to listen to some good messages, which are in abundance on the internet,but you can make it through. It could be that the Lord is baptizing your family into a new concept and appreciation of the body of Christ.

We get so used to going to the "church" at 123 Main Street, that we forget that the TRUE body is the saved, all over the planet, of all ages. Gather at home, sing at home, study at home, pray at home, support missions from home, and the list goes on. Be encouraged, you are not alone, there are ALOT of very good families in your shoes.

Stay connected. Talk to others in your situation. If you talk to Sister So-in-so, whose husband pastors ABC Church, you might become discouraged because they just want member (numbers) and tithes money (their income.) Look to the real bride. She is there in all her glory! Bring her out in your home fellowship.

Philemon
[1] Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,
[2] And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:
[3] Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
[4] I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
[5] Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
[6] That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
Bro. Ben

[JohnMark]

Looking for a good church is tough at times. After 6 years in other states we have returned home. Things have changed quite a bit.

We want to find a conservative, serious minded Baptist church that is Landmark. We have found this difficult. Most preachers love to tell jokes and silly stories from the pulpit. Plus, many second guess the King James Bible and rant about "original Greek". We were in a church where the preacher went on a 20 minute tirade about the verse "Jesus wept". When he finished I literally did not know if Jesus wept or not.

All I can say is hang in there and keep plugging away. Even house churches aren't perfect. Keep an open mind and an open Bible.

[headcovering]

I will be praying for you Sister Beverly. Maybe for a little while, you could have church at home. Maybe there are other believers that you don't know of in your area. You could invite them to 'your church' if you get to know them better. Also, think of this as an oppertinuity. With all the non-believeing people, you could reach out to them. Find ways to witness to them.
Hope this helps!
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Jordyn

[Deleted]

Brother Ben, That was a good reply to Sister Beverlya, I think we can all take encouragement from reading it.

JohnMark....

"We want to find a conservative, serious minded Baptist church that is Landmark. We have found this difficult. Most preachers love to tell jokes and silly stories from the pulpit. Plus, many second guess the King James Bible and rant about "original Greek". We were in a church where the preacher went on a 20 minute tirade about the verse "Jesus wept". When he finished I literally did not know if Jesus wept or not."

That is Funny!!!

Sister Beverlya,

We are in the same boat, we moved to NC in December, and have been going to a local church since then, we are the only one covered and modest, yet when we first spoke with the Pastor, he agreed with 1 Corinthians 11, but doesn't apply it " because it's not necessary" When we asked if there were other "covered ladies their" we were told he had several visitors.... We have since learned that those visitors came once.

So we find ourselves alone. And the more we are under his teaching, the doctrine error we see.

We are looking but can't find a local fellowship, and found this board yesterday and am drawing much encouragement from it.

We never considered "home church" but now my mind is thinking....

Yesterday morning I awoke to repeating in my head...

- Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

I thought.... like a path we walk, some are short and some are long... not every time we go down a path and ask God for direction is it a quick path.... some paths have dead ends, some are windy with no end in sight. ( the one I am on) and may take some time.