Rapid Network

West Michigan is a growing population with many people moving to communities in the Grand Rapids area. In 2009 the Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland area had a population of 1,327,336. As the major industry in Grand Rapids was once furniture production, it is nicknamed the "Furniture City". However, the city and surrounding communities are more economically diverse today, and contribute heavily to the health care, automotive, and consumer goods manufacturing industries, among others.

Most recently Grand Rapids has focused on the health sciences industry, investing nearly a billion dollars in businesses located in the Michigan Street "medical corridor". This has resulted in many health science jobs being bought to the area. In 2010 Grand Rapids was named the "most sustainable mid-size city in the U.S." by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Civic Leadership Center and Siemens Corp.

In addition to a thriving economy, it is home to hundreds of churches. Finding a church community can be difficult in a new city, especially when you are not familiar with the area or distinguishing characteristics of various churches. There are hundreds of churches in the Grand Rapids area. How do people find the right one?

There are countless kinds of churches with varying theologies, ministry philosophies, programs and styles to choose from in the Grand Rapids area. Searching online can bring hundreds of choices and visiting them can take weeks or months. And for people who are new to an area, the challenge is even greater. Figuring out geographical neighborhoods, cultural and theological differences and what programs are available can be very time consuming. This during a period when other adjustments are taking priority, such as finding a place to live, shop and adjusting to a new work or school environment.

It is not only people moving into an area that seek information on finding the right church. They may be in the Grand Rapids area to take advantage of the state of the art medical facilities and looking for a church home during this challenging time. They also will be challenged trying to sort through all the choices and options available while trying to maintain the focus on the medical difficulties that brought them to Grand Rapids.

People also seek information about churches in their area when they are considering changing churches. According to a series of LifeWay Research studies of people who switch churches 89% of adults indicated they select a new church based on what the church says it believes. It's important for churches to make this information readily available, ideally on their website. This goes beyond mere doctrinal statements, to real life philosophy and mission statements that govern the day to day decisions and the culture of the church.

Families with teens face an especially difficult challenge as they try to find a church that will meet the needs of the young adults in their household. According to two Barna studies done in April 2005 and July 2006, forty-five percent of American teens said what teens expect most when it comes to churches is to worship or make a connection with God and 42 percent seek "to better understand what I believe," Additionally, things they considered important were spending time with close friends (34 percent); getting encouraged or inspired (34 percent); and volunteering to help others (30 percent). Families with teens and young adults will want to find churches that have programs and activities that meet these needs and will be both fun and helpful to them as they seek to integrate their faith with real life situations. Helping them connect with God, learn about their faith, and serve others, in a loving and relational environment should be top priorities of a church home.

Still, many spiritual people do not attend church. One Barna study among unchurched adults shows that nearly four out of every ten non-churchgoing Americans (37%) said they avoid churches because of negative past experiences in churches or with church people. According to author Stephen Mansfield, most unchurched people - more than four out of five - were formerly regular participants in church life, many of whom departed after an ugly incident that hurt them deeply. Returning to church involves finding a place that will offer understanding, love and acceptance. It can be a challenge to sort through the hundreds of churches in an area as large as Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland and to find a place that will support them whatever stage of life or belief they are at. Visiting each church takes time, and getting to know the people there cannot happen in one or two visits. The challenge can seem overwhelming. Churches need to be cognizant of this when developing their website so as to convey a welcoming attitude toward all seekers, with sensitivity to past hurts and disappointments. Visitors will use this as their initial evaluation of a church, looking at it and asking themselves, "Can I see me fitting in there?"

Neighborhoods, workplaces and families are much more diverse than they were in previous generations. Churches need to be aware of how people's culture affects the ways they think and live. It can be difficult to find a church that supports diversity in both its congregational makeup and its form of worship. Some people are very comfortable with outgoing, expressive worship, while others prefer a quiet, introspective experience. The Spirit touches individuals - and cultures - differently. People's spiritual journeys are rarely the same and respect for a person's preferences and believes is important. Churches must be sure they convey to both attendees and seekers that diversity is not only welcome, but expected.

There are many reasons people look for a church to attend and many factors that enter into their decision to try out a particular church. But once they walk through the door, what matters is not what's on the website, or even how close it is to their home. What matters is the environment they encounter. Is the message meaningful to their lives? Are the people warm and loving? Are there programs and activities for them no matter what age their needs span, from nursery to retirement? And ultimately, do they feel this place matches their "spiritual DNA"?

People looking for a church to attend in the Grand Rapids area may be doing so because they have recently moved into the area, are temporarily visiting for some reason, or deciding to return to church after a time away. Trying to sort through the hundreds of churches can be a daunting task, but it can be done. Knowing someone who can recommend a church is one way, visiting them individually is another but much more time consuming. Search engines and online directories provide access to hundreds of church websites to look at. This can be very helpful, but also difficult to sort through.

Look for a church website that provides basic information such as service times and location. It should also include information for visitors as to what the church believes, not only doctrinally but also philosophically. They should also be able to find information about programs and activities offered and ways to contact for further information. Mapping abilities can help determine how far it is from the visitor's home and how to get there. Equally important, the site should provide visitors with a feel for the church - what are people like who attend there, what is the culture and atmosphere of worship and teaching? Are there messages on line that show the type of topics, and style of teaching that is offered?

Finding a church in the Grand Rapids-Muskegon-Holland area that welcomes you and fits your "spiritual DNA" can be a challenge, but worth the effort. There are many choices and ways to approach the search, but a well done website should help narrow the search and make it easier to find what you are looking for.