Blogging Ottinger (tim)

We are looking for our new church. We’ve been in the area for a while and have attended maybe three churches. It’s funny, really, this whole process.

It’s not like we are carrying around questionable habits and are looking for someone to allow them. Nor are we looking for someone “up to our standards” of behavior. We’re not looking to recreate a past experience or find a style that is uniquely fitted to us. We’re definitely not choosing on the basis of ABC (attendance, buildings, and cash: a criteria we just hate). We’re not looking for programs and projects. We’re not looking for a church that is finished and perfect either.

When we first came to Avon, IN we attended several. One church, when we visited it, immediately had a feel that is hard to describe. Avon Community Church of the Nazarene was “home” on our first visit, and we fell in love with the people and pastor immediately. We were happy to be involved with the youth and music and sunday school ministries, with the kitchen and whatever else we could put our hands to. We were family, and those things were opportunities to work together. We still love the people who worked with us and who loved us and brought us into their midst so warmly. These are uniquely good people. What are the chances that could happen again?

When that engagement went rather sour, we didn’t shop around. We went to Danville Calvary Church of the Nazarene a church that had once been pointed out to me by a trusted mentor (Dr. K. Jewell) and we fell in love with the congregation immediately. It wasn’t that they were our age group or shared our interests or worshipped in our style, or had the programs we wanted. We held limited involvement, but we were whole-heartedly in love and ready to be members. Still are, really. I would as soon be there as any church in the world. I don’t expect to repeat that instant respect for the pastor and member and the instant love we all felt for each other, but it would sure be nice. There is no replacement or substitute for the relationships there. Better, we were able to keep in close touch with many of our friends from Avon (Avon and Danville are neighbors along state road 36).

Now we are ‘way up north in Illinois. Our warmest welcome was from the Mundelein Church of the Nazarene. We were warmly welcomed and were able to settle into the sunday school very easily. Some of the other churches we visited didn’t have sunday school. This is another smaller congregation (for this area) and has a fine young pastor and a lot of good folks. Their style is not too far from ours (music is more sedate) and there is a nice spread of generations from grannies to (a whole hoard of) new babies, and all ages in between. It sure seems like a loving and healthy place. We may settle in there, but we don’t feel that immediate connection we had the last two times. Maybe we never will again, for all I know.

So I’m trying to understand the process. There’s not anything in particular I’m looking for. I’m not looking for a “successful” church or one that “fits my style” or “agrees with my particular choices” or one that has a lot of programs that can involve me and the kids. I’m not looking for a church that “tickles our ears.” We aren’t looking for one to beat us up or one to flatter us or rant against the things we disagree with. What are we looking for? I don’t know. Maybe just the sense that we are in the place that God has chosen for us. I hope that place is up here now.

If I find myself looking for programs or potential growth or worldly success or a tim-centered faith, I’m hoping that I’ll stop and slap myself about the face and neck (figuratively) for giving in to such a weak imitation.