I’ve compiled a list of Churches of Christ recommended by readers here over the years. I just realized that the recent post asking for recommendations in the Orlando area repeated an earlier post asking the same question, so that I already had recommendations in hand. I’m getting old and the old memory cells are failing … And so it seems wise to make a list.
(You know, I really should ask congregations receiving new members via this blog (and there are many) to pay some sort of referral fee — maybe the first three months’ tithes — like a job placement agency. 😉 )
Some readers may well want to ask to have their home congregation listed, which is fine. (Mine is.) Make the recommendation via the comments, not by private email, as this will give other readers the ability to comment on the suggestion.
I, of course, reserve the right to decide whether a church is recommendable — but normally, I leave that to the readers, who have proven most wise over the years.
Finally, if you make a recommendation, please include the link to the church’s website. That saves me from having to post the address, etc., and the gives the readers a chance to check the church out a bit before visiting.
PS — Congregational websites have gotten to be VERY important, because this is how people “pre-visit” the church before really visiting it. That’s why we’re the in process of upgrading our webpage.
I must add my amazing church family, who is also my sponsoring church and who I dearly love…and that is the Garden Ridge Church of Christ in Lewisville, Texas. The website is: http://www.gardenridge.org
It is a wonderful family!
I'll add North Atlanta Church of Christ: http://www.nacofc.org
If moving to the Hampton Roads area of Virginia checkout Denbigh Church of Christ at http://www.denbigh.org/
Thanks, Jay. As the preacher at the West Houston Church of Christ, I highly recommend our congregation to your readers!
http://www.westhoustonchurch.org
As an avid reader of Jay's posts, and seeing a large hole in the reader-recommended churches in Virginia, I'd like to recommend two on the
southwest side of Richmond, Va:
Southwest Church of Crist, http://www.SWCOC.net a capella
New Hope Church of Christ, http://www.NewHopeChrist.org instrumental
Both congregations are wonderful family. Thanks, Tom in Midlothian
This is appreciated, Jay. I'll help out Missouri and Tennessee:
My church of attendance in Missouri is phenomenal. For my money, if you like a challenging preacher, ours in the best within the COC. http://www.eastsunshine.org East Sunshine Church Of Christ
I'll post individually so as to not overwhelm the link limit.
In the Missouri/St. Louis area:
Mid-County Church (www.midcounty.org)
McKnight Road Church Of Christ (www.mcknightroad.org)
Missouri/St. Louis cont'd:
Lafayette Church Of Christ (http://ballwinchurch.wordpress.com/)
In Tennessee:
Harpeth Hills Church Of Christ (www.harpethhills.org)
I'm sure most of us have heard of the church they planted in downtown Nashville: Ethos Church (www.ethoslove.com)
I've been away from Nashville for too long to remember many other church names. A few that come to mind:
Woodmont Hills Family of God
Acklen Avenue Church Of Christ (with the venerable Paul Prill)
I'm sure I'll think of more.
Thanks to all. The list is greatly improved — and I enjoy reading your praise of your congregations! I get so many emails from discouraged church members, it's nice to know that some churches are getting it right.
This is Jay running a test
This is Jay running another test
In the Columbus, OH area, the Reynoldsburg church of Christ: http://www.reynoldsburgchurch.org/ (website is in the process of a much needed update).
In Nashville:
Large Church (2500) Madisoncofc.org
Medium Size (700) Donelsonchurch.org
Both accapella with Praise Teams
I highly recommend Crossbridge Church of Christ for the Birmingham, Alabama and surrounding areas. Many travel long distances to go there.
Great studies, sermons and singing! The emphasis is right on.
The attitude and welcome is the best around.
I highly recommend Crossbridge Church of Christ for the Birmingham, Alabama and surrounding areas. Many travel long distances to go there.
Great studies, sermons and singing! The emphasis is right on.
The attitude and welcome is the best around.
In the New Smyrna Beach, FL area (New Smyrna Beach is often called Orlando's beach), I recommend the New Smyrna Beach Church of Christ, where I attend. http://www.nsbchurchofchrist.com/
let me throw out there the church that meets in Hammond, IN.
Hammondchurch.com
website needing of updating, but basic contact info is there.
Why didn't the Church of Christ in Hammond, IN get added to the list?
Mike,
I don't necessarily personally recommend all the churches the readers recommend, but I do warn readers against issues that may be a matter of conscience. For example, a number of churches carry a parenthetical warning that a church is solely instrumental, and no one has objected to that practice. It seems a thoughtful thing to do.
So should I warn readers that a listed church is caught up in legalism and factionalism — even guilty of the Galatian heresy? If so, how do I say that?
I guess the alternative would be to say nothing about any of the churches. But that would greatly reduce the usefulness of the listing to the readers.
Jay,
I do not understand your reply. Is part of it missing? It does not seem to answer my question which was why wasn't the Hammond church listed? Do you mean to say that you decided the church to was too legalistic? This was all I could figure, but you don't really say this so sorry if I'm putting words in your mouth. You did mention legalism though so I was just trying to guess at your meaning.
On a side note regarding the usefulness of the list since you mentioned that, I don't see how the list could possibily be useful. If I'm looking for a church, knowing that someone once recommended a church on this site is on no use to me. EVERY church is recommeded by someone. Since I am not likely to know who recommended a church on the list or why the list means nothing.
If the churches on the list also have to pass some additional criteria then it might tell me something, but if I don't know what that critreia is then it remains useless.
I remember once you talked about making a list of "progressive" churches. That would have had some use. Even though progressive is somewhat vague it does have some meaning to me and I think would have give people some indication of what the churches on the list were like, but a list of reader recommended churches means nothing.
Anyway this is just an aside, my real reason for posting is to know why the Hammond church was left off and I still do not know.