Hi everyone,

This may seem like an odd post, but I'm at the point where I need some advice.  I've been born-again and spirit-filled since 1992.  At the time I lived in NH and was part of a great, but small, church.  I had a group of friends who believed like I did, and found great support from them in times when I needed to be built up in the Word, of just have someone to talk about the Word with.  Now I'm in MD, have an unsaved husband (but he's coming in, praise God!), have 4 small children, and am going to a church that gives lip service to healing, but there isn't any great evidence of it.  And from experience I know that there is more agreement with being sick than being healed.  (This is Church of God denomination.)

I've tried to find a church that believes as I do (Word of Faith, obviously!) and just haven't felt any direct leading from God regarding what I am to do.  And I haven't found any obvious Word of Faith churches in my immediate area (well, within a 30 minute drive or so).  I'm not even sure that leaving the church I'm a member of is what I'm supposed to do...but I do know that I need to find other like-minded Christians in my area with which to have fellowship and friendship.  Online friendship and fellowship is great, but it's not the same as being able to talk in person to someone about where you are struggling, or what you are standing for, etc., etc.  I've prayed that the Lord put people in my path who are Word of Faith people so that I can build friendships, but somewhere I seem to be missing it.

I feel very isolated and I'm finding that it's difficult to stay built up in my faith and take a stand when I've not got anyone around me who believes as I do.  My husband doesn't "get" it, and would scoff if I tried to talk to him about it, and no one at my church is really at the point where they are truly standing on the Word for much other than salvation.  I'm frustrated to say the least.  And, it's not like I can get out of the house often with the 4 littles ones (5 and under), so going to church is basically my only "social" trip out for the week. 

Any ideas?  Any suggestions?  Anyone who's familiar with Carroll County, MD and knows of a good church?  Any advice would be appreciated!  :)

Thanks!

Mina

Hey Mina,

Here are a list of churches I've found.  Since I'm in New Jersey, I don't know what's in your area, but it's a start.

Maryland

All Nations Gospel Outreach Church 1212 Cowpens Ave P.o Box 19092 Baltimore, MD 21286 www.allnationsgospeloutreach.com   Harvest Church International 5502 Belair Road Baltimore, MD 21206 www.harvestci.com   Lion Of Judah Worship and Deliverance Ministries 4601 York Road Baltimore, MD 21212 www.ljwd.org   Victory Christian Ministries International 5840 Kirby Road Clinton, MD 20735 www.vcmi.org   Montgomery Faith Fellowship 356 Christopher Avenue Gaithersburg, MD 20879 www.montgomeryfaith.org   Grace Henderson Ministries PO Box 2051 Germantown, MD 20874 www.kingdomfaithnow.com   Extraordinary Life Church 6730 Baymeadow Drive Glen Burnie, MD 21060 www.elifechurch.cc   Jericho City of Praise 8501 Spectrum Drive Landover, MD 20785 www.jerichocop.org   Faithful and True Christian Center William T Page Elementary School 13400 Tamarack Rd P.O. Box 10568 Silver Spring, MD 20914 Silver Spring, MD 20904 www.fatcc.org   All Nations Gospel Outreach Ministries 1212 Cowpens Ave P.O Box 19092 Towson, MD 21221 www.ango.us

Dee

Hey Mina,

Here are a couple more in the Maryland area

Word Alive Christian Center at Faith Community
110 West Hampton Avenue
Capitol Heights, Maryland 20743
Phone: 301-808-0190

Living Word Family Church
Baltimore, MD
(410) 363-3394

Dee

Dee,

Thanks for the links.  Unfortunately all those churches are at least an hour drive from where I live.  I keep hoping I'll find something that's a bit closer, as right now the church I attend is about 20 minutes away, which is not bad, but I wouldn't be able to go much further than 30 minutes away, at least not until my husband is saved in in agreement with me about where we attend.  I have to imagine there there are SOME Word of Faith people in my area, even if there isn't a large church here, though.  The key is just FINDING them. 

There is a Four Square church here, I believe, and some other small churches.  It's hard to know where each of them stand, though, because it seems like none of them come right out and say "We're a Word of Faith church"...LOL.  Often on their websites they don't even talk about Baptism of the Holy Spirit/tongues even if they believe in it.  It's hard to know what a church really believes here unless you actually go and talk to the pastor and pin them down on what they believe and stand for.  There are lots of Christians here but there seems to be a lot of denominational "wars", unfortunately, specifically regarding tongues, which may be why many churches aren't as up front about it as they should be.

The thing I find most disappointing is that Church of God doesn't speak against healing or prosperity or any of the things I believe.  And we've had guest speakers who were powerfully anointed and spoke about those things and about faith when they visited who were also pastors in the CoG.  But I find that OUR pastor doesn't seem to be motivated to build up our faith in these areas, and instead focuses on more "intellectual" sermon topics, which don't help build us up to go forward with God.  He's a good man, and I respect that that is his particular style, but it doesn't seem to meet my needs.  To get built up and really excited about God I listen to the services at Faith Life Church instead.

I really miss my home church in NH. 

Mina

Hi Mina,

OK - When I really felt the Holy Spirit pulling on me and I could not run any more, this is what I did.  I let my fingers do the walking through the yellow pages.

That's right.  I wanted a church that would not teach me about their denomination.  I wanted a church that would open the Bible and teach me about Jesus.  So I pulled out my yellow pages, found the section on non-denominational churches and started dialing.  When I got the Pastor on the telephone I explained what I was looking for and then I listened. 

I had decided to attend a church on the next Sunday, but on Thursday, a pastor returned my call from a message I had left.  I again went into what I was looking for and then I shut up.  As he began to speak, my spirit began to dance and bear witness that this was the place that I was to attend. 

My family and I attended that church for about 14 years.  When I was led to that church, it was about 20 minutes away from my house.  But during the course of our tenure at The Gathering Place, which by the way, was non denominational at the time, but then joined and became foursquare, we ended up driving about an hour one way to attend.  That was the place that the Lord put us.

So, my dear.  Pull out your telephone book and start interviewing.  You'll know when you find it.  The Holy Spirit will bear witness with your spirit and you will be home.

Dee Price:

So, my dear.  Pull out your telephone book and start interviewing.  You'll know when you find it.  The Holy Spirit will bear witness with your spirit and you will be home.

Dee,

Thanks...I guess I'll have to do just that!  I'm sure there has got to be SOME church in the area that believes as I do, right?  Even if they are a small church...there are some great things about small churches, like the opportunity to know your whole church family, rather than just the people who sit around you every week.    I do have some concerns about finding a church with a good youth program, but even small churches can have support for the youth if that's where the Spirit leads them.

I may have to get out the phone book and do some calling around this morning.  I don't want to be a "church hopper", but I also know that I need to find a home church where I'm getting fed rather than just hearing the sermon and then walking out and forgetting about it.  I do think that the church I attend now isn't "bad" per se, but that I want to see a bit more moving with the Spirit and a bit less structure.  I think that each and every true Christian church has it's place, and that each church can fill a need for certain people where they are, but at the same time I do think that we need to be able to be in a home church where we truly feel like we're getting what we need, or at least being met and taught on the same level where we are.

I'll have to look around and see what I can come up with and if the Lord tells me to move on.

Thanks,
Mina