How To Find A Good Church (3 Proven Methods)

You need to be careful about using the internet to find a good church.

Why?

When I was a pastor, I learned how to manipulate the internet.

It’s called search engine optimization (commonly referred to as SEO), and it involves making a series of modifications to a website to take advantage of Google’s search algorithm and boost its ranking. For instance, you might rename an image from “group-pic-38” to “best-church-in-atlanta” and believe it or not, it works. So now, when someone looks up churches in Atlanta, this church will rank higher in search results based on this simple change. Google can’t see images, but it can read file names and use that information to match websites with search requests. There are millions of little tricks like this in the wild world of SEO.

We did this at our church, and within a few months, we were on page one of Google, deemed the holy grail of search results. And what happens when you’re on the first page of Google? New people flood your church. Every week, we had new visitors who had discovered us through online search. We even had a specific gift for first-time guests who found us through Google. The plan was working.

Or was it? I remember one of the families that visited had high school kids and was looking for a thriving youth group ministry. At the time, our church didn’t have much of a youth group, and our website certainly didn’t promise one. But since we ranked high on Google, the family decided to give us a shot, and they were ultimately disappointed.

Despite having more and more visitors, our church wasn’t growing. That means people were coming, but they weren’t sticking around and getting involved. Don’t get me wrong — I think we had an amazing church. But that doesn’t mean it was the right fit for everyone.

Ranking high on Google suggests one of two things about a church: either 1) they are large and popular, or 2) they know how to play the internet game. Neither of these factors has anything to do with being a good church! Ranking high on Google doesn’t determine whether it’s a good fit for you and your family. It might even steer you in the opposite direction. I know of a friend who drove 30–45 minutes every Sunday to a church just because it was the popular place to be. After two years and thousands of dollars in gas money, she wasn’t getting connected or growing in her faith.

Finding a church is too important to rely on untrustworthy algorithms. That’s why I advise against using Google to find a church. So, what are the other options? This chapter will cover three proven methods for finding a great church. They are just as simple as using a search engine but way more effective.

Method 1: Personal Recommendations

Word of mouth is still the number one way to find a new church. A recent poll asked people what initially brought them to church, and more than 70% said they came because a friend or family member invited them. This makes sense; despite all the advances in technology, humans are still social beings. God created us to be relational. With church shopping, your first step is talking with people you know and trust.

Who do you know in the area? What connections exist? Even second or third-degree connections can be helpful. These are real people who are telling you, “I know this church and approve of it,” and that’s infinitely more valuable than a fancy website.

The best endorsement of a church is the quality of the people that attend. The character of the congregants speaks volumes about the church. Do they possess the fruit of the spirit, such as love, joy, peace, and patience? Could you see yourself growing in faith as a result of fellowship with them? Would you want to follow in their footsteps?

In high school, I found my first church through the recommendation of a friend. His name was Daniel, and he was a person of integrity. How did I know that? Well, I tried to get him to cheat on a calculus test, but he wouldn’t budge. I wondered why he was such a snob, and then, one day, I saw him reading his Bible. Aha! He wasn’t a snob, after all! He had morals. He had a relationship with God that guided his life. This gave me confidence that the church he went to would promote scripture and integrity, things my life desperately needed.

Getting personal recommendations for churches might require some intentionality on your part. We live in a time when it’s easier to ask the internet than to ask a friend. Don’t be like that. Be intentional and reach out to your connections to find a good church.

God often places relationships in our lives as a way to direct us. Don’t discount the relational network you’ve built and how God might lead you to a new church community through it.

Method 2: Denomination and Network Websites

Suppose you were previously part of a particular denomination (Baptist, Presbyterian, etc.) or a church planting network (ARC, Acts 29) and had a positive experience. In that case, you may want to find something similar. Most denominations and church planting networks have websites to find associated churches in your area.

This is infinitely better than a search engine because these are directories built and maintained by fellow believers. There is a higher degree of trust because there are specific requirements that a church needs to meet before being listed on these websites.

Denominations:

I’ve listed resources below to find churches from six of the largest denominations in the United States. I am not promoting these particular denominations or intentionally excluding others; these are the largest by attendance at the time of this writing.

‣ Catholic (masstimes.org)

‣ Southern Baptist (churches.sbc.net/)

‣ Lutheran (elca.org/findacongregation)

‣ Methodist (umc.org/en/find-a-church)

‣ Assemblies of God (ag.org/Resources/Directories/Find-a-Church)

‣ Presbyterian (pcusa.org/search/congregations)

Networks:

Here are some websites for various church networks you can research:

‣ Acts 29 Network (acts29.com/find-a-church)

‣ Association of Related Churches (arcchurches.com/find-a-church/)

‣ 9 Marks (9marks.org/church-search/)

‣ The Gospel Coalition (thegospelcoalition.org/churches/)

These are just a few of the abundant resources available for Christians seeking a church home. There is no reason to rely solely on a search engine when these other resources exist for the benefit of people like yourself. Don’t be lazy in your search for a church, be smart and informed.

Method 3: Google Maps

After my anti-Google tirade earlier, you might be surprised that I recommend Google Maps. There’s a simple reason for that: Google Maps is difficult to manipulate. If there’s a church down the street, it will show you a church down the street. The church doesn’t need an advertising budget or internet tricks to appear on the map.

By utilizing Google Maps, you can find what churches are closest to you. This is important because neighborhoods matter to God. When Jesus said, “Love your neighbor,” he meant it. It’s easy to talk about “loving the world” in a broad and vague sense. But when you love your neighbors, that involves specific people in specific places.

When touring Israel, I noticed a series of wires lining the streets of an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood. Our guide explained that these were borders called “eruv,” and they were meant to protect the sanctity of the Sabbath. An Orthodox Jew will not walk beyond the eruv on the Sabbath. This keeps them from wandering too far from home and thus working on their day of rest.

At the time, I regarded this concept as strange and legalistic. But after spending years as a pastor feeling exhausted from leading Sunday services, I realized they may be onto something. Staying local allows you to remain rooted in God, family, and community.

In church shopping, it’s tempting to neglect the small church around the corner because it’s not as sleek or popular. But smaller churches can be great places to build deep friendships and grow in your gifts! I preached my first sermon at a small community church of 40 people. I was young and inexperienced; there’s no way I would have had that opportunity if it was a larger church.

A church that’s close will be easier to attend and get involved beyond a surface level. Remember my friend who drove 30–45 minutes every Sunday? Such a long commute can become exhausting, hindering your ability to maintain deep connections.

This is why you should use Google Maps to see what churches are close to you. I challenge you to do some research on the church closest to your house. Initially, you may have some assumptions. Test those assumptions. Your new church family might be closer than you think.

While looking up churches in your area, take time to marvel that God delights in diverse expressions of His church. Pray for God to bless the different churches you come across. This process can give you a glimpse into God’s heart for church unity. As it says in Ephesians 4:4–6:

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”

Note: This article is an excerpt from Church Shopping: How To Find A Church & Thrive In Your Faith.