Surrounding yourself with people that will support and encourage you in your walk with Christ is essential for your spiritual growth as a new believer. Making your way into God's family does not have to be difficult or awkward. Unfortunately, the word “church” may conjure up some pretty pathetic visions of religion for some of you. I think that somewhere in our heads, we all have a few of those not so memorable memories. That’s life. But we are ever so grateful for those who have risen above man’s condemnation to find their place in and among God’s family of believers.

All religion is NOT the same. One of the greatest lies perpetuated is that we’re all worshiping the same God but we’re just doing it in different ways, hence you have the world’s many religions. Although this is not what God intended, this is what man allowed in light of ‘religious tolerance’. God's means of salvation is made crystal clear.

John 14:6:
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Too often many of us back off from any form of organized religion and in doing so, miss out on the blessings that God had intended just for us. God knows the needs of His people. He is meeting the need by filling the hearts of His leaders with a burden to reach back into a hurting world.

Everyone seems to think they are so different and that no one would understand where they’ve been or accept them for who they are. But underneath our own trumped up facade, we are really not that different. We all love, we all cry, we all express joy, and we all hurt No one is exempt. Not the exotic dancer. Not the Pastor of a church. Not the misunderstood teenager....or the honor roll student for that matter. Because this ‘human factor’ in us all, people will always fall short of our expectations. But Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, forever.

Seeking God is a personal choice that each one of us must make for ourselves.People have often asked "What church are you affiliated with?" At the onset, we came up under the vast umbrella of Phoenix First Assembly in Phoenix, Arizona. From there, we were set on our feet by Calvary Chapel North also in Phoenix, Arizona, but since our move to Kansas we have for the most part stood alone. This does not mean that we are some stray arrow meandering about aimlessly. We have strong relationships with many Pastors and churches stretching from Florida to Alaska, but we have been called to go places where many churches and their Pastors are not accustomed to stepping. We are not anti-church by any means, but we have seen the damage and division that denominational differences can bring. It is not about denomination or church membership. It is about honoring God with the way we choose to live our lives and letting our actions speak for us. If we are reflecting God's heart to the world around us, eventually, somebody is going to notice that something is different and that's when the door opens to share personally about the One we serve.

We encourage you to seek out a Spirit filled, Bible believing, Bible teaching church. I'm not speaking of a church that is caught up in ritual practice and legalistic rules. You need to find one that not only talks the talk, but more importantly, one that walks the walk. And if you are unable to find one that is genuine, then just be sure to continue to seek God on a daily basis. While I believe that there is a place in the body of Christ for all of us regardless of where we’ve been or who we are, our journey through life is a very personal and individual one. Don't go to church for the sake of saying "I went to church on Sunday" and yet continue to live life as you please the rest of the week. Lord knows there are enough hypocritical Christians out there without becoming one yourself! What matters most is the condition of your heart and your sincerity where your relationship with Christ is concerned. Feed it. Open up the Bible and dive in from where ever you may be. Better that you sit out a season or two from corporate church rather than expose yourself to tainted and twisted teachings that are not Biblically solid. Your faith is the foundation you are building your life on and setting it on shakey ground can do more damage than good. Whether in a church building or in your own living room, don’t let yesterday’s experiences keep you from discovering what God has planned for you today!

We've gone through our own personal struggles plugging into a church since arriving here in the infamous "Land of Oz", so we know how frustrating it can be. We can however make a suggestion or two. So if you are local and find yourself searching for a church home, just drop us a line and we'll do what we can to help.