How Far Would You Drive to a Church?

I think a lot of it comes down to choice. Our job choices are much more limited than our church choices. Sometimes a person can't find a job within 15 miles of his or her home. Churches, however, are usually much easier to find locally.

 

I do think it's easier to be more actively involved when the church is closer.

I changed jobs a couple of years ago. I drive a good distance each day and when we have an evening activity for parents, I just stay which makes for a very long day. I'm not sure we can compare what we do with church and work as we are at times limited in employment - like during a recession. I really don't want to have to look at another long drive on the weekends anywhere.

 

We moved here about 15 years ago.
After we sold our house we started looking for a new one.

On a map, I drew a 15 minute drive-time circle around our church;
I drew a 45 minute drive-time circle around my work;
and I drew a 1 mile circle around each elementry school (I liked walking to school as a kid and thought my kids would like the opportunity to do it too),

Then I let my wife go and look where the circles converged.

She found it on the second day.

Rob

 

It did limit the choices but the Lord provided.

Same house but now I'm 10 minutes from a new church :love2:

15 minutes from new job :love2:

...and 7 hours from the youngest's college :tongue3:

Rob

 

Who gets off work at 4:30???

 

We live in the Bible Belt and have plenty of churches to chose from in our hometown, but sadly they are all either dead churches or sold out to entertain or work up your emotions. We have found a great church that has wonderful fellowship and expository preaching and teaching. It is over 20 miles away and I'm happy to drive that far and would drive even further if needed. I also drive 1 hour each way to work, so I couild hardly justify driving that far for work and not worship.

 

Agreed....I drive by many, many churches (many Baptist) to get to the church I attend. While there are more churches in my town than I can shake a stick out, I've only been able to find a select few that adhere to Biblical principles.

 

The last church I pastored, I drove 45 miles, one way, each day and twice on Sundays....country miles.

To-day, the nearest Baptist churches are 40, 45, 55 miles. I can't drive more than a few miles anymore and the only churches locally are Anglican, oneness Pentecostal and Roman Catholic. This area of Ontario was mostly settled by Free Methodist and Weslyan.....tough to find a church. Wife drives us 40 miles once each Sunday morning....snow is a huge factor in winter, so sometimes we worship at home. There is a small Baptist Church 20 miles away, but you wouldn't believe the country roads to get there.

Cheers,

Jim

 

I prefer the close church, but that isn't always where God wants me.....

 

OK, we live about 20-30 minutes north of Montgomery, AL.

Here's a common occurrence for our church:

• Family moves to our area, but they're happy with their former "home church" in Montgomery.
• for 3-5, or even 7-10 years, they continue to commute to church.
• then, one of the following happens:
  • the kids get older, and notice that no one from their school is in the church.
  • the parents get tired of the 30 minute commute every time the doors open.
  • (we weren't always a healthy church) the family discovers there's options out there for a church home that didn't exist several years ago.
• family joins our church after weighing options...

We probably see this scenario played out 20 times per year.

 

While I live in the so called bible belt I would prefer one within 10 or 15 minutes, but If I could find a church that was a God honoring bible teaching and practicing church I would drive as far as it takes and still be able to serve in it from a practical standpoint. That might be an hour or two depending on the type of service I could offer.

 

Saggywoman said:

This is how I feel too!

A few years ago, I was a member of a church that closed down. After it closed, my DW and I visitted three churches. After each one, we had agreed to discuss with each other what we felt God was leading us to do. The first two, we discussed the plusses and minusses of each church. One was about 10 miles away, and the second was about 15 miles away. The third one (about 18 miles away) -- on the way home, we turned to each other and simultaneously said "God wants us here".

Guess where we joined! I now teach First and Second grade Sunday School there, and we are both active as greeters and as money counters. We have done many other things with the church, and will continue to do so until God leads us elsewhere.

God really is good!

Bill :godisgood:

 

>PS, did I mention I drive 230 miles - one way to church - it is only a temporary assignment - maybe 4-6 months.

You that important to your church or that weak away from it? I would attend a Catholic Church if it was the only Christian Church in 50 miles.

Maybe 20 miles as I get older. What you going to do when you get to old to drive? I knew a retired person who bought a house right next to his (Baptist) church and a few years later the church moved to the next town.