Over the past few weeks I have had two additional church experiences here in Atlanta. If you haven’t been paying attention… I was quite active in my church back in DC but since moving to Atlanta this past April, my attendance has been less than stellar. So I have decided that finding a church home here was definitely a priority for me.
Two weeks ago I attended New Beginning Full Gospel Baptist Church. Now this is the second time I had actually attended this church. The first time I found that it reminded me a lot of Calvary in DC… another waaaaaaaaaay to busy service. When I tell you they had more going on than a little bit. From people running around the church… to dance teams, just a lot going on. I think they have a pretty good choir however it was hard to tell seeing that the musicians were overpowering the voices. Now I will say the pastor (don’t remember his name) delivered an on time message both times I attended. And while I found most of the service a bit extra… the message was enough for me to return again.
Yesterday we attended Victory out in Stone Mountain. First I must say they have a very nice edifice. I am not sure if we were late or something but we didn’t really get to hear a lot of the choir or any praise and worship, but the two songs we did hear sounded pretty good. I really enjoyed the pastor’s way of delivering the sermon. Most preachers will read their text and then go off into their soliloquy, however this pastor referred back and taught his lesson from each line. It was Communion Sunday so the service was a little bit long but what made it even longer was the Pastors very random 10 rules of having an orderly service… which reminded parishioners not eat McDonalds in the sanctuary, to take their crying babies to the cry rooms they had set up, and when it was appropriate to walk and talk. Most of this I thought was common sense but apparently it wasn’t. But that verbal chastisement added an additional 30 minutes to the service. Overall good service and I am sure I will visit again.
But the search continues.
Two weeks ago I attended New Beginning Full Gospel Baptist Church. Now this is the second time I had actually attended this church. The first time I found that it reminded me a lot of Calvary in DC… another waaaaaaaaaay to busy service. When I tell you they had more going on than a little bit. From people running around the church… to dance teams, just a lot going on. I think they have a pretty good choir however it was hard to tell seeing that the musicians were overpowering the voices. Now I will say the pastor (don’t remember his name) delivered an on time message both times I attended. And while I found most of the service a bit extra… the message was enough for me to return again.
Yesterday we attended Victory out in Stone Mountain. First I must say they have a very nice edifice. I am not sure if we were late or something but we didn’t really get to hear a lot of the choir or any praise and worship, but the two songs we did hear sounded pretty good. I really enjoyed the pastor’s way of delivering the sermon. Most preachers will read their text and then go off into their soliloquy, however this pastor referred back and taught his lesson from each line. It was Communion Sunday so the service was a little bit long but what made it even longer was the Pastors very random 10 rules of having an orderly service… which reminded parishioners not eat McDonalds in the sanctuary, to take their crying babies to the cry rooms they had set up, and when it was appropriate to walk and talk. Most of this I thought was common sense but apparently it wasn’t. But that verbal chastisement added an additional 30 minutes to the service. Overall good service and I am sure I will visit again.But the search continues.
9 comments:
Keep at it. You will find a church that will give you all the things you are searching for. And when you find it it will be rewarding. Keep God first!
It's fun to see people running in the aisles!
Although it’s important to find a church where you feel comfortable – as a man of color and a gay man – it’s equally important that you realize that no church will be 100% to your liking. In the end, your relationship with God is what will be important. Even if you choose to worship in a church that has the bangin’ choir and the most gay-friendly, inspired and concise-speaking minister, there will always be something – gossiping hookahs, overly-friendly parishioners (wink, wink) etc. As a PK, I no longer go to church and choose to have my worship via my gospel CDs, but hey, whatever floats your ark pa! LOL :)
Sorry Cocoa that is where I will have to disagree. My church back in DC I was quite 100% happy with. The message was always good, the choir was good, the community service was there as well.
I didnt put myself in the position to deal with gossips or hos in the church... so while I am sure they were there, they werent apart of my church experience.
i admire black gay men who find it important to be in a church that affrims them verses being bashed and loved within the same sermon. It is great you are still searching--the church structure isn't important to me, but i understand for many it is. I do think it is possible to be 100% satisfied when it comes to spiriuality.
Btw - why you getting people upset on my blog with your comment about Hudson? LOL
I have been to both churches and would pretty much agree with your interpations of them.
I really need to get on the boat with finding a church home here. Like yourself, I was pretty active in my church back home and I still send my tithe there, but getting the motivation her is lacking big time. It seems like you are pretty determine and I've been at bedside baptist for the past few Sundays I could attend.
I just stumbled onto your site looking for Maxwell's new CD updates. I applaude your search for a church many have given up on religion due to the hypocrisy. But is religion a buffet table where you can pick and choose what you want and what you don't want. To make it clearer- why go to church if you decide what is right. You could have murderers going to "murder church"-because that is what they are comfortable with..or pedophiles setting up churches for themselves..because that fits their lifestyle. But if we are going to religion because we love our creator, shouldn't our religion fit what he outlined in the bible? Did you ever look up the definition of religion? It is interesting what it means....My comments won't be popular but neither was Christ in his time-but he was right. I encourage you to focus more time reading your personal copy of the bible than scouting for the right church experience. It might change what church you look to. Take some time and read Psalm 37. And then Matthew 24. Then go to Revelation 21. Encouraging passages for personal study.
My search for a church home is not to find a church that confirms what I believe in but one that I feel comfortable with. I do not like holiness/full gospel churches because they are often too busy... I dont like pentacostal because they are usually too dry... I need something in between where the service is uplifting and encouraging.
As to your comment about the bible. Until I can read hebrew, I only use the bible as an inspiration. The bible is not God's word but it was inspired by his words and since there have been to many translations and human input. I am tired of people always Yelling and Screaming about the bible... please remember there are hundreds of religions out there that don't associate with the bible, while I grew up in a bible based christian family, i respect the right of others to worship their beliefs.
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