How To Find A Church

Welcome to my how to find a church section. There are many churches out there, some that sit right next to each other. While I pray all my fellow Christians teach Christ’s saving truths I found some churches that have discounted some words of scripture or have set their focus on other things.

My first suggestion is that you check out http://welslocator.locatorsearch.com/ to find a WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod) church or one of our sister synods and missions. They teach exactly what I believe and was taught and every pastor undergoes training that makes them exceptionally knowledgeable in the Bible. They understand the original Hebrew, Greek, and I believe they study the Latin and German translations of the Bible as well. We currently use the NIV 1984 addition and not the 2011 revised addition due to what we feel our some inaccurate translations. A quick note, I hold no position of authority inside the WELS organization, just a member of the congregation and a big supporter.



Another great thing about the WELS and sister synods are our informative Bible Information classes that each new member can attend that some members may have not had since 6-8 grade. Upon finishing said courses you’ll be able to participate in communion and baptize you and your family. We do baptize babies also.

But perhaps you have another church in mind or belong to another at the moment. I don’t believe non-WELS Christians are going to Hell and have found people of all walks of life that we can agree that the truths of the Bible are the way to Heaven. Here are some suggested requirements you should look for when looking into a church.

1. That they are literal translationists, meaning that they believe every word of the Bible, it’s not just stories. It is a history, the earth was created in 7 24 hour days, Christ died and was risen from the dead.
2. They teach that the only way into Heaven is through Christ. Christ lived a perfect life without sin and was put to death on the cross and rose from the dead 3 days later to be punishment for us. Rejoice we are without sin because he died for the sins of the world and we need to repent so that we may be holy in God’s sight.
3. There is only one God. He is a triune God consisting of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, 3 Persons in 1 God. There is no other God.
4. That Christ will return to judge all people, living and dead and eternally take his believers home to a new Earth where we will be with Him forever and that nonbelievers will be separated from him.
5. They teach the Law in its entirety meaning the Ten Commandments.
6. They teach that we must be baptized for the forgiveness of sins and with some sort of regularity partake in His Holy Supper as commanded by Jesus himself.

Hebrews chapter 10 says “₂₄And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ₂₅not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” It is important that we regularly go to church and hear about God’s will for our lives. It is not enough to worship God in our own way as some have put it.

A small note and not to insult anyone, but a number of Lutheran churches do not follow what Martin Luther laid out as the foundation of his church in favor of more contemporary and socially popular ideals. It is important to find out your prospective church's mission plan.

At my church we have a few creeds that testify what we believe, included is our Apostles Creed, which is somewhat of a mission statement of our church:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into Hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

I pray that you find the church that fits your needs for a life in Christ best and that if I don’t know you yet, we’ll come to be brothers and sisters hereafter.