Coming Home

Coming Home: A Guide for Christians Seeking a Church

Young Life has historically been part of the Church with a big “C” but not affiliated with any specific denomination. While we have more church partnerships than we could ever count, we operate separate from specific denominations. 

In fact, at Young Life, we talk about reaching the furthest out kid - the ones who may have never stepped foot in a church building ever before. So, as adolescents experience God (many times for the first time) in our Young Life Clubs, our Campaigner groups, or at summer camp, we know an important step for our students is to find a church home to grow in as well. As much as we disciple our students, and pour into their faith, we know we can’t support our students alone. 

We actually partner well with churches because so many Young Life students meet Christ through our Clubs or at Camp where the gospel is shared, but we need local partners who can help them grow more fully in their faith. We can’t do it alone, which makes relationships with our local pastors and churches so important. We want church to be a natural part of our Young Life friends’ lives, especially after they start a relationship with Christ. 

So, when we’re looking for a church, what should we be considering? 

Let’s bring up a big white elephant in the room to start: there’s simply no perfect church. When you’re looking for a church, an important thing to realize is that each church is full of very broken people, even some who may seem like they have it all figured out. And with all of those broken people comes a lot of baggage and complexities. So, try as we might, we’ll never find a perfect church. 

BUT, what we can do is seek out a church that will support us in our faith in a healthy way. That’s what our Young Life staff and leaders will do with a club kid who has become a christian, or expresses interest. That’s what our staff and leaders do for themselves too. 

As we seek out what to look for in a healthy church, here are a few key considerations we should all be considering: 

Biblical Foundation and Teaching

The cornerstone of a healthy church should be its commitment to Scripture's authority. Look for:

- Clear affirmation of the Bible as God's inspired, inerrant Word

- Regular, systematic Bible teaching that goes beyond surface-level interpretation

- Sermons that balance theological depth with practical application

- Teaching that addresses both Old and New Testament texts

- Evidence that church leadership studies and respects biblical context

- Regular opportunities for Bible study beyond Sunday services

Sound Doctrine and Theology

Evaluate the church's theological positions on:

- The gospel message of salvation through faith in Christ alone

- The Trinity and the deity of Christ

- The necessity of spiritual regeneration and personal conversion

- The authority and sufficiency of Scripture

- The importance of evangelism and discipleship

- The role of baptism and communion

- The second coming of Christ and eschatology

Worship and Music

While worship styles will vary from church to church, so while many of these considerations may start with personal preference, there are also a few things to consider that are important for any style: 

- Lyrics that are theologically sound and Scripture-based

- Congregation's active participation in worship

- Whether the music facilitates genuine worship rather than entertainment

Leadership Structure and Accountability

Leadership makes a big difference and sets the tone for how the church operates. That’s why it really matters what and how the leadership in a church is set up, and we’re not just talking about the main pastor. Take a look at any one in leadership within the church and how they treat others as well as how they are treated. 

- Clear biblical qualifications for leaders 

- Transparent decision-making processes

- Multiple eldership model with shared responsibility

- Clear financial accountability and stewardship

- Regular communication between leadership and congregation

- Evidence of servant leadership rather than authoritarian control

Discipleship and Spiritual Growth

Look for opportunities for spiritual development where you can grow in your own faith. 

- Structured discipleship programs

- Small group ministries

- Mentoring relationships

- Bible study classes for different age groups and spiritual maturity levels

- Emphasis on personal spiritual disciplines

Community and Fellowship

Evaluate the church's approach to community:

- Genuine welcome and integration of new members

- Active small group ministry

- Regular fellowship opportunities

- Support systems for members in need and neighbors in need

- Multigenerational interaction

- Involvement in the broader local community

Outreach & Service

Consider the church's commitment to loving others the way Christ loves His people. This includes looking at how a church is involved in: 

- Local outreach programs

- Support for missions

- Training in personal evangelism

- Balance between social action and gospel proclamation

- Partnership with other evangelical organizations

Prayer Culture

Prayer is central and should be at the heart of a healthy church. Look for a church that incorporates: 

- Regular corporate prayer meetings

- Integration of prayer in church activities

- Prayer ministry teams

- Teaching on personal prayer life

- Emergency prayer chains or networks

- Leadership that prioritizes prayer

Practical Considerations

We often start here with some of these practical considerations, but many of these things can be subjective. 

- Location and accessibility (At Young Life, we’re always looking for church partners right in our own towns. We know we need many partners because one church is probably not the perfect fit for every student we know.)

- Service times that work for you 

- Clear communication channels

- Appropriate facilities for various ministries (For example, many of our Capernaum staff and volunteers pay close attention to accessibility of the buildings for wheelchairs. Many churches also have ministries specifically for families with developmental needs.) 

- Financial stability and transparency

- Size that allows for meaningful participation


Red Flags to Watch For

You may have your own additional red flags to consider, but here are a few general ones we’ve seen that cause us to take a double-take:

- Excessive focus on money or prosperity gospel teaching

- Authoritarian leadership that discourages questions and conversation

- Lack of accountability in leadership

- Emphasis on extra-biblical revelation over Scripture

- Neglect of essential Christian doctrines

- Divisive or judgmental attitudes toward other believers

How do you decide on a church? 

Remember when we said how there’s no perfect church out there? At some point you’ll need to go out and visit a church to see if it’s right for you. Here’s what we recommend: 

- Attend multiple services

- Participate in different activities

- Meet with church leadership

- Review the church's statement of faith

- Pray, pray, pray!

- Evaluate the church's vision and direction

We know in Young Life that we need the local Church, and the Church needs us too. We see this regularly in the work we are doing to partner with churches. Below are a few resources from Young Life, and some external that focus on how Young Life and the Church work beneficially together: