The Family of God: Finding Community within the Larger Church
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.”
Romans 12:9
Whether you’ve been in your current church family for a matter of months or years, the simple fact is that transitioning to a new church is difficult. We bring our identity, our expectations, and our experiences to a whole new context, and this collision is often painful and confusing.
In my own personal journey, this wasn’t exactly a graceful tran- sition. I had just spent four years becoming so sure of my calling and passions, only to realize that not all pastors and churches shared the same beliefs and convictions as me. So, how do I move forward in this new context while honoring both my calling and the leaders above me? Looking back, there are a few things I wish I had realized before entering this season.
1. Root your calling in the right place.
We all know the temptation to place our identity in our position. For me, I felt as if this new context now owned my identity and that I had lost all my newfound autonomy. In response, I clung to everything I could to reclaim my own voice. It’s easy to see why I thought this would be the solution, but ultimately the solution wasn’t in reclaiming my individuality, but reclaiming my calling to the global body of Christ.
2. Cling to the good.
It is so easy to become jaded and pessimistic when you don’t in- stantly fit well into a new church family. Thankfully, one of the lessons that continues to ring in my ears from my last semester in college was “cling to the good.” Whether it’s a person who you’re struggling to get along with or a decision that just doesn’t make sense to you, before giving into cynicism, choose to seek out and celebrate the good.
3. Find your people.
Community is critical to your spiritual and emotional survival.
If you’re going through a difficult transition, there is nothing more healing than a listening and empathetic friend. Wherever you’re going – find the people you can trust, and intentionally build community together. I can’t stress this enough.
Ultimately, we all know that transition is hard – especially transitioning to a new church family. My prayer is that God would go before you, providing the grace to navigate the messiness of church and the courage to find your unique contribution to that body.
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Victoria Covington serves as a pastor at 12Stone Church in Georgia, where she lives with her two dogs, and her husband, Steven. Victoria served on the Collegian Leadership Team when the current form of college ministry was just getting started.