One visitor to this web site wrote:

Deep in my heart Christ means everything to me but little of the church or anything that smacks of Christianity has any resonance or appeal to me. I'll spare you a litany of stories describing quite a few negative experiences with the church. It has become very frustrating and yet I want to revitalize my Christian walk. Any suggestions?

I wrote back and answered:

I relate to what you are going through. I believe what you need is the thing you are finding hardest to obtain - it's the thing the devil's fighting. You need a community of believers around you - like the burning ember needs the other embers of the fire in order to keep glowing red hot.

As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

Proverbs 27:17 - NKJV

I don't know what I'd do without the brothers and sisters of my church near at hand ready to pray and ready to speak encouragement and love into my life.

(We all) speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head - Christ.

Ephesians 4:15 - NKJV

You'll need to ask the Father in prayer to lead you to a Spirit-filled, Bible believing community of believers who have a Spirit-led pastor.

Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.

John 16:23 - NKJV

I suggest you take Psalm 37:4-7 as the basis of your prayer and the way of your faith walk in this.

Delight yourself in the Lord, And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light and your justice as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.

Psalm 37:4-7 - NKJV

While God sets up the divine appointments of for you to bring this to pass do keep visiting my web site for encouragement and nourishment - it's revitalising! I believe this will help you and greatly bless your life.

Another visitor to this web site wrote:

"How do I know the right church to attend? I am a believer who attends a Baptist church where I have been attending faithfully, listening with all my attention each Sunday to the sermons, doing the Bible lessons, daily praying and reading my Bible at 4:15am, 1pm and last thing at night, etc. I chose this church after praying and asking God to guide me to the right church, but I am very unhappy at this church. I went thru the membership service of commitment, and as God's Word speaks of loyalty and committment to the local body of believers, I feel I ought to stay. But what if one is miserable there? Is there any Scripture that can guide me in this matter? The church I attend is a church with a faithful pastor who preaches the doctrine of the Word."

I wrote back and answered:

You have done all the right things both in desiring a church, looking to the Lord for His guidance to a church, committing yourself to membership and being faithful in attendance. God has a plan to bless you in this.

You told me in your email what you are blessed by and pleased with - "The church I attend is a church with a faithful pastor who preaches the doctrine of the Word." This is good and really worth hanging in there for!

You didn't get round to telling me what is making you miserable there. Could it be something to do with the lack of response and warmth towards you from other members? If so, this might be God's ministry for you - to pray into the church God's love and Christian affection among the brethren! The moment you start praying you'll start seeing changes!

On my site The Virtual Church a visitor named Kim posted quite a different report about her church:

"I have been going to this church for 2 months, there are so much drama here I can't even begin to start. I go to worship the Lord and I am hearing of things that should never happen in a church. Should I look somewhere else or is the place I need to be? I just feel like I am not being fed God's Word just gossip please help."

In response I posted the following:

Firstly, the church one attends should be a church built on the rock of revelation that Jesus is the Christ. The scripture passage below points us to this.

Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church."

Matthew 16:16-18. - NKJV

Secondly, it should be doing as the Early Church did as described in Acts 2:42.

They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 2:42 - NKJV

Thirdly, it should be aspiring to follow the pattern for gathering together of believers given by the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:26.

How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

1 Corinthians 14:26 - NKJV