Church Search

I just got home from visiting Ramoth Baptist Church. I liked it. Traditional with hints of contemporary. But I'm not sure if it's the one. As I sat there in the service, naturally I kept comparing everything to KBBC. Even while I knew that I wouldn't find a church exactly like it. The sanctuary itself was very pretty, high arched wooden ceiling, neutral colors, light and about 3/4 the size of KBBC. There were probably around 200 people there for the service.

I was a few minutes late, so no one spoke to me when I went in and sat down. No big surprise there. But they didn't have anything during the service to recognize and welcome visitors and there were no visitor cards in the pews to fill out. Later, I realized they had a welcome table in the vestibule where you filled out a card. I completed a card and handed it to a lady standing with the pastor at the door when I left.

They have a interim pastor who I enjoyed listening to. He reminded me a little of Brother William in the way he began his message with reading the scripture and then praying. But the praying went on and on and on. He prayed so long, I started wondering if that was going to be the whole message. But it wasn't and he went on to use the scripture he read, Psalm 85, to give a message titled "Crushed or Crowned?" He used an analogy of a checkers game. The black represented evil. The red represented being covered by the blood of Jesus. While I still have trouble relating the message to the scripture, it was all good. And I felt like the congregation was attentive, giving an occasional "amen" here and there. And there was the one man that kept saying "Preach on, Brother!" in a loud country twang. I really did enjoy the service.

The invitation brought several forward to pray at the alter and one young girl with her profession of faith. Then, the associate pastor, a man of some 80+ years, announced his retirement. This means, the church is without a permanent pastor of any kind right now. And they don't have a youth pastor.

As I left, a few smiled and said hello, but still no one talked to me. I waited until there was no one left before approach the pastor and lady at the door. I asked them about the youth group and was told that they don't have a very active youth group at the moment. Apparently, there was a lady who was working full time with the youth, but she left sometime last year. The lady at the door told me she was teaching the youth Sunday school and they had about 10 in there with the potential for 20-25. But they needed a full time youth director. After I got home, I read in the bulletin that all children and youth activities have been suspended for the summer.

I will be doing a lot of praying about this as I visit more churches. But I may go back to this one again just to check out Sunday school. Next week: I will probably visit Stafford Baptist Church. Keep me in your prayers and I try to find just where God wants us.